This has all the earmarks of another nail-biter. If our outstanding defense and rebounding can partially neutralize their outstanding shooting, we can win this.
A good, loud home crowd could make all the difference: 67-63 RU.
My fear is the same as SC's but I'll gop the other way--the way of being pssed and determined: RU 61-UMICH 58After the past two games I sense a letdown.
Michigan 83
RU 57
My concern in this game is how do we play at the RAC. Due to the scheduling quirk, we have played 10 of our 15 conference games away from the RAC , where we have shot better, committed less turnovers, hit more threes, have had more leads we have blown. Normally, I would be thrilled with a 3 game homestretch. But the last 2 efforts against Minnesota and Iowa plus the earlier effort against Penn State leaves me worried. We have gotten better, reduced turnovers, shot threes a little better and I am hoping that translates home because we can beat all three Michigan, MARYLAND and Illinois. We are 0-8 against Michigan in our history with 2 of our most crippling defeats in the Final Four and the NIT final, and the oddsmakers and the desperation of the Michigan team on the bubble cries out for a victory for the visitors, but I am going with Rutgers getting to the magical 70 and Michigan 65.
Because no other team has it. Plus you do not believe playing 10 of our first 15 conference games away from the RAC would normally be a huge disadvantage to us in this conference? On top of that a number of the away games were back to back with no home games up until now because the Wisconsin game was taken to MSG. This team has had a lot to overcome and the Big 10 did us no favors in scheduling.Why is it a "quirk"? We play our last 3 games at THE RAC. That puts us at 8-9-1 for the season. Most of us would give our left nut - during a season in which we're making a tourney run - to have our last 3 games AT HOME. That doesn't happen very often.
@PSU was a signature win. If we win, 66-62. If we lose, 77-52. It's a game that will be determined by which team forces the other team to play at their tempo.Michigan stinks on the road and Pike still doesn't have a signature win.
RU 66
UM 65
Because no other team has it. Plus you do not believe playing 10 of our first 15 conference games away from the RAC would normally be a huge disadvantage to us in this conference? On top of that a number of the away games were back to back with no home games up until now because the Wisconsin game was taken to MSG. This team has had a lot to overcome and the Big 10 did us no favors in scheduling.
@PSU was a signature win.
A true RU fan. I find that if I don't watch it live, they have a better chance of wining too. Everyone should post their RU sports superstitions.Well, every prediction I've made this year where we were underdogs resulted in defeat. So, I'm going to jinx Michigan and predict a 74-69 Michigan win
Yeh I think Michigan is a bit of a dark horse in B1G too. We've been competitive at MD, had chances to beat Wisky @msg, and shoulda, woulda, coulda beat NW last game. So while there's no argument that UM is a better team than us, I feel at the RAC, this time----we pull off the upset.Worth noting...Michigan is the 10th most offensively efficient team and #1 in the B1G. In B1G play they are also #1 scoring 1.14 points per possession. Their numbers don't appear as impressive because of the slow tempo they play.
To me this team is in the MD and WISC tier. Ahead of NW and below Purdue. If it is a priority to Beilien this is my favorite to win the B1G tournament AND the team that gives the B1G the best chance of making it deep in to the NCAA tournament.
FIG, all that may be true about Michigan's offense, but they haven't played against our defense yet.
After the past two games I sense a letdown.
Michigan 83
RU 57