Rutgers at Northwestern

Rutgers is 2-4, and Northwestern is 5-1. The Scarlet Knights come in off a 37-30 win at Maryland on October 17, where Lonergan threw for 291 yards, and Thevenin ran for 109. They have scored 35 or more in three of their six games: 35 against 12th-ranked USC, 58 against Howard and 37 at Maryland. Rutgers lost to USC and Boston College by seven points each, and both road games this season were decided by seven or fewer. Northwestern has not allowed more than 29 points in a game, and it lost 29-23 at Indiana, the same team that beat Rutgers 47-15. Northwestern's five wins have come by 16, 34, 21, 31 and 3 points. The latest was a 24-21 game at Michigan State decided by a last-second field goal. I expect long Rutgers drives to be how a road team with a leaky defense keeps a game close, and this offense has produced them against USC and Maryland. Rutgers with the points is my play Saturday afternoon.