Tag: Rutgers

Michigan 78, Rutgers 0

Jabrill Peppers (image via Michigan Daily)

The score. OMG the score. Michigan hasn’t scored that many points since they beat the University of Chicago 85-0 in 1939. It’s the largest margin of victory in the history of the Big Ten, a record that was previously held by Wisconsin’s 63-point victory over Indiana in 2010, an 83-20 contest. I predicted a 45-0 victory in the game preview, but then I amended that shortly into the game:

Rain is the great equalizer. I don’t think #Michigan is going to score 45 tonight

— TouchTheBanner (@TouchTheBanner) October 8, 2016

In fairness to myself . . . it stopped raining. While the rain was coming down early, Wilton Speight was inaccurate, the normally sure-handed De’Veon Smith fumbled, and two balls squirted through the hands of Amara Darboh.

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Preview: Michigan at Rutgers

RUSH OFFENSE vs. RUTGERS RUSH DEFENSE

Michigan is #36 with 210 yards/game and #40 with 4.9 yards/carry. De’Veon Smith (325 yards, 2 TDs) continues to be the bell cow, but Ty Isaac (198 yards, 2 TDs) stepped up with a more decisive effort last week. Karan Higdon (145 yards, 3 TDs) didn’t play last week after a breakout game two weeks ago, and Jim Harbaugh said the reason did not have to do with injury. The team will be affected by the significant knee injury to left tackle Grant Newsome, who will be replaced by redshirt sophomore Juwann Bushell-Beatty. Rutgers is #116 in rushing defense as they give up 227 yards/game, though their 5.26 yards allowed/carry is good enough for . . . #115. While not quite as devastated by injury as Penn State, the Scarlet Knights are missing defensive end Quanzell Lambert and their best linebacker, Greg Jones. The top tackler is safety Kiy Hester (36), followed by sophomore linebackers Deonte Roberts (33) and Trevor Morris (30). Defensive end Julian Pinnix-Odrick and Hester each have 5 tackles for loss.
Advantage: Michigan

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Recruiting Snapshot: Rutgers

Alexandria (VA) Episcopal CB Patrice Rene

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2016 Team Ranking: #63. Rutgers has thirteen 3-stars committed.

Cream of the 2016 Crop: The top-ranked recruit in the Rutgers class is Alexandria (VA) Episcopal CB Patrice Rene (3-star, #39 CB, #415 overall), a transfer from Canada who fielded some interest in Michigan, though the Wolverines never offered. RB Trey Sneed (highlights below; 3-star, #30 RB, #534 overall) is from Orange Park (FL) Fleming Island and spurned offers from the non-powerhouse Florida schools in order to head to Rutgers. Sneed isn’t very speedy or quick, but he does have good balance and decent power at 5’10”, 205 lbs. The Scarlet Knights quarterback in the class is 6’4″, 221 lb. Anthony Russo. EDIT: As I was writing this on Monday, Russo decommitted; his other FBS offers are Buffalo, Temple, and UConn. Rutgers now has no quarterback in the class.

2017 Team Ranking: #61. Rutgers has one 2-star committed.

Cream of the 2017 Crop: Sicklerville (NJ) Timber Creek CB Naijee Jones (2-star, #81 CB, #895 overall) is the lone commitment.

Schools in the News: Georgia, Rutgers, and Virginia

Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy TE Isaac Nauta

There are three new noteworthy job openings in college football this morning. Virginia’s Mike London resigned (or was dismissed), Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood was unsurprisingly canned, and in the biggest news, Georgia’s Mark Richt was fired. Georgia is a perennial powerhouse in the south, but Michigan has stepped up their efforts in all three of these geographical areas in recent years. Here’s a look at how these job openings might affect Michigan.

Hit the jump for the scoop on several noteworthy prospects.

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Michigan vs. Rutgers Awards

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . Sione Houma. I’m not in love with Houma as a tailback, but it sure is fun to watch him play with his hair waving all around and his 240 lb. body barreling into people. He finished the game with 6 carries for 19 yards and 1 catch for 32 yards. He’s a decent enough threat at fullback now that I think opponents are going to have to keep on eye on the fullback dives and traps, and that might spring one of the tailbacks on the outside at some point. Houma isn’t quite the blocker that Joe Kerridge is, but Houma is good enough at catching and running that I think it mostly makes up for the blocking differential.

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