Rutgers 2016 Season Game 12: Maryland

                                                                                                        (AP Photo)

WHO: Rutgers (2-9, 0-8 Big Ten) at Maryland (5-6, 2-6 Big Ten)

WHEN: Saturday at noon ET

WHERE: Maryland Stadium, College Park, Maryland; ESPNews (TV); WOR 710AM, WCTC 1450AM, WENJ 97.3FM, WNJE 920AM, WRSU 88.7FM (Radio)

COACHES: Rutgers: Chris Ash (first season, 2-9); Maryland: DJ Durkin (first season, 5-6)

SERIES: This marks the 12th meeting between the schools. Rutgers is 5-6 all-time against Maryland dating back to 1920. The Scarlet Knights are 2-2 in College Park, most recently winning 41-38 in 2014 with a school-record 25-point comeback. The Terrapins won last season in Piscataway, 46-41.

LAST WEEK: Rutgers lost at home to Penn State, 39-0. Maryland fell on the road at Nebraska, 28-7.

RUTGERS WINS IF: The Scarlet Knights’ offensive line shows pride in the season finale. The unit has been bullied off the ball the last two weeks, rendering Rutgers largely one-dimensional in shutouts against Penn State and Michigan State. Can fifth-year seniors Derrick Muller (C) and Chris Muller (RG) rally this group to go out with a bang against a more manageable opponent? Establishing the run (Maryland yields 224.4 yards per game) will be critical in order for Gio Rescigno, limited with his mobility since hurting his hamstring Oct. 22 at Minnesota, to capitalize. If Rutgers can control the clock and score some points again, look for the defense led by linemen Darius Hamilton and Julian Pinnix-Odrick to reciprocate with a spirited effort and give the Knights a chance.

MARYLAND WINS IF: The Terrapins effectively gash Rutgers on the ground. Maryland is fourth in the Big Ten in rushing offense (195.3 yards per game). Rutgers is last in rushing defense (259.3 yards per game), only once limiting an opponent to fewer than 200 yards since the start of October. Maryland features a pair of underclassmen running backs, Ty Johnson and Lorenzo Harrison, each averaging more than seven yards per carry. If Rutgers fails to secure the edge and tackle in space, a nine-game losing streak to end the season is likely. A Maryland victory clinches bowl eligibility for the Terps.

EXTRA POINTS: Ash’s first season has been a rough one. Rutgers will end the season with its most losses since at least 2002 (11), when Greg Schiano was a second-year head coach. ... Rutgers wide receivers coach Jafar Williams played at Maryland from 2000-03, totaling 90 receptions for 1,301 yards. ... Maryland quarterback Perry Hills, questionable to play (shoulders), leads the Big Ten in pass efficiency rating (150.1) and completion percentage (66.7) in nine games played. ... Maryland rosters four New Jersey natives, including New Egypt’s Nicolas Pritchard, a backup punter.

PREDICTION: Maryland 24, Rutgers 7

Game week stories

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Got a comment or feedback? You can tweet me @gregp_j or email gjohnson@trentonian.com.

— Greg Johnson

Rutgers 2016 Season Game 11: Penn State

                                                                                       (AP Photo)

WHO: No. 9 Penn State (8-2, 6-1) at Rutgers (2-8, 0-7 Big Ten)

WHEN: Saturday at 8 p.m. ET

WHERE: High Point Solutions Stadium; Big Ten Network (TV); WOR 710AM, WCTC, 1450AM, WENJ 97.3FM, WNJE 920AM, WRSU 88.7FM (Radio)

COACHES: Rutgers: Chris Ash (first season, 2-8); Penn State: James Franklin (third season, 22-14)

SERIES: This marks the 27th all-time meeting between the schools and the third since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2014. Penn State leads the series, 24-2, and won the first two Big Ten matchups. The 2014 primetime contest set the High Point Solutions Stadium attendance record at 53,774.

LAST WEEK: Rutgers lost at Michigan State, 49-0. Penn State won at Indiana, 45-31.

RUTGERS WINS IF: The Scarlet Knights limit running back Saquon Barkley in the trenches and receive a career performance from quarterback Gio Rescigno. Barkley ignites Penn State’s offense, totaling six touchdowns over the past three weeks against Purdue, Iowa and Indiana. The two times Rutgers held a Big Ten opponent to fewer than 200 yards rushing yards (Iowa, Indiana), it lost by a touchdown a less. Meanwhile, Rescigno must rebound at home after Michigan State negated Rutgers’ zone-read scheme and forced the junior (6-for-16 passing, 40 yards, two interceptions) to become one-dimensional.

PENN STATE WINS IF: The Nittany Lions’ defensive line dictates the evening. Penn State leads the Big Ten in sacks (26) and is third in opponent third-down conversion rate (31.5 percent). Defensive end Garrett Sickels leads the front seven with six sacks and 10.5 tackles-for-loss. Displacing a struggling Rutgers offensive line is the blueprint for success on the road. Rutgers is 4-for-28 on third downs over the last two weeks.

EXTRA POINTS: Rutgers will honor 17 seniors in a pregame ceremony for Senior Day: WR Carlton Agudosi, TE Nick Arcidiacono, DB Anthony Cioffi, OL J.J. Denman, P Tim Gleeson, RB Justin Goodwin, DL Darius Hamilton, LB Isaiah Johnson,LB Greg Jones, DL Quanzell Lambert, LB Kevin Marquez, WR Vance Matthews, OL Chris Muller, OL Derrick Nelson, DB Marcus Parker, WR Andre Patton and DL Julian Pinnix-Odrick. ... This marks Penn State’s fifth visit to Piscataway (2014, 1955, 1953, 1951). ... The Nittany Lions have 19 players from New Jersey on their roster, including Hun School alum and Hamilton native Wendy Laurent.

PREDICTION: Penn State 34, Rutgers 17

Game week stories

Rutgers to host Saquon Barkley, Penn State in primetime on Senior Day

Anthony Cioffi exemplifies durability, perseverance during Rutgers career

Uncertainty surrounding Janarion Grant's Rutgers future swirls

Got a comment or feedback? You can tweet me @gregp_j or email gjohnson@trentonian.com.

— Greg Johnson

Rutgers 2016 Season Game 10: Michigan State

                                                                                     (AP Photo)

WHO: Rutgers (2-7, 0-6 Big Ten) at Michigan State (2-7, 0-6 Big Ten)

WHEN: Saturday at noon ET

WHERE: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan; Big Ten Network (TV); WOR 710AM, WCTC 1450AM, WENJ 97.3FM, WNJE 920AM, WRSU 88.7FM (Radio)

COACHES: Rutgers: Chris Ash (first season, 2-7); Michigan State: Mark Dantonio (10th season, 89-40)

SERIES: This marks the eighth meeting between the schools. Rutgers is 3-4 all-time against Michigan State. The Spartans won the previous two matchups beginning in 2014, when the Knights joined the Big Ten.

LAST WEEK: Rutgers lost at home to Indiana, 33-27. Michigan State lost at Illinois, 31-27.

RUTGERS WINS IF: The Scarlet Knights are opportunistic offensively and relatively thorough in all three phases. In two games with Gio Rescigno as the starting quarterback, Rutgers has shown more versatility and big-play ability, yet turnover proneness one week and shoddy offensive line play the next. It needs to put it all together on the road this week against the Big Ten’s 12th-ranked scoring defense. Michigan State is also far and away last in the league in sacks (seven). Of course, Rutgers will need to be clean across the board, an elusive achievement in Big Ten play. The defense forced three turnovers the last time out, and Spartan quarterback Tyler O’Connor (concussion) could be susceptible to more miscues if he suits up this week.

MICHIGAN STATE WINS IF: The Spartans’ ground game has its way. Rutgers’ last-place run defense (248.4 yards per game) showed drastic improvement in the trenches and on the edges against Indiana, but was it an outlier? Michigan State’s two-man rushing duo of L.J. Scott and Gerald Holmes guided the Spartans to 175 rushing yards against Illinois. With a questionable quarterback situation because of O’Connor’s injury, dictating the line of scrimmage and controlling the clock at home is critical.

EXTRA POINTS: Rutgers boasts two victories at Michigan State in its history: 14-7 in 1991 and 17-13 in 1988. This season, the Knights are 0-3 on the road. ... Rutgers is averaging 29.5 points per game. It averaged 3.5 points per game in the Knights’ first four Big Ten contests. ... Michigan State has dropped seven straight, the school’s longest losing streak in nearly 35 years, and is 0-6 in conference for the first time since joining the Big Ten in 1953. ... The Spartans feature two New Jerseyans on their roster: wide receiver Cam Chambers of Sicklerville and defensive lineman Gerald Owens of Thorofare.

PREDICTION: Michigan State 27, Rutgers 23

Game week stories

Rutgers, Michigan State to square off in battle of winless Big Ten teams

Improved Rutgers cornerback Isaiah Wharton looks to bounce back from tough outing

Chris Ash: Rutgers linebackers 'played their best game' against Indiana

Got a comment or feedback? You can tweet me @gregp_j or email gjohnson@trentonian.com.

— Greg Johnson

Rutgers 2016 Season Game 9: Indiana

                                                                                                        (AP Photo)

WHO: Indiana (4-4, 2-3 Big Ten) at Rutgers (2-6, 0-5 Big Ten)

WHEN: Saturday at noon ET

WHERE: High Point Solutions Stadium; Big Ten Network (TV); WOR 710AM, WCTC 1450AM, WENJ 97.3FM, WNJE 920AM, WRSU 88.7FM (Radio)

COACHES: Rutgers: Chris Ash (first season, 2-6); Indiana: Kevin Wilson (sixth season, 24-45)

SERIES: This will be the third meeting between the schools. Rutgers won the first two by scores of 45-23 in 2014 at home and 55-52 in 2015 on the road.

LAST WEEK: Rutgers was one of the final two Big Ten teams (Iowa) to have a bye week. Indiana won at Maryland, 42-36.

RUTGERS WINS IF: The Scarlet Knights’ improved health at linebacker and safety manifests on the field. Rutgers is dead last in the Big Ten in run defense (261.1 yards per game). Coming off a bye, that figure must improve against the Hoosiers’ up-tempo zone-read system. Assignment football along the perimeter is paramount, or Rutgers’ improving yet still inefficient offense will be in for a dangerous shootout.

INDIANA WINS IF: The Hoosiers own the turnover battle and play smart in the secondary. Rutgers has coughed up the football eight times over its last two games. Quarterback Gio Rescigno, still learning the tendencies of defensive backs on reads, was responsible for four of those turnovers.

EXTRA POINTS: For the 10th anniversary of the 2006 team, Rutgers will honor more than 50 members at halftime. Those Scarlet Knights finished 11-2, won the school’s first bowl game and were ranked as high as No. 7 nationally in November. ... The only Indiana player from New Jersey is Hillsborough native Joshua Brown, a redshirt freshman defensive lineman.

PREDICTION: Indiana 34, Rutgers 28

Game week stories

After bye week, Rutgers hosts Indiana to begin final four-game stretch

Rutgers getting healthier at safety as season winds down

Amid Rutgers' rebuilding project, left tackle Tariq Cole proving to be a dominant force

Got a comment or feedback? You can tweet me @gregp_j or email gjohnson@trentonian.com.

— Greg Johnson