Pinstripe Bowl: Rutgers vs. Iowa State (-1) at 2:30 p.m.- O/U- 45

[The Peoples Champ]

Iowa State has the SOS advantage, but this game is in Rutgers backyard, though the money is coming on ISU, which now sits as a one point favorite after opening as a two point dog.

Rutgers Offense vs. ISU Defense:
Rutgers is similar to my Penn State Nittany Lion's at QB, with a duo that isn't particularly great anyway you look at it. Cignetti should have them better prepared with a month, but both have their flaws, Dodd is rough ability to make accurate throws, and Nova his youth. The Rutgers OL is rough as well, and LBs Jake Knott and A.J. Klein will eat the Rutgers backfield alive if their OL can't get down field to seal them off and give Jawan Jamison, now fully healthy, some room to run against one of the worst run defenses in the FBS.
Rutgers best WR, Mohamed Sanu will be matched up with ISU CB Leonard Johnson, who held OSU's Justin Blackmon to 10 catches for 99 yards earlier this season, but I hope that focus allows Rutgers WR Mark Harrison to use his speed deep, which should open up TE D.C. Jefferson for quick hits over the middle.
Iowa State Offense vs. Rutgers Defense:
Jared Barnett took the reigns under center midway through the season, and is a dual threat type of guy that should test Rutgers once out of the pocket. ISU will utilize the zone-read often, choosing between speed back James White and bruiser Jeff Woody, and this will certainly test an OK but not great Rutgers front seven, who has shoddy gap discipline in prior games.
Look for Barnett to get out of the pocket and test some deep throws, much like E.J. Manuel tried to do last night. Dave Rowe has 17 picks for Rutgers, so I'd guess they will go away from him as often as possible.
Final Word:
I think this one stays low scoring, and I expect Rutgers to force a couple turnovers that give them good field position, and maybe even house one with the 12th ranked scoring defense in the country. ISU is battle tested while Rutgers isn't, but it's a home game for the Scarlett Knights, and as long as the QBs don't put the defense in awful spots like it did against UCONN, I like Rutgers here.