Minnesota vs. Nebraska Odds

The Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-4) will have momentum on their side entering  Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-3), who haven’t been on the field in three weeks due to a spike in COVID-19 cases.

After nearly beating a red-hot Iowa team at home two weeks ago, Nebraska earned an impressive 37-27 victory at Purdue last Saturday. However, the Cornhuskers need another win to keep their slim bowl hopes alive.

On the other side, Minnesota will play its first game without star receiver Rashod Bateman, who decided to forego the remainder of the season in preparation for the NFL Draft.

The Gophers won this matchup in convincing fashion last year via a 34-7 blowout, but they haven’t won in Lincoln since the 2014 campaign.

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Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota’s defensive issues are well documented, but how does this offense cope now with the loss of Bateman on the outside?

Fellow starter Chris Autman-Bell has given the offense a big-play threat, averaging over 22 yards per catch, but no other receiver on the team has more than five receptions. True freshman Daniel Jackson, who was heavily recruited by major Power Five programs, is expected line up opposite Autman-Bell,

With a Bateman-less Minnesota offense, expect Nebraska to employ a similar strategy implemented last week against Purdue, when it limited its opponent to -2 rushing yards and forced the passing game to beat it.

Picking your poison between Mohamed Ibrahim, who leads the conference in rushing, and quarterback Tanner Morgan, who has not resembled the same player as a year ago, seems like an easy choice.

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Nebraska Cornhuskers

The biggest difference in the improved play the last two weeks has been at the quarterback position, where Adrian Martinez has regained the hold on the starting job. The junior quarterback completed 23-of-30 passes for 242 yards and three total touchdowns in the win last week against Purdue, which was arguably one of the best performances of his Nebraska career.

Martinez got a big boost in the backfield last week with the return of starting running back Dedrick Mills, who provides more impact to the offense than the stat sheet shows. Of the 240 carries this season, a total of 118 have gone to quarterbacks due to Mills’ absence. His 220-pound frame can be a load for defenses to handle, especially in the second half of games.

The triumvirate of Martinez, Mills and star playmaker Wan’Dale Robinson will pose a stiff challenge to a Minnesota defense that is 111th against the run, 75th against the pass, and 100th nationally in scoring defense.

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Betting Analysis & Pick

Our PRO projections see value with the Gophers and the under in this matchup, considering the weather forecast showing between 14 and 15 mph winds and a 24% chance of precipitation in the forecast.

The total opened at 59.5 to start the week, and while only slight movement to 59 has occurred, the windy conditions and the fact we have teams that can’t throw the football make the under a viable play.

Minnesota at +10.5 is also our third-best play of the weekend, with the model showing closer to a +5 line.

Picks: Minnesota +10.5 | Total Under 59.