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FACTS & STATS: Site: Rentschler Stadium (40,000) -- East Hartford, Connecticut. Television: ESPN. Home Record: RU 6-1, UConn 3-3. Away Record: RU 1-2, UConn 1-3. Neutral Record: RU 1-0, UConn 0-0. Conference Record: RU 3-2, UConn 2-2. Series Record: Rutgers leads, 21-9.

GAME NOTES: The Rutgers Scarlet Knights take a short trip North to take on the Connecticut Huskies at Rentschler Stadium with a share of the Big East Conference Championship on the line for the visitors

The Scarlet Knights have the opportunity to be the first Big East school to finish in last place one season and in first the next if they take down UConn. Rutgers is 8-3 as it is currently riding a three-game winning streak that includes wins over South Florida, Army, and Cincinnati. Coach Greg Schiano's team lost to Big East rivals West Virginia and Louisville, which would cause the Scarlet Knights to lose a tie-breaker situation if those programs do not lose.

UConn is 4-6 after losing to Louisville 34-20 in its last outing. In head coach Paul Pasqualoni's first year with the program, the Huskies have an opportunity to become bowl eligible if they beat Rutgers this week and win on the road against Cincinnati next week in their finale. The Huskies have been bowl eligible seven of the last nine seasons.

Rutgers holds a 21-9 advantage in the all-time series versus UConn. Seven of the last nine most recent meetings have been settled by a touchdown or less. Since UConn joined the BIG EAST in football in 2004, Rutgers holds a 5-2 edge. Last season, Rutgers posted a 27-24 win on October 8 at Rutgers Stadium. UConn led at the half by a 24-17 count, but the Scarlet Knights held the Huskies scoreless in the second half.

Rutgers is ranked 104th in the nation in total offense with an average of 328 per game. During its winning streak, Rutgers is averaging 309 yards and 22.3 points per game.

Chas Dodd started the year as the Scarlet Knights' quarterback before being pulled due to poor play as Schiano turned the offense over to freshman Gary Nova. Dodd was given a second chance when Rutgers faced South Florida and he has led the team to three straight wins since.

The Big East's fifth-leading rusher Jawan Jamison was held to just 65 yards in two games before running all over Cincinnati last week as he finished with 200 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries. It was only the second time in his career that he eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark. Jamison could be a future star in the making for the program.Mohamed Sanu is one of top receivers in the nation as the junior wideout always seems to be open. Sanu has had six double- digit, 100-plus yard performances this season. Sanu went over 1,000 yards for the season last week against the Bearcats.

Rutgers has been able to win this year due to its relentless defense. The Scarlet Knights have only allowed one of their last eight opponents to score more than 20 points. In its most recent outing, the Rutgers defensive unit held Cincinnati to just three points and 225 yards of total offense. Luckily for UCONN, Rutgers's pass defense is much more effective than its rushing defense. Khasheem Greene is the leader of the Big East with 114 total tackles this season.

The Huskies rely heavily on their freshman tailback Lyle McCombs for offensive production. The rookie ran for 100 yards or more in three straight games before last week's loss to Louisville. McCombs passed the 1,000-yard mark in the loss.

Johnny McEntee had been held under 200 yards passing for four-straight games before last week in which he threw for 253 yards but completed only 18-of-43 attempts. Earlier in the year McEntee had a flash of greatness as he completed 22-of-39 for 300 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. McEntee's play will play a huge factor in this one. Kashif Moore had one of the best performances of his career last week against the Cardinals with seven catches for 110 yards and a touchdown. McEntee's best passing performances have come on days when Moore catches six passes or more.

The UConn defense is holding opposing rushers to 93.5 yards per game which is the sixth lowest in the nation. Despite giving up 34 points to Louisville, the Huskies held their opponent to just 299 total yards of offense in the game. Before the Louisville game, UConn allowed its opponents to gain over 300 yards of total offense for seven straight games.

Rutgers's defense is too strong to expect much out of the struggling Huskies in this one. McEntee has been struggling and going up against the nation's ninth best pass defense is most likely not the best remedy. UConn has its postseason hopes on the line and will play with a lot of fire, but that will not be enough, especially if Jamison gets it going for a second straight week.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Rutgers 24. Connecticut 20