Minnesota, on 3-game skid, returns home to face Rutgers

Rutgers (4-3, 1-3 Large Ten) at Minnesota (4-3, 1-3 Large Ten), Saturday, 2:30 p.m. EDT (Large Ten Community)

Line: Minnesota by 14½, in response to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Collection document: Minnesota leads 2-0.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Rutgers has a profitable document on the seven-game mark for the primary time since 2014, due to a bounce-back victory over Indiana final week that adopted an offensive coordinator change by coach Greg Schiano. With No. 4 Michigan and No. 13 Penn State looming in November, it is a essential matchup for the Scarlet Knights.

The identical goes for the Gophers, who haven’t gained in October after a dominant 4-0 begin raised hope of a Large Ten West Division title. Minnesota, which turned to redshirt freshman QB Athan Kaliakmanis final week within the loss at Penn State with sixth-year starter Tanner Morgan sidelined by a concussion, must jump-start the offense. The Gophers averaged 13.7 factors over the earlier three video games, finishing solely 33 of 73 passes with seven interceptions and one TD.

KEY MATCHUP

Rutgers DL vs. Minnesota OL. The Scarlet Knights rank sixth within the FBS and third within the convention in dashing protection with a median of 87.4 yards allowed per recreation. The Gophers haven’t loved the identical dominance on the line they’ve been used to this month, although RB Mohamed Ibrahim nonetheless has a private streak of 15 straight video games with 100-plus dashing yards.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Rutgers: RB Samuel Brown V. The true freshman rushed for 101 yards and a TD final week towards Indiana in his first profession begin. Brown’s 28 carries have been essentially the most in a recreation for the Scarlet Knights since they entered the Large Ten in 2014.

Minnesota: Ok Matthew Trickett. The fifth-year specialist, in his second season with the Gophers, is tied for first within the convention with an 85.7% area aim fee. He’s 7 for 8 — and 29 for 29 on further factors.

FACTS & FIGURES

That is the second journey to Minnesota for Rutgers in 9 seasons of Large Ten play, final visiting in 2016. … Rutgers is 8-5 in street video games during the last three seasons, tied with Iowa and Michigan for essentially the most such wins within the convention over that span. … The Scarlet Knights lead the Large Ten with 4 blocked kicks, the third-most within the FBS. … Minnesota has its first dwelling recreation in 28 days, the longest such stretch since 2013. … Regardless of giving up 45 factors at Penn State final week, the Gophers are ninth within the FBS in scoring protection (16.4 factors allowed per recreation) and twelfth in whole protection (294.4 yards allowed per recreation). That ranks fifth and sixth within the Large Ten, respectively.

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