FACTS & STATS: Site: Michie Stadium (40,000) -- West Point, New York. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Rutgers 4-3, Army 3-0. Away Record: Rutgers 1-1, Army 0-5. Neutral Record: Rutgers 0-0, Army 0-1. Conference Record: Rutgers 2-3, Army 0-0. Series Record: Army leads, 18-15.

GAME NOTES: In an attempt to bring a halt to a two-game slide and in the process become bowl eligible for the third straight season, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights take to the road to battle the Army Black Knights in West Point on Friday night. Greg Schiano's Knights were supposed to vie for a Big East title this year, but have struggled in-conference (2-3) and are 5-4 overall. The team is coming off back-to-back losses, including last week's 38-19 setback at nationally-ranked Connecticut. The Black Knights return home for the first time since October 6th and will try to bring an end to their own losing streak, having dropped three straight games, including last weekend's 30-10 setback at Air Force. The loss dropped Army to 3-6 on the year. The Black Knights hold an 18-15 edge in the all-time series with Rutgers, but the Scarlet Knights have won the last three meetings.

It hasn't been a lack of offense that has caused Rutgers to slip out of the national spotlight. The team is certainly chewing up the yardage, amassing 462.6 yards per game. It has been great offensive balance that has led to the team's 30.6 ppg, with Rutgers rushing for 179.3 yards and passing for 283.2 yards. It helps to have one of the nation's premier tailbacks in the backfield and Schiano certainly relies heavily on Ray Rice to get the job done. Rice is averaging 139.7 ypg (sixth nationally) and has rushed for 1,257 yards on the year, with 14 TDs. Rice has gotten it done on the ground and QB Mike Teel has done the same through the air. Teel has completed a solid 58.1 percent of his passes, for 2,467 yards, with 14 TDs and nine INTs. Tiquan Underwood has been the top target downfield, leading the team with 57 receptions, for 962 yards and six scores. Underwood ranks seventh in the nation in receiving yards per game (106.9).

It has been the Rutgers' defense that has failed at spots this season. The unit is allowing 22.1 ppg and while the Knights have played well against the pass (164.1 ypg), they have not been so fortunate in stopping the run (162.2 ypg). In addition, Rutgers has struggled in the red zone, allowing foes to score 81 percent of the time, including TDs 59 percent of the time (19-of-32). The team as a whole has done a decent job at rushing the passer, with 24 sacks on the year. However, the squad has been miserable at forcing turnovers, with a mere 10 takeaways in nine games. Leading the defense is free safety Courtney Greene with his 72 total tackles. Other defenders of note include LBs Kevin Malast (70 tackles, 3.5 TFLs) and Brandon Renkart (57 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks) and DE Jamaal Westerman (35 tackles, team-high 10.5 TFLs, team-high 6.0 sacks).

Army lacks the offensive firepower to hang with Rutgers. The team is averaging just 17.2 ppg in 2007, on a meager 271.9 yards of total offense. The Knights have failed to get any kind of consistency on the ground (76.7 ypg) and the passing game has been just a little bit better (195.2 ypg). Through nine games, there is still no one on the roster that has amassed over 285 yards rushing, with Patrick Mealy representing the top ground gainer at just 284 yards. QB Carson Williams has been inconsistent as well. He has completed just over 50 percent of his pass attempts, for 1,281 yards. He has thrown eight TD passes, but against 10 interceptions. The only real offensive threat to date is WR Jeremy Trimble, who is having a nice season, leading the team in receptions (47), receiving yards (708) and TDs (five).

Defensively, Army has been gashed by the run (212.7 ypg) and that certainly looms large with Rice coming into town. To make matter worse, the pass rush has been nonexistent all season, with the team collecting just 13 sacks in nine games. Another potential problem, should Rutgers' Teel get hot early. There isn't a whole lot of positive stat lines on the roster. Free safety Jordan Murray currently leads the team in tackles with 76 total stops. Linebacker Frank Scappaticci has done his part and is probably this unit's top playmaker. Scappaticci is second on the team in tackles (74), with 5.0 TFLs, one sack, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. The team's top pass rusher is defensive tackle Ted Bentler (32 tackles, 4.5 TFLs), with three sacks.

The Black Knights are in trouble in this game. They will receive no mercy from Rutgers, which should be able to move the ball at will, en route to a lopsided victory.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Rutgers 43, Army 10