Gophers vs Cornhuskers NCAA Football Spread/Handicapping
The Minnesota Golden Gophers have been a pleasant surprise in the Big Ten this season. With 6 victories they have already matched their total for the last two season combined and it appears they will be going to a bowl for the first time since 2009.
Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-4) vs #14 Nebraska Cornhuskers (8-2)
Saturday November 17
Memorial Stadium – Lincoln, NE
3:30PM
Moneyline: Nebraska -1400. Minnesota +925
Spread: Nebraska -20
O/U: 53.5
Minnesota
Last week they continued their run of luck at Illinois beating the Illini for the 4th straight time on their own turf. They haven’t won in Lincoln since 1960 though. 6 straight defeats including an amazing 4 shutouts.
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Despite the success this is far from a juggernaut team. They seem to be able to do just enough to win and are catching teams off guard. They haven’t had any impressive wins to date but this one would certainly qualify. To make that happen they will lean on a ground attack that is better than average and a passing defense that is shockingly ranked 7th in the nation. I am not sure that is going to be enough though.
Against the spread Minnesota hasn’t been doing anyone any favours with a 5-5 ATS record. On the road they have been just 1-3, the lone win coming last week. This is the biggest number to date on the Gophers with the closest being a +17 at Wisconsin, a game they lost by 25. This team is still a little light on talent and they can be outclassed. Look for that to happen this week against Nebraska, again.[soliloquy id=”82219″]
Nebraska
Nebraska is in great shape with just two league games to go. They face Minnesota this week and are at Iowa the next but hold the tiebreaker edge over the Wolverines because they beat Big Blue earlier in the season (UM also has to go to Ohio State to close things out – a likely loss). Odds are they will find themselves in the Big Ten Championship game with a chance to make to the Rose Bowl. They also might do better than 4 losses this season for the first time in Bo Pelini’s reign.
The offense has been carrying the defense this year. The running game, led by injury replacement back Ameer Abdullah is 7th in the nation and QB Taylor Martinez is enjoying his best season as a senior having eclipsed last year’s yardage and TD marks with two games to play. He is still contributing in the running game with a chance to exceed 1000 yards if he goes off over the last few contests.
Last year Nebraska was up 34 to nothing before taking their foot off the gas and coasting to victory. At home they have been a good bet – 4-1 ATS – while already covering some very big numbers including 20.5, 23 and 46 point spreads. They are not in the BCS Championship discussion but have a lot to play for so they should be well focused.
Spread Pick: Nebraska -20
O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Nebraska 41 – Minnesota 17
