Rutgers football vs UMass live updates, analysis of season opener

Rutgers football's season opener is finally here.

It was a long training camp with a quarterback battle at the center of attention − the battle ultimately went to Dylan Lonergan over AJ Surace − but now we'll have a game to evaluate where the Scarlet Knights are as a team.

Greg Schiano's team plays UMass today at SHI Stadium.

Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

Another interesting storyline?

UMass is coached by former Rutgers defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak, who was on Schiano's staff for three years before heading north.

The Minutemen went 0-12 last year in Harasymiak's first season.

Rutgers, meanwhile, is trying to show improvement from last year's 5-7 campaign.

On paper, this should be a fairly lopsided game.

Rutgers is a Big Ten team with more talent, depth and strength. It should be a chance for the Scarlet Knights to move to 1-0 after Week 1.

Will that happen?

Follow along here throughout the game for updates:

Rutgers vs. UMass prediction

Harasymiak might be familiar with what Schiano and offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca will be looking to do, but there's only so far that can go. The disparity in talent and experience is going to stand out. UMass went 0-12 last year, and it just doesn't have the players who stack up with the Scarlet Knights physically over the course of a game. This should be a game where the Scarlet Knights build up a big first-half lead with Antwan Raymond delivering punishing runs against the UMass defense, Lonergan connecting with his receivers early and often and the new-look Rutgers defense holding down the Minutemen's offense. Ideally for the Scarlet Knights this will be a chance to get their younger players some action in the second half.

Score prediction: Rutgers 49, UMass 10

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Rutgers football vs UMass live updates, analysis of season opener