Gophers football vs. Rutgers: Keys to game, how to watch and who has edge

Andy Greder, Pioneer Press
·4 min read
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RUTGERS AT MINNESOTA

When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Huntington Bank Stadium
TV: BTN
Radio: KFAN, 100.3 FM
Weather: 60 degrees, sunny, 9 mph north wind
Betting favorite: Gophers, minus-14

Records: Minnesota (4-3, 1-3 Big Ten) has lost three straight games for the first time since 2018, including the most lopsided defeat, 45-17, at No. 16 Penn State last Saturday. Rutgers (4-3, 1-3) came back from 14-0 to earn their first Big Ten win of the year, 24-17, over Indiana (3-5, 1-4) last week.

History: The Gophers are 2-0 all-time vs. Rutgers, including 42-7 in Piscataway, N.J. in 2019. The connections between the coaching staffs are abundant, with P.J. Fleck crediting Rutgers’ Greg Schiano for helping set up his head-coaching career.

Key matchup: Gophers defensive line vs. Rutgers offensive line. Minnesota is last in the Big Ten with nine sacks and have only one player with double digits pressures (11 for backup DE Jah Joyner). Rutgers have given up 12 sacks, with former U guard Curtis Dunlap Jr. allowing a team-high 14 pressures.

Who has the edge?

Gophers offense vs. Rutgers defense: Former U safeties coach Joe Harasymiak was promoted to defensive coordinator at Rutgers before this season. Along with the defensive-minded Schiano, the Scarlet Knights are seventh in the nation in total defense (283 yards per game). … “Very well coached,” U offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca, another Schiano disciple, said Wednesday. “Very tough. They are playing great team defense. The sum of the 11, the whole is greater than the individual pieces.” … Look for talented CB Max Melton and Christian Braswell to play press man coverage until Minnesota WR prove they can create separation and win contested catches. WR Dylan Wright is expected to return after missing Penn State due to disciplinary reasons. … S Avery Young (31 tackles) helps make it another strong secondary faced in back-to-back weeks. … QB Tanner Morgan has been in concussion protocol for a second week. If the sixth-year senior can’t play, Athan Kaliakmanis will make second straight start. The redshirt freshman was poised in front of nearly 110,000 fans in the White Out game, but completed only 41 percent of his passes. … DE Aaron Lewis and Wesley Bailey have more than 23 pressures apiece, and Gophers tackles Aireontae Ersery and Quinn Carroll have had issues in pass protection. EDGE: Rutgers

Gophers defense vs. Rutgers offense: Schiano dismissed offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson on Oct. 9. Rutgers lags in many categories, including 102nd in points per game (23) and 126th in plays over 10 yards (25). … With Ninzio Campanile as interim OC, Rutgers freshman RB Samuel Brown V had 28 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown vs. a bad Indiana defense. … Rutgers has started four QBs, including four-star recruit Gavin Wimsatt, but lately it’s been Nebraska transfer Noah Vedral. He has completed 46 percent in the last two games, with one TD. … The Scarlet Knights targeted TE Johnny Langan 10 times vs. Indiana and he had five receptions. Penn State had a few explosive plays getting tight ends open against LB Mariano Sori-Marin. Gophers defensive coordinator Joe Rossi adjusted to that mid-game and expects Rutgers to have wrinkles tailored for them. … Rutgers’ No. 1 target, WR Aron Cruickshank, has team highs of 27 reception and 355 yards. … Illinois targeted and had success on CB Justin Walley, but the sophomore was the U’s highest graded defender against Penn State, per Pro Football Focus College. He added an interception and a 37-yard return. … On pass rush, Rossi first wants DTs to create more pressure in a QB’s face, which will help DEs finish from the edge with sacks. EDGE: Gophers

Special teams: Both teams have threats in the return game. Cruickshank, a Wisconsin transfer, has five career TDs (four kickoffs, one punt). Quentin Redding had a 92-yard return vs. Illinois. Rutgers gave up a kickoff return TD to Indiana. … Rutgers K Jude McAtamney has made 71 percent of field goals this year; Matthew Trickett has made 87 percent. EDGE: Gophers

Prediction: Overall, both defensives have been much better than their respective offenses this season. Hence, the 40.5 over/under points total for this game. With Brevyn Spann-Ford and Mo Ibrahim, Minnesota has a bit more on offense. Gophers 24-17

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