The Nebraska Cornhuskers take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Friday, Oct. 17. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
Nebraska is favored by -7.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -300. Nebraska, meanwhile, enters as a +7.5 favorite and is +240 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 47.5 points.
Here’s my Nebraska vs. Minnesota prediction and college football picks for Friday, October 17.
Nebraska vs Minnesota Prediction
- Nebraska vs. Minnesota Pick: Nebraska -7
My Minnesota vs. Nebraska best bet is on the Cornhuskers to cover the spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Nebraska vs Minnesota Odds
| Nebraska Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -110 | 47.5 -110o / -110u | -310 |
| Minnesota Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -110 | 47.5 -110o / -110u | +240 |
- Nebraska vs Minnesota Spread: Nebraska -7.5, Minnesota +7.5
- Nebraska vs Minnesota Over/Under: 47.5 Points
- Nebraska vs Minnesota Moneyline: Nebraska -310, Minnesota +240
Nebraska vs Minnesota College Football Betting Preview
Nebraska Cornhuskers Betting Preview: Humming on Offense
Nebraska comes into this one on the second game of a back-to-back conference road trip. In the first game last week, the Cornhuskers were very fortunate to escape Maryland with a win.
Three Dylan Raiola interceptions nearly cost the Huskers on the road, but this offense has taken flight this season under offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen.
The Huskers have scored at least 27 points in five straight games this season while averaging 450 yards per game.
Raiola has been a bright spot, as the sophomore quarterback has completed 73% of his passes with 16 touchdowns while averaging 8.5 yards per attempt.
The ground game was humming last week. Emmett Johnson has been the bell cow at running back thus far, averaging 6.2 yards per attempt with seven rushing scores on the season.
Defensively, the Blackshirts were exposed on the ground against Michigan a few weeks back, but the run defense hasn’t been too bad the last couple of weeks.
Michigan State and Maryland combined to run for 214 yards on 38 attempts, which is encouraging.
If the front seven can improve against the run to help complement an elite secondary that ranks in the top 10 nationally in Pass EPA allowed and Passing Success Rate allowed, this defense could take a step forward and help carry the team to a 10-win season.
Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Preview: Ground Game Flailing
Minnesota comes in off a home win over Purdue in a game that, frankly, it didn’t play very well in.
The Golden Gophers were outgained by nearly 200 yards and averaged just 1.7 yards per carry on the ground. That's not good, considering Purdue grades out with the second-worst run defense in the Big Ten, per PFF.
Quarterback Drake Lindsey completed less than half of his passes, and of the Gophers' 63 offensive snaps, only two were explosive.
Minnesota’s run game has failed it this season, as the Gophers are averaging just 83 rushing yards per game and 2.9 yards per carry against FBS competition.
This offense isn't strong enough to keep up with teams that can move the ball — especially considering the defense is struggling and comes into this week banged up.
Speaking of that defense, the Gophers have allowed 439 yards per game this season in conference play and have allowed 50% of third-down attempts to be converted.
This defensive front has not generated a sack in the last two weeks and ranks in the bottom third in the Big Ten in overall tackling grade, per PFF.
To make matters worse, there are several key contributors in the secondary who are either out or listed as questionable to play on Friday night.
Nebraska vs Minnesota Pick, Betting Analysis
This line opened at -6.5 and was quickly bet up to Nebraska -9.5 before meeting some resistance and settling at Nebraska -7.5. I think Minnesota is in some trouble here, so I'll lay the number with the Huskers.
Minnesota is really banged up in the defensive back seven. Maverick Baranowski, who ranks second on the team in tackles and is probably Minnesota’s best linebacker, is listed as questionable after sustaining an injury last week against Purdue.
Minnesota could also be without Garrison Monroe, Mike Gerald and Aidan Gousby in the secondary, which will stress the depth because nearly everyone in the back half of the two-deep is battling injury.
Minnesota got shredded on the ground last week against Purdue. If Nebraska can get this ground attack going early with Johnson running downhill, there will be plenty of opportunities for Raiola to carve up this secondary in the play-action passing game.
Purdue found a way to move the ball on Minnesota's defense all game last week, but it just couldn’t convert in the red zone.
Nebraska will move the ball here, and if those red-zone opportunities are converted into touchdowns, it could put up a big point total on Friday night.
The Minnesota offense isn't potent enough to match the Huskers score for score.
I don’t have confidence in Lindsey throwing the ball against a Nebraska secondary that ranks seventh nationally in Passing Success Rate allowed and second in EPA Per Pass allowed.
The Gophers aren't equipped with explosive receivers on the outside, and the Huskers lead the entire country in preventing explosive pass plays.
With the way the ground game has performed in conference play, it's hard to see this Minnesota offense having much success. Plus, the defense is hurt all over, and I expect it to fade in the second half.
This line might seem enticing on the home 'dog, but I think it’s the wrong side. Nebraska escaped on the road last weekend, but it won't have to escape here.
Pick: Nebraska -7 (Play to -9.5)
Nebraska vs Minnesota Betting Trends
