Rutgers-UConn Preview and RU-WVU Post-Game Analysis

Last week's prediction: Rutgers 28 West Virginia 27
Game Outcome: West Virginia 31 Rutgers 3
My All-time Picking Record: 0-1
Sorry for the last few days without updates. As for the West Virginia game, what’s there to say? It's a game that fans, players and coaches all want to put behind them. It was evident that the Scarlet Knights were not ready for a team like the Mountaineers and superstars like Pat White and Steve Slaton. The downpour and Mike Teel's bruised hand certainly didn’t help the cause, either. Rutgers was clearly overmatched, most evidently on defense as Pat White and Slaton did whatever they pleased against the Knights porous defense. This week we will see how the Knights rebound from a demoralizing defeat in front of a national TV audience on ABC. This week comes the easiest 16th ranked team the Knights have ever played, or may ever play for that case. Connecticut may hold key wins over South Florida and Louisville, yet both those wins were at home. Connecticut should've lost to both Louisville and Temple if it wasn't for bad calls later admitted to by the referees. UConn will be facing a bonafide, bruising back in Ray Rice Saturday night in East Hartford. Rice is currently second in the nation for carriers per game and it will be expected that Rice have another 30+ carry, 100+ yard game against the Huskies. Rutgers will be best off handing the ball of to their Heisman trophy candidate as he tries to bull through a defense that held him to 79 yards rushing. Quarterback Mike Teel's hand will be a key factor in the passing game, and hopefully we will see more time from Jabu Lovelace if Teel is not able to produce. Most people have been pointing the finger at Teel for Rutgers' 3 losses this season, yet there have been many negative factors from these losses. I predict a Rutgers rebound victory this week, despite my horrendous pick last week. Rutgers will add another win and put a Big East Conference loss in the UConn conference record.
Rutgers 24 Connecticut 17
Keep Choppin',
-Mike