College Football

Minnesota vs. Nebraska Prediction, Odds, Picks

Updated Aug. 31, 2023 4:15 p.m. ET

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There's a Big Ten matchup in Week 1 when the Minnesota Golden Gophers (0-0) host the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Huntington Bank Stadium on Thursday, August 31. 

Last year, the Golden Gophers went 9-4 and won the Pinstripe Bowl. On offense, they averaged 28.2 points per game (66th in college football), while conceding 13.8 per game (fourth) defensively. Last season the Cornhuskers finished 4-8 and failed to qualify for the postseason. On offense, they averaged 22.6 points per game (102nd), while conceding 27.6 per game (77th) defensively.

Here's everything you need from a betting perspective on the Minnesota-Nebraska game on FOX Sports, from the point spread, moneyline, total over/under and expert pick:

Minnesota vs. Nebraska Game Information & Odds

• When: Thursday, August 31, 2023 at 8:00 PM ET
• Location: Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota
• TV: FOX
• Live boxscore on FOX Sports

Minnesota vs. Nebraska Prediction

• Pick ATS: Minnesota (-7)  
• Pick OU: Over (43) 
• Prediction: Minnesota 32, Nebraska 13

Pick Via FOX Sports Betting Analyst Jason McIntyre:

The road underdog has taken money, as this has gone down from 7.5 to 7, and if you look hard in the market you can find a 6.5. 

Sharp bettors want to back Matt Rhule, who turned around Temple and Baylor and now faces a monumental task at Nebraska, where the Cornhuskers are looking to register their first 10-win season since 2012.

I’d lean to the Huskers getting a touchdown because they have a big QB edge here with Georgia Tech transfer Jeff Sims taking over at QB. A 4-star recruit who once committed to FSU, Sims has thrown for over 4000 yards and rushed for over 1000 during his three-year run with Georgia Tech. His mobility is going to be a handful for a Minnesota defense which has been extremely stingy the last two seasons.

Rhule will have to remake a bad defense, but he added five players from the SEC who are expected to contribute immediately. I don’t love going against P.J. Fleck, one of the most underrated coaches in the Big Ten, but if I had a play on the game, it’s Nebraska getting a TD, followed by the under.

PICK: Nebraska (-7) to lose by fewer than 7 points (or win outright) 
PICK: Under 43 points scored by both teams combined 

Minnesota vs. Nebraska Betting Insights

• Per the spread and over/under, the implied score for the game is Golden Gophers 25, Cornhuskers 18.
• The Golden Gophers have a 73.3% chance to collect the win in this game based on the moneyline's implied probability. The Cornhuskers have a 31.3% implied probability.
• Minnesota put together a 7-6-0 record against the spread last season.
• Nebraska won five games against the spread last year, failing to cover seven times.

Minnesota vs. Nebraska: Head-to-Head

• In their last two head-to-head matchups, Minnesota has defeated Nebraska two times.
• The two teams have gone over the total on one occasion while sharing an even 1-1 record in their games against the spread.
• Over their last two head-to-head contests, Minnesota has scored 50 points, while Nebraska has posted 36.

Minnesota vs. Nebraska: 2022 Stats Comparison

Minnesota 2022 Key Players

Nebraska 2022 Key Players

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CFB - Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers - 09/01/2023

Jason McIntyre