Phoenix ? Rutgers defied long odds to earn its first bowl bid in 28 years. Winning the game will require another upset.

The Scarlet Knights (7-4) face high-scoring, pass-crazy Arizona State (6-5) in the Insight Bowl tonight, and the Sun Devils’ array of talented receivers can’t wait to see Rutgers try to use its trademark man-to-man coverage against them.

“Whenever corners press and play man coverage, you’ve got to get excited,” said ASU wide receiver Derek Hagan, a third-team all-American. “You’re definitely looking for the ball.”

Rutgers’ best hopes are to put pressure on Sun Devil quarterback Rudy Carpenter and control the ball to keep Arizona State’s offense off the field.

“We’re going to do our best to maintain possession of the football,” Scarlet Knights coach Greg Schiano said. “It doesn’t mean just running the ball, but being efficient in our passing game and play a little keep away. That is part of our plan. But when push comes to shove, we need to play defense against a very good offense, and our guys are ready to do that.”

Oddsmakers have made the Sun Devils, playing 10 miles from their campus, a 10-point favorite. That is down from 131â2, probably because 20 Arizona State players and several coaches missed practice with the flu last week.

All the players are back, though, and after a brief break for Christmas, the team returned to practice Sunday night.

“Last night, after that day and a half off, we really looked like we had our legs back,” Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter said. “Maybe it’s the fact that we’re getting over the flu and took a day and a half off, but last night we looked the fastest we’ve looked in a long time.”

By an odd coincidence, the game is a rematch of the 1978 Garden State Bowl, Rutgers’ only other postseason experience, where Arizona State, in its final bowl game under coach Frank Kush, beat Rutgers, 34-18.

The bowl will be played for the final time at Chase Field, home of baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks. Next year, it moves to Arizona State’s home field, Sun Devil Stadium.