by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Jan 21, 2022
Time: Noon ET
Venue: Williams Arena, Minneapolis, MN
Where to watch: BTN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Check back later
BetMGM: Check back later
Caesars: Check back later
Season record
Rutgers: 11-6 (5-2 Big Ten)
Minnesota: 10-5 (1-5 Big Ten)
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Rutgers - Minnesota preview, analysis and prediction
I never thought that I would be here in late January talking about the prospects of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights being a competitive team in the crowded Big Ten Conference.
But here is Rutgers, winners of six of seven and suddenly in the conversation as one of the top four or five teams in the Big Ten. And the schedule continues to look favorably toward Rutgers as it will visit the struggling Minnesota Golden Gophers on Saturday in Minneapolis.
Now, I don't want this to come off as Rutgers being a sneaky dark horse in the conference. The Scarlet Knights have the capability of being a team that can sneak into the NCAA tournament. but like most would attest to evaluating Rutgers, I do come to the same conclusion that they have not defeated any noteworthy teams to this point despite their 11-6 record.
just in the last five games alone, Rutgers has beaten a struggling Michigan team, a very average Nebraska team, a below average Maryland squad, but might have had its most impressive win of the season outside of beating Purdue with a 48-46 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes on Wednesday night.
Anytime a team puts up 48 points and wins a game, something has to go right defensively. Rutgers held Iowa to 28% shooting and outrebounded the Hawkeyes 49 to 38. Despite Rutgers committing five more turnovers than Iowa, and despite making only two of 13 from 3 point range this is the kind of play that is going to make Rutgers a very dangerous team going forward.
And we saw that when they knocked off Purdue at the buzzer back in December. Rutgers however has this weird trajectory of being a team that looks like it's going to shock many teams, but then turns out to be lackluster; case in point the 17 point loss at Penn State just one week ago.
As the season continues to wind down, we're going to need to see more of Rutgers handling business against teams that they should beat. Minnesota is no exception, however it says a lot that Rutgers held Iowa to just 46 points while Minnesota three days earlier allowed 81 to the Hawkeyes and lost by 10.
Just four days prior, Minnesota was seconds away from upsetting Michigan State in East Lansing, but lost at the buzzer on a layup.
Minnesota lost its last game to Iowa despite shooting 51% from the field, but the Gophers committed six more turnovers and were outrebounded by 9 more to Iowa. This is the case of a team that is lacking an identity and going against a team like Rutgers that is red hot right now, is a dangerous mix if you are a Minnesota supporter.
I like Rutgers very comfortably in this game and I expect its defense to take over and lead them to victory, but it needs to be by a comfortable margin in order for many to believe that Rutgers is for real. Ron Harper Jr. has been one of the most underrated players in the country and I believe he is going to need to be the one to carry this team if they want to make a run in March. Rutgers by 15
Betting trends
Rutgers is 17-12 ATS as an underdog in its last 29.
Rutgers is 6-3 ATS when playing their second game in a week.
Minnesota is 1-5 ATS when a home favorite between 3.5 and 6 points.
Projected starting lineup
Rutgers:
PG: Geo Baker
SG: Paul Mulcahy
SF: Ron Harper Jr.
PF: Caleb McConnell
C: Cliff Omoruyi
SF: Ron Harper Jr.
PF: Caleb McConnell
C: Cliff Omoruyi
Minnesota:
PG: E.J. Stephens
SG: Payton Willis
SF: Luke Loewe
PF: Jamison Battle
C: Eric Curry
SF: Luke Loewe
PF: Jamison Battle
C: Eric Curry
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
