Rutgers at Arizona State

Rutgers is singing the praises of Greg Schiano, the former Miami DC who has built Rutgers into a respectable program. It took some time, but he finally has some of his hometown prospects staying home to play their college football in New Jersey. This game is in Phoenix which gives ASU a home field edge, but I will be shocked if the Sun Devils show up with their A game. Off their stunning defeat of Purdue in last year’s Sun Bowl, this was supposed to be a huge year for the Sun Devils, but they have disappointed. The passing game is still one of the best in the country, but the defense is pourous. The loss at Stanford cost them a better bowl game and that spells trouble as bowl games are about emotion as much as skill. They do get to stay home but that can be boring and contribute to a lackluster emotional effort here. Rutgers is not a sexy opponent, and I expect that to show in ASU’s play as well. Rutgers will lay it all on the line in their first bowl appearance since 1978. They come in with 46 sacks against a team prone to the sack (35 given up for ASU). Non-conference underdogs of 3.5 to 10 points with 17 or more total starters from last season are 50-19 ATS since 1992. Don't be shocked if this one ends in an upset! Three stars on the Scarlet Knights and the points.