A once-promising season unraveled for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, while the Minnesota Golden Gophers clawed their way back from a rough start with four straight conference victories.
Will the Golden Gophers stay hot, or can the Scarlet Knights turn things around? Here’s where we stand in this Minnesota vs. Rutgers prediction.
Minnesota vs. Rutgers Betting Preview
All Minnesota vs. Rutgers odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. The CFN Spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Minnesota -4.5 - Spread
Minnesota -6 - Moneyline
Minnesota -225, Rutgers +185 - Over/Under
46 points - Game Time
Nov. 9, Noon ET - Location
SHI Stadium | Piscataway, NJ - Predicted Weather at Kick
56 degrees, sunny, 6 mph winds - How To Watch
NBC
These teams are trending in opposite directions as Rutgers has dropped four straight, while Minnesota is unbeaten in its last four. That’s reflected in a spread that gives the Golden Gophers a distinct advantage.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
With a spread of six points and a total of just 46.5 points, Vegas expects a low-scoring game. The implied final score is close to 26-20 in favor of the Golden Gophers.
Minnesota’s Winning Probability
When we ran the Big Ten Championship scenarios, Minnesota won the Big Ten in a single sim out of 10,000. It’s highly unlikely the Golden Gophers make the championship game, but it’s a testament to their recent play. Per CFN’s Football Playoff Meter, the Golden Gophers have a 63.1% chance to win Saturday before key games against Penn State and Wisconsin.
- at Rutgers: 63.1%
- vs. Penn State: 27%
- at Wisconsin: 50%
Rutgers’ Winning Probability
Conversely, Rutgers has a 36.9%% chance of beating Minnesota at home, which translates to a spread of about 4.5 points. Needing two wins for bowl eligibility, all four of the Scarlet Knights’ final four games have implied spreads of less than five points.
- vs. Minnesota: 36.9%
- at Maryland: 52.5%
- vs. Illinois: 38%
- at Michigan State: 45.7%
Prediction for Minnesota vs. Rutgers
Life in the new Big Ten for middle-tier teams is all about momentum. The Golden Gophers looked dead in the water until they hosted a floundering USC Trojans squad and managed to breathe new life into their season.
That said, I’m not entirely convinced Minnesota is playing any better now than they were during their two-game skid in late September.
The formula they’re using isn’t revolutionary. They’re leaning on solid defense, a dependable running game, and just enough production from the passing attack to keep things balanced.
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Max Brosmer has been steady—exactly what you want from a quarterback in this system. But Minnesota can’t afford to keep living on the edge with one-score wins. That kind of luck tends to run out.
On the flip side, Rutgers started the season strong in non-conference play but has sputtered in Big Ten action. It’s not that their early wins look worse—if anything, the Virginia Tech victory has aged well.
The issue is that their offense stalled against Nebraska, and their defense fell apart against Wisconsin. Over their last three games, the Scarlet Knights have been outscored 129-59, with neither unit holding up its end of the bargain.
Even after diving into the numbers, it’s tough to pinpoint exactly what’s wrong with Rutgers. They seem to have lost their mojo somewhere along the way. Did they rediscover it during the bye week?
Call it a gut feeling, but I think Rutgers keeps this one competitive early. Still, I’m a big believer in Minnesota’s defense. One or two poorly timed turnovers could break the game open. Rutgers isn’t built to come from behind, and when their offense is forced to press, things tend to spiral.
Keep an eye on true freshman safety Koi Perich—he’s hunting for his fifth interception in as many games. Expect a close contest early, but Minnesota should pull away for a two-score win in another low-scoring, grind-it-out affair.
Prediction: Minnesota 23, Rutgers 14
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