It would kind of be a shame if the Minnesota Golden Gophers did not get named to the NCAA Tournament field, because they play in the toughest basketball conference in the country and have beaten the three toughest teams in that conference. And we’ll go even farther – those are three of top seven teams in the nation, according to the Associated Press poll.

But what do you do about a team that can’t win when they leave Minneapolis? What is the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee to think of that? Will that ultimately affect these Gophers, and will they have to settle for the NIT, which they have won before under Richard Pitino?

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They would seem to be in “must win” territory as they visit Penn State, but we’ve got some definite ideas about this, which will help you cash a ticket at HRWager.

Minnesota Golden Gophers at Penn State Nittany Lions Picks

Golden Gophers vs. Nittany Lions Betting Report

Tip-off: 7 PM ET (Big Ten Network)

College Basketball Betting Odds: Penn State -4.5 (-115), Total 147

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde exist in the University of Minnesota basketball program. The Gophers have beaten three of the very best teams in the country – Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa – along with two other Top 25 squads. But they have done it all at home.

When they hit the road, it is a different experience, and a painful one at that.

The Gophers travel so badly that I doubt any of their players even have a good time on vacation. They just can’t win when they are not smelling that home cookin’. Just take a look at these defeats:

* 92-65 at Illinois

* 71-59 at Wisconsin

* 82-57 at Michigan

* 86-71 at Iowa

* 81-62 at Purdue

* 72-59 at Maryland

* 76-72 at Rutgers

* 82-72 at Indiana

* 78-74 at Nebraska

NCAA Basketball Picks for Tonight

Coming into their February 20 game against Illinois, they had averaged 115.9 points per 100 possessions at home. But then they lost that game by 31 and then lost to Northwestern, so they aren’t winning ANYWHERE at the moment.

And one reason for that is the absence of seven-foot center Liam Robbins, who has averaged 13 points and 7.4 rebounds. Robbins actually played three games with a sprained ankle, during which time he scored just eight points with two-of-14 shooting from the field. He was forced to sit out the last two games, but coach Richard Pitino is hopeful he’ll be able to suit up and help the team on Wednesday.

All too often the Gophers’ offense has been a one-man show, and that is especially the case without Robbins. Marcus Carr, the 6-2 guard out of Toronto, had 41 of the team’s 74 points against Nebraska.

What makes matters worse is that small forward Both Gach, who has scored in double figures nine times this season, has been severely hampered with a foot injury, and what he can contribute is limited. And Gabe Kalscheur, who missed the last four games after starting every one before, is going to be missing until further notice due to a broken finger.

So the depth has been tested.

Still, Minnesota might be able to make a case for themselves with the NCAA Selection Committee if they can win their final two regular season games against Penn State and Rutgers, then win at least one game in the Big Ten tourney. There won’t be many at-large candidates who can say they have three victories over top ten foes.

Penn State, which comes into this with an 8-13 mark, has a different story in that they will simply have to win the conference tournament to get to the Big Dance.

It’s been hard luck for the Nittany Lions this season. And when we say that we mean that they are a pretty cohesive team that is solid defensively, but they have gone through a murderer’s row of opponents. They’ve scored their share of victories; for instance, they beat VCU and Virginia Tech in the non-conference slate, as well as Rutgers, Maryland and Wisconsin in the Big Ten. But they don’t have the marquee wins the Gophers have had.

And with what amounts to a seven-man rotation, they wouldn’t have been able to withstand the attrition Minnesota has had to deal with.

But those injuries are certainly a factor. So is the awful road record of Pitino’s squad, which is now 1-8 against the point spread as the visitor. We’re going to look for that trend to continue tonight in NCAA basketball betting action.

The Play: PENN STATE -4.5 (-115)