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Rutgers Football: Will Scarlet Knights finally escape Big Ten’s cellar in 2019?

By Daniel Smyth

PISCATAWAY, NJ - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Chris Ash of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights coaches against the Michigan Wolverines during the second quarter at HighPoint.com Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Chris Ash of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights coaches against the Michigan Wolverines during the second quarter at HighPoint.com Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /
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PISCATAWAY, NJ – SEPTEMBER 30: The Rutgers Scarlet Knights mascot stands on the field during a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes on September 30, 2017 at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. Ohio State won 56-0. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
PISCATAWAY, NJ – SEPTEMBER 30: The Rutgers Scarlet Knights mascot stands on the field during a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes on September 30, 2017 at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. Ohio State won 56-0. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

How will Scarlet Knights fare in 2019?

  • Week 1: vs. UMass (Aug. 30)
  • Week 2: at Iowa (Sep. 7)
  • Week 3: BYE
  • Week 4: vs. Boston College (Sep. 21)
  • Week 5: at Michigan (Sep. 28)
  • Week 6: vs. Maryland (Oct. 5)
  • Week 7: at Indiana (Oct. 12)
  • Week 8: vs. Minnesota (Oct. 19)
  • Week 9: vs. Liberty (Oct. 26)
  • Week 10: at Illinois (Nov. 2)
  • Week 11: BYE
  • Week 12: vs. Ohio State (Nov. 16)
  • Week 13: vs. Michigan State (Nov. 23)
  • Week 14: at Penn State (Nov. 30)

Prediction 4-8, 2-6 Big Ten

Allow me to set the stage.

It’s the fourth quarter in the last game of the season at Penn State, a cold November day in central Pennsylvania.

Artur Sitkowski drops back to pass, looks, throws, touchdown. Rutgers scores with a minute left in the ballgame. They have cut the lead to 42-13, a miraculous backdoor cover of the spread. Rutgers ends the season on a high note.

On a serious note it doesn’t take rocket science to realize Rutgers will not be competitive in 2019. There will be no national championship, no Big Ten title or bowl game in 2019 for the Scarlet Knights.

However, they can feasibly win the most games in the Chris Ash era if luck bounces their way. Their games against UMass, Maryland, Indiana, Liberty and Illinois are their best chances to win next year. However, even if they win all of these that is only five total wins, not great, but improvement.

The games against Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State and Penn State will be blowouts unless something wild happens.

Three games that Rutgers could win, but most likely will not are Iowa, Boston College and Minnesota. All of these game Rutgers will be outclassed by talent, but will be close and could be decided in the fourth quarter.

Next. Top 30 skill position players for 2019. dark

Overall I am predicting a 4-8 season for the Scarlet Knights where Sitkowski improves into a viable college quarterback. Ash manages to keep his job another season and life goes on in the birthplace of college football.

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