| Cincinnati vs. Rutgers
GAME: Rutgers at Cincinnati
TIME: 07:45 P.M. EST
VENUE: Nippert Stadium
Coach Greg Schiano doesn't think much of Rutgers' first Top 10 appearance or any BCS hype. As far as he's concerned, none of that matters if the Scarlet Knights can't beat their next opponent.
Having recorded the biggest win in school history in its last game, No. 7 Rutgers looks to avoid a letdown and remain unbeaten Saturday when it meets Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium.
Playing its first home game as a Top 25 team against a ranked opponent in school history last Thursday, Rutgers (9-0, 4-0 Big East) fell behind 25-14 at halftime to then-No. 3 Louisville. While the Scarlet Knights' defense shut down the Cardinals' high-powered offense in the second half, running back Ray Rice scored his second touchdown of the game before Jeremy Ito kicked two fourth-quarter field goals - the second from 28 yards out with 13 seconds left to seal the win.
That vaulted the Scarlet Knights from 13th to sixth in the latest BCS standings released Sunday. Schiano, though, seemed to indicate polls mean little to a program enjoying its best season in 30 years.
"It was a big football game and it was a great atmosphere, but I don't think it was a be-all and end-all for our team or for our coaching staff," he said. "Our only concern right now is preparing for the University of Cinicnnati.
"There is a BCS system in place and it will work the way it is programmed to work. The only thing we have control over is our game against Cincinnati."
Should the Scarlet Knights win this game, they still face a difficult road to complete their first undefeated season since going 11-0 in 1976. They'll play their final home game Nov. 25 against Syracuse before ending the regular season Dec. 2 at No. 8 West Virginia.
Coming into this contest, Rutgers is one of four undefeated teams in Division I-A, joining No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Michigan - who play each other Saturday in Columbus. Boise State, ranked 13th, also has yet to lose this season, but may be without star running back Ian Johnson on Saturday when it plays 1-9 Utah State.
Schiano stressed that no one should be looking ahead.
"I explained to our players that they just have to focus on Cincinnati and stay on point," Schiano said. "I'd be a hypocrite if I just started talking about why we should be here or why we should be there. We just have to take care of our business and that is our goal."
A bigger concern for Schiano may be his passing game. Junior Mike Teel completed only 8 of 21 passes for 189 yards against Louisviile, but has seen his number of completions drop in three straight games since posting a season-high 15 in a 34-0 rout of Navy on Oct. 14.
Cincinnati (5-5, 2-3), though, will likely focus on trying to stop Rice and Rutgers' ground game. The Bearcats' run defense is ranked 30th in the nation, allowing just 107.2 yards per game.
Rice, who had 131 yards in the win over Louisville, is third in the nation in rushing at 148.2 yards per game, trailing only West Virginia's Steve Slaton and Northern Illinois' Garrett Wolfe. Rice also is tied with Mountaineers quarterback Pat White for fourth in Division I-A with 15 rushing TDs.
Rice ran for 195 yards, including third-quarter scoring runs of 59 and 11 yards in a 44-9 home win over Cincinnati last season. Rutgers is just 1-3-1 all-time in Cincinnati.
The Bearcats will play their second straight game against a Top 10 opponent and fifth overall this season against a ranked team.
Last Saturday, the Bearcats allowed West Virginia's duo of White and Slaton to rush for a combined 241 yards and four TDs in a 42-24 loss to the then-10th ranked Mountaineers.
"Certainly, this game ranks as our biggest defeat," Bearcats coach Mark Dantonio said. "We got handled today."
Sophomore Dustin Grutza completed 13 of 24 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted twice and replaced by senior Nick Davila, who was 10-of-17 for 167 yards with two TD passes and only one interception.
All four of Cinicnnati's defeats to ranked teams this season, though, have come on the road. This game will be the home finale for the Bearcats.
Cinicnnati has won four in a row at home, and is 5-1 there while outscoring opponents 130-66. The Bearcats need a win over Rutgers or in its regular-season finale Nov. 25 at Connecticut to become bowl eligible for the fifth time in seven seasons. |