Why Rutgers’ road trip to possible Big Ten sleeper is dangerous trap game
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Why Rutgers’ road trip to possible Big Ten sleeper is dangerous trap game originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Rutgers does not have the margin for error to waste winnable games. That is what makes the Scarlet Knights’ Oct. 24 road matchup with Northwestern so critical.
On paper, this is not the kind of matchup that dominates national headlines. It is not Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan or USC.
For coach Greg Schiano’s program, however, games like this are often the thin line between bowl eligibility and a frustrating winter spent dwelling on what slipped away.
CBS Sports college football analyst Brad Crawford labeled Northwestern as Rutgers’ biggest trap game because the matchup is winnable but easy to undervalue.
“This earns a trap-game label because it presents a winnable road matchup against an opponent unlikely to generate much national attention,” Crawford wrote.
That is exactly the danger. Rutgers does not have the luxury of overlooking anyone in the expanded Big Ten.
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If the Scarlet Knights want to secure a postseason berth, they must treat Evanston like a pivotal swing game rather than an inconvenient road trip.
“Rutgers can’t afford to sleepwalk through a game that could prove essential to its postseason hopes,” Crawford wrote.
Northwestern’s identity makes the matchup even more uncomfortable. The Wildcats thrive in low-possession, grinding contests.
They shorten games, lean on field position and force opponents into late-game execution battles—a blueprint designed to frustrate teams expecting big plays to open up naturally.
For Rutgers, the offensive catalyst will likely be running back Antwan Raymond. If the Scarlet Knights can establish the ground attack, control time of possession and protect the football, they have the formula to grind out a gritty road win.
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If they fall behind schedule, lose the turnover battle or let Northwestern dictate the tempo, however, the margin for error will be unbearable.
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