After Rutgers lost to Cincy it seems as if everyone on here and elsewhere went ahead and penciled in Louisville as the Big East champ.

I expect WVU should win in Morgantown Saturday against the Scarlett Knights, but South Florida just proved that is no guarantee.

3601 Wrote:After Rutgers lost to Cincy it seems as if everyone on here and elsewhere went ahead and penciled in Louisville as the Big East champ.

I expect WVU should win in Morgantown Saturday against the Scarlett Knights, but South Florida just proved that is no guarantee.

Card fans will be Mountaineer fans this week, you bet. And yes the Mountaineers laid a big egg; they couldn't get on track as White and Slaton are both banged up.

Rutgers football has never won a game @ Morgantown. The task gets harder because the game will be played at night. I don't know what the stats are but WVU football has a great record for night/home games. Although with that being said, if our O-Line plays like it did yesterday, WVU couldn't beat Temple let along a very good squad like RU


Jackson

Jackson1011 Wrote:Rutgers football has never won a game @ Morgantown. The task gets harder because the game will be played at night. I don't know what the stats are but WVU football has a great record for night/home games. Although with that being said, if our O-Line plays like it did yesterday, WVU couldn't beat Temple let along a very good squad like RU


Jackson

I definitely expect WVU to win, but it seems as if nobody is even giving Rutgers a chance. I will be surprised, but not shocked if Rutgers could pull it out.

3601 Wrote:After Rutgers lost to Cincy it seems as if everyone on here and elsewhere went ahead and penciled in Louisville as the Big East champ.

I expect WVU should win in Morgantown Saturday against the Scarlett Knights, but South Florida just proved that is no guarantee.

Yeah really. I never would have thought that USF had any chance whatsoever at beating WV at Mountaineer Field. Now I think Rutgers might be an even more formidable opponent for the Eers.

The game will be interesting. Cincinnati matched up very well with Rutgers. Rutgers problem is that West Virginia is more susceptible to the passing attack. Louisville showed that, South Florida showed, and East Carolina showed that. Rutgers passing attack is their weakness. When forced to throw the ball Cincinnati picked them apart. The reason I give Rutgers a chance is that West Virginia defense isn't nearly as solid as Cincinnati's. West Virginia offense is probably the most potent in the league, along with Louisville, and among the most potent in the country. So if it turns into a shootout West Virginia will runaway with it. But if Rutgers bottles things up and makes it more of a slow down, running attack, it favors Rutgers. West Virginia may have the superior running game, but Rutgers defense is better suited to a slow down game. The Louisville/Rutgers game was a tale of two halves. The first half is what is going to happen to Rutgers if they get into a shootout. The 2nd half is what happens when they dictate the tempo of a game and slow it down.

Tigeer Wrote:

3601 Wrote:After Rutgers lost to Cincy it seems as if everyone on here and elsewhere went ahead and penciled in Louisville as the Big East champ.

I expect WVU should win in Morgantown Saturday against the Scarlett Knights, but South Florida just proved that is no guarantee.

Card fans will be Mountaineer fans this week, you bet. And yes the Mountaineers laid a big egg; they couldn't get on track as White and Slaton are both banged up.

It happens WVU fans and join the proverbial laid an egg club. I know you guys have a much better team that what we saw saturday. Louisville seems to have a game every year where we lay an egg or just don't show up for some reason. The only year we didn't lay an egg was 2004. We came to play every game. It happens and when you have a target on your back its even harder to stay focused. This will only help your players in the long run though, never take an opponent lightly. The cardinals learned that lesson in a big way last year getting spanked in Tampa.

The turnovers really gave the Bulls all the momentum they needed and they just kept making plays. They had a great game plan and certainly have to tip your hat off to them. I just think Rich Rod did a poor job of not keeping his players focused. You have to match your opponents intensity when they get that momentum. WVU just looked lifeless yesterday, the first time I've ever seen them play as if they didn't want to be there. The offensive line was probably the biggest dissappointment.

You can't let your quarterback get hit like that. You guys have a young team and the best duo in the league. WVU will be back and will probably be favorties for the crown next year. Believe me as a UofL fan I know all about let downs and when you team loses focus. Not to take anything away from USF but WVU looked like a team who didn't want to win and was playing to lose. I'm not here to criticize either team but just making an observation from what I saw in yesterdays game. I thought it was a big win for USF and it just shows how balanced our conference is now. I think in the long run it helps our image when you have more than 2 teams playing for something.

We'll see what kind of character our kids have this weekend. Rutgers has everything to play for and WVU is just trying to avoid going to the Texas bowl. Two things that should help WVU is the Gator is seemingly becoming more interested in the possibility of the Va Tech/WVU bowl game. So that should help with the motivation. Also, its senior night in Morgantown so things will be a bit emotional. Again, if WVU comes out flat it has no chance. However, if the Mountaineers play the way there capable then I am confident about the outcome


Jackson

CatsClaw Wrote:The game will be interesting. Cincinnati matched up very well with Rutgers. Rutgers problem is that West Virginia is more susceptible to the passing attack. Louisville showed that, South Florida showed, and East Carolina showed that. Rutgers passing attack is their weakness. When forced to throw the ball Cincinnati picked them apart. The reason I give Rutgers a chance is that West Virginia defense isn't nearly as solid as Cincinnati's. West Virginia offense is probably the most potent in the league, along with Louisville, and among the most potent in the country. So if it turns into a shootout West Virginia will runaway with it. But if Rutgers bottles things up and makes it more of a slow down, running attack, it favors Rutgers. West Virginia may have the superior running game, but Rutgers defense is better suited to a slow down game. The Louisville/Rutgers game was a tale of two halves. The first half is what is going to happen to Rutgers if they get into a shootout. The 2nd half is what happens when they dictate the tempo of a game and slow it down.

I think if WVU had a healthy Pat white then it would hurt Rutgers for the simple fact that if Rutgers over persuits from the ends then White would drill them up the middle. The spread offense is a perfect way to exploit speed on defense. What hurt WVU against USF was the fact that people sleep on USF's linebackers. They have the best linebackers in the conference and they close the gaps QUICKLY.

I think Rutgers has a great D-line but WVU has a better offensive line in my opinion. USF was able to get penetration from the lineman because WVU oline was keyed on USF's linebackers. That opened up the defensive ends to rush White. It was almost a nightmare matchup for WVU going up against USF's D. WVU offensive attack is more suited for the type of D Rutgers plays. It all depends on how healthy White and Slaton are of course. Sideline to Sideline nobody has better linebackers than USF in our league and they shut down everything on the edges. Having said all that, I still give Rutgers a solid chance to win, but there linebackers have to shoot the gaps because I don't think the D line is going to be able to shut White or Slaton down. If you over-persuit those guys are already 15 yrds down field and into the secondary. If Rutgers can get could solid play out of there safeties and tackle well then I think Rutgers has a "real" chance.

On the flip side I don't think WVU is that bad stopping the run, but if Teel can somehow turn into a decent passer then they can score some points. You never know though it will be senior night for WVU and they will be coming off a loss. Plus playing a top 15 team should definitly energize them and the home crowd. Anything can happen and it will be interesting to watch thats for sure!!

I doubt that WVU will lose 2 in a row in Morgantown. Pat White will be ready to go next week. And Coach Rod will be working extra hard to correct the mistakes that were made against South Florida. Rutgers would have had a better chance if WVU had beaten USF.