Noon ET | Minnesota (6-3, 4-2) @ Rutgers (4-4, 1-4) | NBC
Spread: Minnesota -6.5 (-105) | Total: 46.5
Besides the undefeated teams, No. 1 Oregon and No. 8 Indiana, no one in the B1G is hotter than Minnesota, which has won four straight, including its past two on the road.
In their four wins, Max Brosmer has completed 70.7 percent of his passes with seven TD passes to no INTs (6:4 TD:INT ratio prior). RB Darius Taylor has rushed for over 80 yards in three of those four games, including 131 yards (6.0 YPC) last week at Illinois.
Besides the lone winless team in Big Ten play, Purdue, no one in the B1G is colder than Rutgers, which has lost four straight, including its past two at home.
The Rutgers side of things is a bit juicier. Sure, Athan Kaliakmanis is completing just 54.1 percent of his passes (on the season) with two touchdown passes to four interceptions during their losing streak. (I didn’t say better.) But that ignores the plot twist that Minnesota’s PJ Fleck pushed Kaliakmanis out the door to bring Brosmer via the portal to replace him. Kirk Ciarrocca, who left Fleck’s staff to reunite with Greg Schiano before last season, calls the plays for the Scarlet Knights. Fleck and Ciarrocca worked for Schiano during RU’s time in the Big East.
What does that mean for Saturday? Who knows, but it certainly adds some intrigue to the matchup.
Score: Minnesota 27, Rutgers 17
