THE OFFICIAL RUTGERS-MICHIGAN PREDICTION THREAD

[bac2therac]

Michigan 67 RUTGERS 58 in front of 5,319 at the RAC

 

[MadRU]

Don't forget its an early 6:30pm start time.

 

[RU MAN]

We win. Somehow, someway we win this game.

 

[LeapinLou]

Michigan stinks on the road and Pike still doesn't have a signature win.

RU 66
UM 65

 

[BillyC80]

This has all the earmarks of another nail-biter. If our outstanding defense and rebounding can partially neutralize their outstanding shooting, we can win this.

A good, loud home crowd could make all the difference: 67-63 RU.

 

[higgins3]

This has all the earmarks of another nail-biter. If our outstanding defense and rebounding can partially neutralize their outstanding shooting, we can win this.

A good, loud home crowd could make all the difference: 67-63 RU.

Lets gooooooo

 

[RUinSC]

After the past two games I sense a letdown.
Michigan 83
RU 57

 

[zebnatto]

After the past two games I sense a letdown.
Michigan 83
RU 57

My fear is the same as SC's but I'll gop the other way--the way of being pssed and determined: RU 61-UMICH 58

 

[BIGRUBIGDBIGredmachine]

RU 68-UM 65 if refs don't hose us.

 

[RUJMM78]

Bad matchup because Michigan has athletic 3 point shooters at every position who also have the skillset to get Rutgers players in foul trouble with dribble drives to the basket.Rutgers also plays far better on the road.

Michigan 74-Rutgers 61

 

[goru7]

My concern in this game is how do we play at the RAC. Due to the scheduling quirk, we have played 10 of our 15 conference games away from the RAC , where we have shot better, committed less turnovers, hit more threes, have had more leads we have blown. Normally, I would be thrilled with a 3 game homestretch. But the last 2 efforts against Minnesota and Iowa plus the earlier effort against Penn State leaves me worried. We have gotten better, reduced turnovers, shot threes a little better and I am hoping that translates home because we can beat all three Michigan, MARYLAND and Illinois. We are 0-8 against Michigan in our history with 2 of our most crippling defeats in the Final Four and the NIT final, and the oddsmakers and the desperation of the Michigan team on the bubble cries out for a victory for the visitors, but I am going with Rutgers getting to the magical 70 and Michigan 65.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

My concern in this game is how do we play at the RAC. Due to the scheduling quirk, we have played 10 of our 15 conference games away from the RAC , where we have shot better, committed less turnovers, hit more threes, have had more leads we have blown. Normally, I would be thrilled with a 3 game homestretch. But the last 2 efforts against Minnesota and Iowa plus the earlier effort against Penn State leaves me worried. We have gotten better, reduced turnovers, shot threes a little better and I am hoping that translates home because we can beat all three Michigan, MARYLAND and Illinois. We are 0-8 against Michigan in our history with 2 of our most crippling defeats in the Final Four and the NIT final, and the oddsmakers and the desperation of the Michigan team on the bubble cries out for a victory for the visitors, but I am going with Rutgers getting to the magical 70 and Michigan 65.

Why is it a "quirk"? We play our last 3 games at THE RAC. That puts us at 8-9-1 for the season. Most of us would give our left nut - during a season in which we're making a tourney run - to have our last 3 games AT HOME. That doesn't happen very often.

 

[goru7]

Why is it a "quirk"? We play our last 3 games at THE RAC. That puts us at 8-9-1 for the season. Most of us would give our left nut - during a season in which we're making a tourney run - to have our last 3 games AT HOME. That doesn't happen very often.

Because no other team has it. Plus you do not believe playing 10 of our first 15 conference games away from the RAC would normally be a huge disadvantage to us in this conference? On top of that a number of the away games were back to back with no home games up until now because the Wisconsin game was taken to MSG. This team has had a lot to overcome and the Big 10 did us no favors in scheduling.

 

[Jtung230]

Michigan stinks on the road and Pike still doesn't have a signature win.

RU 66
UM 65

@PSU was a signature win. If we win, 66-62. If we lose, 77-52. It's a game that will be determined by which team forces the other team to play at their tempo.

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

I liked the schedule a lot when it came out, but that was because I didn't do enough research on how talented PSU and NW had become and hoped one of those two home games would be potential W's, with the potential to get a win like Nebraska or Illinois mixed in to get to a 4-14 type of schedule.....never would have imagined we would have been as close as we have in road games.

It's almost the finish line for this team and I'd rather them finish every year with 3 home games in a row, if you can get it....If they can get an upset tomorrow, there is nothing better than home-cooking to play your next game.....and then another one after that. It has the potential to finish up the season on a really positive note.

Michigan is a 7 point favorite, which seems like too many points....the matchup has a chance to be troubling, but you can take Michigan off the dribble, so I think our 3 guards will have a big game.

RU 70, Michigan 67

 

[Sideline20]

RU 62 Michigan 59

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Because no other team has it. Plus you do not believe playing 10 of our first 15 conference games away from the RAC would normally be a huge disadvantage to us in this conference? On top of that a number of the away games were back to back with no home games up until now because the Wisconsin game was taken to MSG. This team has had a lot to overcome and the Big 10 did us no favors in scheduling.

Again: we'd give our left nuts to have 3 HOME GAMES to end the season IF we were fighting for a post-season tourney bid. You take the good with the bad. Bottom line IMHO.

 

[mikefla]

This team has proven they can stay with even the best teams in the B10
but it just cant close games
Its a possible win.......I think the guys are frustrated & due for a breakout win
RU 73
UM 69

 

[RUONTHERISE]

RU- 70
UM- 68

 

[LeapinLou]

@PSU was a signature win.

While it's fun to beat PSU in anything, I don't think you can call a win against a team that's not even going to make the big dance a signature win. Plus PSU is historically bad in men's hoop. I will concede that since winning this game, the league's analyst have been much more complimentary of the team and we are being taken much more seriously.

Michigan is a perennial power in men's hoop that is slightly down this year. It would be, by far, the best win of the season. And certainly a signature win.

 

[Knights 1212]

Many people said during the season that we would pull off a major upset. Let's hope that tomorrow is the night.

 

[NJDOVES]

Well, every prediction I've made this year where we were underdogs resulted in defeat. So, I'm going to jinx Michigan and predict a 74-69 Michigan win

 

[Jtung230]

Well, every prediction I've made this year where we were underdogs resulted in defeat. So, I'm going to jinx Michigan and predict a 74-69 Michigan win

A true RU fan. I find that if I don't watch it live, they have a better chance of wining too. Everyone should post their RU sports superstitions.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

We have improved enough to believe the margin is all in the success, or lack of success, in shooting. I'll leave it at that.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Worth noting...Michigan is the 10th most offensively efficient team and #1 in the B1G. In B1G play they are also #1 scoring 1.14 points per possession. Their numbers don't appear as impressive because of the slow tempo they play.

To me this team is in the MD and WISC tier. Ahead of NW and below Purdue. If it is a priority to Beilien this is my favorite to win the B1G tournament AND the team that gives the B1G the best chance of making it deep in to the NCAA tournament.

 

[srru86]

Detroit News
Wolverines can’t afford to overlook Rutgers

 

[BIGRUBIGDBIGredmachine]

Worth noting...Michigan is the 10th most offensively efficient team and #1 in the B1G. In B1G play they are also #1 scoring 1.14 points per possession. Their numbers don't appear as impressive because of the slow tempo they play.

To me this team is in the MD and WISC tier. Ahead of NW and below Purdue. If it is a priority to Beilien this is my favorite to win the B1G tournament AND the team that gives the B1G the best chance of making it deep in to the NCAA tournament.

Yeh I think Michigan is a bit of a dark horse in B1G too. We've been competitive at MD, had chances to beat Wisky @msg, and shoulda, woulda, coulda beat NW last game. So while there's no argument that UM is a better team than us, I feel at the RAC, this time----we pull off the upset.

 

[BillyC80]

FIG, all that may be true about Michigan's offense, but they haven't played against our defense yet.

 

[PatrickRU92]

Michigan has been playing pretty well in the 2nd half of the season. This one could be rough

RU 99
UM33

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

FIG, all that may be true about Michigan's offense, but they haven't played against our defense yet.

Our defense is trending down, but our offense is trending up. ever since the Wisconsin game at MSG our defense has been a notch or 2 lower. Outside of the Purdue game our offense has actually been good enough to win. This is purely off of points per possession.

 

[Mr_Twister]

This article has a multi-paragraph note on Beilein's comments on officiating at their overtime loss at Minnesota. Can we expect that Pikiell contacts the league in the same way during the season? We all know how the whistle will go tonight. Maybe the refs give Michigan the makeup calls missed at Minnesota. Has Pikiell been teed-up this season?

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sp.../wolverines-afford-overlook-rutgers/98222800/

 

[MGSA99]

Tough having the season end with 3 straight home games. We have already clinched last place, so there is literally nothing to play for but pride, and our student section will reflect that with their woeful attendance. I think we have been playing better away because there is a more electric atmosphere on the road than at home, so our guys get more amped up.

 

[RU848789]

After the past two games I sense a letdown.
Michigan 83
RU 57

I have the same concern, much like how we played so badly against Iowa after the heartbreaking Wisconsin loss.

 

[RUsince52]

If we get the win, have to be up by about 10 with 2 mins left. Other teams know we can't make FTs so they foul. If they can't hit their shots at the end, it could be a win. I hope it goes that way.

 

[toby83]

another Michigan blog preview

http://mgoblog.com/content/hoops-preview-rutgers

 

[ru_upstate]

Mich 79
Rutgers 68