It seems like the consensus opinion is that the future looks bright for Rutgers athletics. Outside of the realignment issues, Rutgers boasts a top ten recruiting class, and a young, yet bowl eligible football team.

Often I have heard that Rutgers fans need to contain their expectations, as they will just be let down. Then, Rutgers came back against the University of South Florida. Now, Rutgers has a (small) chance to win the Big East, and a (large) chance of playing in the Pinstripe Bowl. All that with no true starting quarterback, a freshman running back that struggled throughout the year, and another running back that left the team early in the season. (Remember De'Antwan Williams?)

Already the football team is exceeding expectations, and there is nowhere to go but up. As for basketball, Mike Rice has infused an enthusiasm in the fans here that has not been seen before.

Eli Carter, Myles Mack, Jerome Seagears, etc, the freshman class is outstanding for Rutgers. Add that to Gildyvas Biruta, Dane Miller, and the others, and Rutgers basketball looks better than ever.

Rutgers basketball has ESPN (2:40 into the video) talking about them, and The Dagger predicting them to finish ahead of St. John's, among others.

In all likelihood we cannot look forward to an NCAA berth this season, (who knows, though?) but a bid into the NIT is not too crazy to think about.

The expectation here is that fans will storm the court more than once this season, and Rutgers basketball will open some eyes.

Finally, here are my predictions.

Rutgers football will finish 8-4, and will win the Pinstripe Bowl.

Rutgers basketball will finish 17-14, winning their last three games. Rutgers will win at least one game in the Big East Tournmanent.

Thoughts?