Rutgers vs. Iowa State: 7 Best Matchups of the 2011 Pinstripe Bowl

The 2011 Pinstripe Bowl will feature over a hundred players and dozens of coaches, but the game will come down to a few specific matchups.

On December 30, Rutgers will face Iowa State at Yankee Stadium in what is sure to be a very highly-contested game.

The Scarlet Knights come into the game at 8-4 and were only one win away from a share of the Big East title. The Iowa State Cyclones had only six wins this season, but played a much tougher schedule in the loaded Big 12.

Each team is filled with all-conference performers and future professional athletes, but the winning team will be the one who wins the most individual battles.

Rutgers coach Greg Schiano has still not decided which quarterback he will use in the upcoming Pinstripe Bowl. 

Gary Nova (pictured) and Chas Dodd have each had their good and bad days, and the coach has said he will make a decision "just before kickoff."

While this helps somewhat, as the opposing defense cannot game plan as well, it also does not instill much confidence in the young athletes as they attempt to play in the biggest game of their careers.

Iowa State's Jared Barnett will not have this problem, as the freshman has been the starter at quarterback since mid-October. He sometimes struggles with accuracy, but he has the ability to beat teams with his arm or his legs.

In an upset win over No. 2 Oklahoma State, Barnett threw for 376 yards and ran for 84. He has shown he can succeed in a high-pressure atmosphere throughout the season and the bowl game should be no different.

Edge: Iowa State

Mohamed Sanu of Rutgers broke out this year to prove he is one of the best receivers in the nation.

He equaled his stats from the previous two years combined, as he finished the regular season with 1,144 receiving yards and was fifth in the nation with 109 receptions. 

It will be difficult for any team to contain the junior, but there are a few athletes on Iowa State who will attempt to slow him down.

Sophomore Jacques Washington finished third on the team with 83 tackles, while senior Ter'Ran Benton finished the season with three interceptions in the last five games.

Each player also has solid height for their positions, and should be able to match up well with the 6'2" receiver.

However, Sanu has already proved that he is capable of dominating big games, as he won the MVP of the 2009 St. Petersburg Bowl with 138 total yards and three touchdowns.

Edge: Rutgers

Frank Cignetti Jr. is the son of the former West Virginia head coach of the same name, and is currently the offensive coordinator for Rutgers.

Despite being only 46, he has served as offensive coordinator for Fresno State, North Carolina, California, Pittsburgh and now Rutgers. Cignetti has also been considered for head coaching jobs such as the position at Tulane. 

He will have to out-plan veteran Wally Burnham, the defensive coordinator of Iowa State.

Burnham has worked in the same position at South Florida and South Carolina, and is experienced in getting the most out of his players.

Neither of these units have been particularly impressive this season, but the coach that can create the best game plan will most likely come out on top.

Edge: Rutgers

Jawan Jamison has been a solid force in the running game for Rutgers this season, but he will have his work cut out for him against Iowa State.

The sophomore running back has shown that he is capable of some outstanding games, as he rushed for 200 yards and two touchdowns against Cincinnati. The problem is consistency, as Jamison followed up that performance with only 19 yards against Connecticut.

In the Pinstripe Bowl, the running backs on Rutgers will have to get past linebackers A.J. Klein and Jake Knott of the Cyclones.

Klein was selected as the defensive player of the year in the Big 12, while he and Knott also received All-Big 12 honors.

Together, the duo was among the best in the country, as they both totaled over 100 tackles this season.

One good player is tough enough to account for, but Rutgers will struggle to block both elite players throughout the game.

Edge: Iowa State

Each team has a solid offensive line, but if Iowa State would like to defeat Rutgers, it will have to win the battle in the trenches.

Cyclone linemen Kelechi Osemele and Hayworth Hicks were both selected to the Big 12 All-Conference team, and have helped lead the way for a balanced rushing offense.

They will try to defend a Rutgers line led by senior Justin Francis. He leads the team with 6.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hits. Defensive tackle Scott Vallone will also help, with his 7.5 tackles for loss.

The tougher unit between these two will be raising the trophy at the end of the game.

Edge: Iowa State

The head-coaching battle features two men who have not been head coaches anywhere besides their current schools.

Rutgers coach Greg Schiano is the more experienced of the two, as this is his 11th season with the team. He has an even 67-67 record, but has had at least eight wins in five of the last six seasons.

He also knows how to prepare his team for a bowl game, winning four straight after losing in his first appearance in 2005.

Paul Rhoads has only been with Iowa State for three seasons, but he has done well enough to receive a 10-year extension to remain at the school.

It will be tough to build a winning program in Ames, but Rhoads has the skill and dedication to one day make the Cyclones a contender in the Big 12.

In this game, though, the experience might be what is necessary to win.

Edge: Rutgers

One of the biggest stories throughout the college football season has been conference realignment. 

The Big East has been the biggest loser in this process, losing West Virginia, Syracuse and Pittsburgh while gaining lesser programs of San Diego State, Boise State, Houston, Central Florida and SMU. 

It seems the Big East is no longer "east," and in reality is no longer "big." The conference might even lose its status as an automatic qualifier to the BCS. 

For these reasons, it is important for the teams that are remaining in the conference to have good showings this bowl season.

Louisville already lost to North Carolina State in the Belk Bowl, which puts the pressure on Cincinnati and Rutgers to give the conference some respectability.

Otherwise it will be tough to consider the Big East in the same category as the rest of the BCS.