Minnesota Gophers are HUGE Underdogs This Weekend
There was a time that the Minnesota Gophers were looking at their game vs the Penn State Nittany Lions as one that could launch them toward a chance at the College Football Playoff. Of course, that was before they were embarrassed by Rutgers last Saturday.
Instead, they need a win vs a top 5 team, just to have a chance at 8 regular season wins. James Franklin brings the Penn State Nittany Lions to Huntington Bank Stadium as the fourth-best team in the country. Their only loss, thus far, was by a seven points against Ohio State.
They will be the best team Minnesota has played against this season. Pulling an upset would change everything about their postseason dreams. What are the chances that happens? Not good, if you ask oddsmakers.
Can the Minnesota Gophers pull an upset against Penn State?
As of Tuesday morning, FanDuel has Minnesota at 12.5 point underdogs. Over at DraftKings, you get them at an even 12 points. If you peep the money lines, you’ll see DK likes the Gophers the most, ESPN Bet, the least (for now).
| Sportsbook | Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | PSU -12 | PSU -440 | 45 |
| FanDuel | PSU -12.5 | PSU -490 | 45.5 |
| ESPN Bet | PSU -12 | PSU -500 | 44.5 |
Related: Minnesota Gophers are Music City Bound in New CFB Bowl Projections
Penn State QB Drew Allar has hardly been a superstar this season, but he is a legitimate draft prospect and he takes care of the football. The Gophers will need to keep the Nittany Lions’ junior — who has thrown for 2,253 yards, on 71.9% passing, for 16 TDs and 5 INTs — under wraps.
Drew Allar has flown under the radar in a weak QB Class.
— Alex NFL (@ajjnfl) November 16, 2024
So far this year:
🎯 8 Big Time Throws
🎯 16 Total TDs (6 games)
🎯 70.3 CMP% (Up 10.7% from 2023)
He’s improved exponentially as a passer and a runner in his 3rd year.
pic.twitter.com/cfwfcYMHsn
It’s hard to find fault with the early betting lines, given how terrible Fleck had his team prepared for a lackluster Scarlet Knights team. This is the Gophers’ toughest task of the season. But PJ calls these moments “opportunities”. This weekend, it’s an opportunity for Minnesota’s Top 20 defense to show it can slow down any offense and any QB in the country.
Gophers need a big day from the defense
Minnesota’s pass defense is ranked 17th in the nation, and they’re forcing two turnovers per game, good for 12th. If the Golden Gophers are going to have any chance at beating the No. 4 ranked team in the country, the defense will have to keep Allar in check, force a couple turnovers, and maybe even score themselves a touchdown or two.
- 12th – Points Allowed (17.7)
- 11th – Total Yards Allowed (296.4)
- 17th – Pass Yards Allowed (176.6)
- 35th – Rush Yards Allowed (119.8)
- 12th – Turnovers Forced (2.0)
Related: Where Do Minnesota Gophers Rank in CFB Top 134?
The Minnesota Gophers beat Penn State at home, back in 2019. Those Nittany Lions were ranked fifth in the nation, at the time. This would be a win of a similar caliber, and definitely bolster Minnesota’s bowl projections heading into Rivalry Week @ Wisconsin. It’ll be cold, too. So bundle up.
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