I see a big day today for Tom Savage....

We're just a few hours from kickoff at the Carrier Dome for today's Rutgers-Syracuse game.  Rutgers is a 10 point road favorite (which seems a bit low to me).  Let's take a quick look at what Rutgers must focus on to win today's game:

1.  Take it to the air:  Syracuse allows over 250 yards per game through the air.  In a dome where wind and weather won't play a factor, this is Tom Savage's opportunity to shine.  Rutgers receivers should be able to burn past the 'Cuse secondary and give Savage a chance to hit the big gainer.  Like he has all year, #7 should take what he can get underneath, but I have the feeling were going to see the "statistical breakout" game for Savage, as Syrcause will load up the box to take the run game away. 

2.  Be ballhogs on defense:  The Rutgers defense finally seems to be back to philosophy that any ball on the ground or in the air is their's for the taking.  Rutgers leads the nation in turnover margin, and Greg Paulus has already thrown the ball away 14 times.  Paulus only averages 24 pass attempts per game, but that's plenty for a Rutgers team that has shown the propensity to take a misfired pass the other way for 6.  Rutgers needs to focus on the run and take away running back Delone Carter, who has scored 9 times on the ground this season.  Force Paulus to beat you through the air, which he won't, and add to that interception total.

3.  Put Syracuse away early:  Don't let Syracuse hang around.  Rutgers is clearly the better team, and needs to bring the same intensitiy to the Carrier Dome as they did against South Florida.  Rutgers would be wise to take advantage of their possessions early and build a 3 touchdown lead by the half.  With a short,and abnormal week ahead with the Thanksgiving holiday and the 11 AM kickoff in Louisville, I'm sure Greg Schinao would love to let his starters rest for much of the second half/4th quarter.

It's a long road back to respectability for Syracuse, but I like where they are headed under head coach Doug Marrone.  Rutgers is just a much better team at this point, and should be able to impose their will on the Orange.  I like Rutgers in a rout.

Rutgers 38  Syracuse 10