October 14, 2023.  Noon ET.

SHI Stadium, Piscataway, NJ

Weather:  52, RAIN, RAIN, RAIN all game long
TV:  BTN

Sagarin Ratings: Rutgers #51, MSU #65
Line Outta Vegas:  Rutgers by 4.5 

Let it rain, rain, rain.  ES remembers going to see MSU beat Rutgers about a decade ago, with the RU players touching the statue of the birthplace of college football as they entered the stadium.  Really liked Rutgers, the city next to campus; we hung out with Connor Cook's family at a tailgate before the game.  RU is an underrated Big Ten town.  

That said, this is a game of defenses, and pathetic offenses.  Actually, MSU has shown it can move the ball between the 20s, only to make mistake after mistake after mistake on offense - particularly from QB Noah Kim.  Kim will be benched for Hauser (thank God!) just because he is too much of a liability.  Time to start anew.  If MSU can get its running game going in the rain, it can keep the time of possession and turn it into an ugly slugfest.  RU held Michigan to 31 points, beat a bad Northwestern squad, and lost to a bad Wisconsin team.  RU can run, but MSU has done well stopping the run this season.  Rutgers has zero passing game.  The statistical advantage is to MSU on offense and RU on defense -> except for the turnovers, of which the Spartans are next to last in the NCAA.  Interestingly enough, MSU's QB Noah Kim is (gulp) 95th in the country in Passing Efficiency (119.0 rating) which is TERRIBLE.  Rutgers' QB Gavin Wimsatt is WORSE at 98th in the country with a 117.4 rating.  But, MSU played well at Iowa except for the damned turnovers, outgaining Iowa by 150 total yards.  Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers gotta stop. They will be reduced today. 

This has the makings of a game that can set football back 70 years.   

Here's the statistical breakdown after 5/6 games, per game averages except for turnover totals. 

Prognostications: 

J - MSU Breakout, Spartans 35-31
Big Bob:  Rutgers 27-14, with Doogie Houser getting first start
Cat: MSU 14-13
Keith:  Rutgers 31-24