Rutgers Beats Temple
The Scarlet Knights offense got off to a slow start this Saturday, but junior running back Kyle Monangai scampered for 165 yards and a TD to lead Rutgers to its second consecutive victory.
Head Coach Greg Schiano had this to say about his leading running back;
“Well, he (Monangai) ran tough and he ran tough last week as well,” said Rutgers coach Greg Schiano. “I want to make sure that we get everybody experience because, in this league, you need multiple backs. This is a tough, tough, tough, league. So I think we are doing that.”
Rutgers kept the ball in its possession for 11:53 of the final stanza to secure the victory. Schiano said this about his offense and its production against the Owls.
“I was really proud we got together as a team going into that fourth quarter, and we decided, hey, enough, let’s go play the way we are playing and coaching the way we’re capable of coaching,” said Schiano. “Some nights it’s like that. Some nights, you feel you’re half a step forward and half a step back, and all of the sudden just, boom, so I was pleased.”
Stout Rutgers Defense
The Rutgers defense has surrendered 14 points through its first two games. They allow an NCAA fifth-best 40 rushing yards per game and average three sacks per game thus far.
In their first two contests, Rutgers has played stingy first-half defense and pitched first-half shoutouts. They’ll look to make it three consecutive scoreless first halves on Saturday for the first time since 2006 when they host the Hokies this Saturday.
Virginia Tech 1-1 Start
The Hokies are off to a 1-1 start and suffered a 24-17 Week 2 home loss to Purdue. Schiano shared his thoughts about Virginia Tech in his weekly press conference;
Yeah, they are a good football team. Defensively, their front is stout. They have some linebackers that can really run. The secondary, the safeties punish you, and the corners can run and cover. It’s a good defensive football team.
Offensively, their quarterback is a really good player, he’s an experienced player. He’s strong arm, accurate arm, and can beat you with his feet.
Running back, they have two of them that they play, 32 and 24, they are both good players. Offensive line big. They lost some receivers, I don’t know — one of them had surgery, so he’s not going to play. I was familiar with him. We tried to recruit him in the portal. And then the other fellow, I don’t know. Looked like he pulled up with a hamstring. So I don’t know what his status will be. They went and got some portal receivers. Sounds familiar. So that will be — they lost their tight end for the season at the beginning of the year. But the two young kids that are playing are good players. One of them is kind of more of a receiver-type tight end. The other can do both.
Special teams, they are sound. You can see they have a true plan to what they are doing. So yeah, it’s a good football team. They lost a tough one to Purdue. Opening week, they took control of the game and really held control the whole game. Yeah, we’ll have our hands full.
Rutgers certainly will have their hands full. Hokies senior quarterback Grant Mills can really sling it, throwing for 494 passing yards with five TDs and two interceptions. Mills could miss his top wideout as Jaylin Lane is listed as questionable after leaving last week’s loss with an unspecified injury. Wideout Ali Jennings injured his foot against Purdue and is also listed as questionable for Saturday.
Virginia Tech vs Rutgers Best Bet
Rutgers will lead with the defense, but my best bet is Over 39.5 (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook New Jersey.
39.5 points is too few for this contest. The Hokies might have some injuries to its wide receiver room, but Mills can sling it, and I don’t see this Rutgers defense surrendering seven points or less on Saturday. Mills is too good for this, and Rutgers does allow 209 passing yards per game, and I see Virginia Tech scoring at least two TDs.
The Hokies defense has allowed 41 points this season but allow 190 rushing yards the Scarlet Knights will exploit. Rutgers has Monangai but also a pair of other capable running backs, and they will damage the Hokies’ defense. Rutgers quarterback Gavin Wimsatt has played much better this season–he’s thrown the ball when he’s had to, but when he does, he completes 54% of his throws, and that will be enough to find the end zone against a VT defense allowing 190 passing yards per game. Take the Over 39.5 (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook.
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