| MATCHUP | Minnesota Golden Gophers | Cincinnati Bearcats |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 2-0 | 2-0 |
| Spread | +7.5 -115 | -7.5 -105 |
| Moneyline | +260 | -325 |
| Total | Over 144.5 (-110) | Under 144.5 (-110) |
| Where | Fifth Third Arena, Cincinnati, OH | |
| When | Monday, November 9, 2026 | |
| Time | 07:00 PM EST | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
Minnesota vs Cincinnati Prediction
In this Minnesota vs Cincinnati Prediction, Cincinnati is coming as -7.5 home favorites. Both teams have been undefeated in their two games played this season and both failed to cover the spread in their previous game. They both have been playing elite defense, ranking on the top-65 of the entire country in points allowed, with just 114.5 ppg combined, and as a result, all of their four games played this season have gone under the total. With both teams also having mediocre shooting percentages both from the field and from beyond the arc, there is only one way to go here and that is to take the under 144.5 points in a low-scoring grind.
Cincinnati Bearcats Preview
The Cincinnati Bearcats have a 2-0 overall record and a 2-0 home record. They are coming off a 81-64 home win against Green Bay and will face Dayton and Youngstown State next.
Offensively, they are averaging 80 points per game (ranking 184th in the nation), while allowing 58.5 points per game defensively (ranking 62nd in the nation) and have a 113.6 offensive rating (ranking 167th) and a 83.1 defensive rating (ranking 83rd). The Bearcats are shooting 44.9% from the field (ranking 197th) and 31% from beyond the arc (ranking 223rd), while allowing their opponents to shoot with 37.3% from the field (ranking 108th) and 27.5% from the 3-point range (ranking 121st). They are shooting with a 70% from the free-throw line (ranking 163rd). They are grabbing 39 rebounds per game (ranking 161st) and allow 28.5 rebounds per game off their opponents (51st), while averaging 19.5 assists per game (ranking 65th) and allowing their opponents to dish 9 assists per game (44th). They average 4.5 blocks per game (ranking 110th) and 12 steals per game (ranking 37th), while committing 11 turnovers per game (ranking 105th) and forcing their opponents into 19.5 turnovers per game (ranking 42nd).
Myles Colvin leads Cincinnati in scoring, averaging 17 ppg on 50% shooting from the field. MJ Collins Jr. follows with 12 ppg on 43.8% shooting from the field. Akai Fleming follows with 9 ppg on 50% shooting from the field. Myles Colvin leads the team in rebounds with 7 per game. Tylen Riley leads the team in assists with 4 per game.
Minnesota Golden Gophers Preview
The Minnesota Golden Gophers have a 2-0 overall record and a 0-0 road record. They are coming off a 76-62 home win against St. Thomas and will face Southern and Western Illinois next.
Offensively, they are averaging 80.5 points per game (ranking 178th in the nation), while allowing 56 points per game defensively (ranking 47th in the nation) and have a 121.0 offensive rating (ranking 110th) and a 84.1 defensive rating (ranking 96th). The Golden Gophers are shooting 46.7% from the field (ranking 167th) and 35% from beyond the arc (ranking 145th), while allowing their opponents to shoot with 31.4% from the field (ranking 28th) and 18.8% from the 3-point range (ranking 18th). They are shooting with a 74.3% from the free-throw line (ranking 101st). They are grabbing 46.5 rebounds per game (ranking 49th) and allow 33.5 rebounds per game off their opponents (150th), while averaging 23.5 assists per game (ranking 25th) and allowing their opponents to dish 11 assists per game (108th). They average 4 blocks per game (ranking 130th) and 5 steals per game (ranking 300th), while committing 10 turnovers per game (ranking 62nd) and forcing their opponents into 9.5 turnovers per game (ranking 327th).
Isaac Asuma leads Minnesota in scoring, averaging 16.5 ppg on 63.2% shooting from the field. Jaylen Crocker-Johnson follows with 15.5 ppg on 43.5% shooting from the field. Bobby Durkin, Grayson Grove, and Nolan Groves follow with 10.5 ppg each, with Durkin shooting 50% from the field, Grove shooting 57.1% from the field, and Groves shooting 43.8% from the field. Jaylen Crocker-Johnson leads the team in rebounds with 7 per game. Grayson Grove leads the team in assists with 4.5 per game.
Minnesota Golden Gophers @ Cincinnati Bearcats Betting Trends: November 9, 2026
Why the Cincinnati Bearcats will win
- Cincinnati has won 33 of its last 34 games against non-Conference opponents at Fifth Third Arena.
- Minnesota has lost each of its last seven Monday road games.
- Minnesota has lost the first half in three of its last four road games against non-AP-ranked opponents.
Why the Minnesota Golden Gophers will win
- Minnesota has won each of its last five Monday games against non-Conference opponents.
- Cincinnati has lost three of its last four night games against the Big Ten Conference.
Total Points Facts
- Each of Minnesota’s last nine night games against non-AP-ranked opponents have produced a total of 139 or fewer points.
- Nine of Cincinnati’s last 11 games against the Big Ten Conference have produced a total of 134 or fewer points.
Matchup/League Facts
- Cincinnati ranks T21st among Division 1 teams for opponent field goal attempts per game this season (51.0).
- Cincinnati ranks T27th among Division 1 teams for steals per game this season (12.0).
- Minnesota ranks 18th among Division 1 teams for assist to turnover ratio this season (2.35).
- Minnesota ranks 18th among Division 1 teams for opponent field goal percentage this season (31.4%).