THE OFFICIAL RUTGERS-MINNESOTA PREDICTION THREAD

bac2therac

Hall of Famer
Jul 30, 2001
247,529
177,241
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Minnesota 75 RUTGERS 69

very tricky game to figure. Rutgers is playing well offensively not necessarily defensively. Minnesota plays only 6 but somehow Medved has got their Iron 6 locked in on both ends. They held Oregon to just 44 on the road. They have only been blown out a couple of times. Wins over Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan State but also losses at Penn State and home to Maryland. Minnesota's best has been better than Rutgers best this year. Which Gopher team shows up? Which Rutgers team shows up? I do know one thing, Rutgers has not played well under Pikiell at Minnesota with strong teams winning only once. 1-5 under Pike, 1-7 overall.
 
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Mr. Magoo1

Heisman
Nov 15, 2001
15,459
16,305
113
Minnesota 75 RUTGERS 69

very tricky game to figure. Rutgers is playing well offensively not necessarily defensively. Minnesota plays only 6 but somehow Medved has got their Iron 6 locked in on both ends. They held Oregon to just 44 on the road. They have only been blown out a couple of times. Wins over Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan State but also losses at Penn State and home to Maryland. Minnesota's best has been better than Rutgers best this year. Which Gopher team shows up? Which Rutgers team shows up? I do know one thing, Rutgers has not played well under Pikiell at Minnesota with strong teams winning only once. 1-5 under Pike, 1-7 overall.

Home of the beginning of the multi-year slide due to the rains down in Africa. Minnesota is more talented but not as deep. This is one we should get if we play like we did the past two games. However, I expect a setback…

Minnesota 71
Rutgers 59
 

bac2therac

Hall of Famer
Jul 30, 2001
247,529
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the game is going to come down to turnovers. RU turned PSU over early and that led to jumping on them early and building a big league. Once PSU stopped turning it over, they chipped away. RU allowed PSU to shoot over 50% so even as some praised the defense, that wasnt a good outing. Minnesota is not a team that plays track meets, they will slow things down.
 

richthedentist

All-American
Aug 2, 2001
11,013
8,567
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the game is going to come down to turnovers. RU turned PSU over early and that led to jumping on them early and building a big league. Once PSU stopped turning it over, they chipped away. RU allowed PSU to shoot over 50% so even as some praised the defense, that wasnt a good outing. Minnesota is not a team that plays track meets, they will slow things down.
Bac why not press them from the get go especially if they only play 6
 

Degaz-RU

Heisman
Dec 19, 2002
22,347
26,640
88
If Jaylen Crocker-Johnson (missed last two games with nagging foot injury) plays and is effective, Minny wins 72-67.

If he’s out, I’m going with Rutgers 72-68.
 

PhillyRU

All-Conference
Apr 17, 2021
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I think it's a bad matchup. Minnesota's offense really moves the ball (No. 1 AST/FG ratio) and they take a ton of 3s, both things that have really given RU issues. Plus, defensively, they do a pretty good job of avoiding fouling.

MINN 77 RU 64
 

RU-ROCS

All-American
Feb 5, 2003
12,417
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I am going to stick to picking the home team against RU on the road (hopefully with the same results as the PSU game). MN 73- RU 63
 

LeapinLou

All-American
Jul 24, 2001
13,165
6,850
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Bac why not press them from the get go especially if they only play 6
As Bac pointed out, it seems they only play 6 guys. We can play 10 guys. So why not press for 40 minutes and make them work hard on defense? It's doable and could result in tired legs and them missing a lot of shots in the last 10 minutes.

I don't expect to win this one. But the winning strategy seems fairly obvious. Thoughts?
 
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Atlasxal

Sophomore
Mar 7, 2025
83
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30
Both teams average 70.6 points/game which is tied for last in the league.
RU gives up 75.5 points/game (14th) and Minny 68 (4th).
 

PiscatawayMike

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
17,336
15,187
113
As Bac pointed out, it seems they only play 6 guys. We can play 10 guys. So why not press for 40 minutes and make them work hard on defense? It's doable and could result in tired legs and them missing a lot of shots in the last 10 minutes.

I don't expect to win this one. But the winning strategy seems fairly obvious. Thoughts?
Pressing on the road is far less effective than pressing at home. The crowd gets into it at home and a visiting opponent can get easily rattled. Pressing on the road can be effective for short stretches, but doing it all game would probably backfire. More than likely, Minnesota would find a way to beat our press on several possessions, leading to quick, easy scores for the Gophers.

With that said, it will be difficult to string together three straight wins... but I think we can do it!

Rutgers............66
Minnesota......60
 
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rtabachk

All-American
Jan 14, 2007
4,759
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1000028812.jpg

We're not winning.

Should have circled our away record and the line.

RU - 62-76 Minn
 

BillyC80

Heisman
Oct 23, 2006
17,083
15,470
72
This has all the earmarks of a close game by two evenly matched teams with similar records.

Both teams have a 7-game losing streak this year.

In recent games, MN did win at home vs MSU by 3 points, while we lost at home to MSU in OT.

Minny lost at PSU while we won at PSU.

Minnesota lost at home to Maryland while we beat MD at the RAC.

I’ll be surprised if either team wins by more than 4 points, unless one team is uncharacteristically hot or cold.

Normally I’d give the edge to the home team, but Rutgers has looked much better of late, so…

I’ll say RU wins 69-68.
 
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Scarlet Blind_rivals

All-Conference
Aug 5, 2001
4,606
4,666
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I'll go with a total like the NW score no overtime, 67-67__ 77-75 final. Minnesota has won 2 of their last 4 after a 7 game losing streak, 2-9 their last 11.

Rutgers 69
Minnesota 65
 

RUBob75

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2003
978
1,175
93
I am a big believer in the point spread. We are 6.5 to 7.5 underdogs. Seems high! Minnesota 78 RU 68.
 

BigEastPhil

Heisman
Nov 25, 2007
19,153
13,349
66
As long as the song “Africa “ doesn’t get blasted thru the PA system - I say we will eek out a victory.

RU - 75
Minn - 74.
 

PiscatawayMike

Heisman
Jul 27, 2001
17,336
15,187
113
I think it's a bad matchup. Minnesota's offense really moves the ball (No. 1 AST/FG ratio) and they take a ton of 3s, both things that have really given RU issues. Plus, defensively, they do a pretty good job of avoiding fouling.

MINN 77 RU 64
You nailed it!

Awful matchups for RU on every inch of the court.
 

PhillyRU

All-Conference
Apr 17, 2021
998
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You nailed it!

Awful matchups for RU on every inch of the court.
It didn't have to be, though. DG should be able to match up with Tyson size-wise, but he's just such a poor defender right now.

I thought this would be a bad game for Ogbole from jump street -- the backup Minn center that played shoots a lot of 3s and is perimeter oriented. The only upside with him is forcing some foul trouble, but dumping it down to Ogbole is an automatic turnover.

And I'm still irked about that hockey line shift in the first half
 

DHajekRC1984

Senior
Jul 20, 2025
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As Bac pointed out, it seems they only play 6 guys. We can play 10 guys. So why not press for 40 minutes and make them work hard on defense? It's doable and could result in tired legs and them missing a lot of shots in the last 10 minutes.

I don't expect to win this one. But the winning strategy seems fairly obvious. Thoughts?
I wasn't laughing at you but that you had the right thoughts vs. our lead guy.
 
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BillyC80

Heisman
Oct 23, 2006
17,083
15,470
72
I think it's a bad matchup. Minnesota's offense really moves the ball (No. 1 AST/FG ratio) and they take a ton of 3s, both things that have really given RU issues. Plus, defensively, they do a pretty good job of avoiding fouling.

MINN 77 RU 64
Well done.
 

BillyC80

Heisman
Oct 23, 2006
17,083
15,470
72
This has all the earmarks of a close game by two evenly matched teams with similar records.

Both teams have a 7-game losing streak this year.

In recent games, MN did win at home vs MSU by 3 points, while we lost at home to MSU in OT.

Minny lost at PSU while we won at PSU.

Minnesota lost at home to Maryland while we beat MD at the RAC.

I’ll be surprised if either team wins by more than 4 points, unless one team is uncharacteristically hot or cold.

Normally I’d give the edge to the home team, but Rutgers has looked much better of late, so…

I’ll say RU wins 69-68.
Samsonite. I was way off.