The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-0, 0-0 Away) and Michigan State University Spartans (2-1, 2-0 Home) kick off their Big Ten Conference schedules at Spartan Stadium on Saturday. The Golden Gophers are three-point favorites, and the total is 51. Minnesota is coming off an impressive 49-7 win over Colorado at Huntington Bank Stadium last Saturday. Tanner Morgan threw for 157 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Mohamed Ibrahim ran 23 times for 202 yards and three touchdowns. Chris Autman-Bell caught three passes for 58 yards and a touchdown. Michigan State lost 39-28 to Washington at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium last Saturday. Payton Thorne was 30 of 42 for 323 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. Jalen Berger carried 13 times for 27 yards and added three catches for 38 yards. Keon Coleman scored twice. He hauled in nine receptions for 116 yards.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The teams are meeting in the regular season for the first time since October 2017, a 30-27 win for the Spartans.
TALE OF THE TAPE
The Golden Gophers are averaging 49.7 points per game so far this season, eighth in FBS, and they are facing a Spartans defense that has surrendered 17.3 PPG (35th). Meanwhile, Michigan State has scored 38.3 points a game this season, 36th in the country, and Minnesota is allowing 5.7 PPG (4th).The Golden Gophers rank as one of the country’s top teams in rushing yards per game (312.7, 2nd), while they are 75th in passing yards (242.0). The Spartans are 103rd in passing yards allowed per game (264.3) and 26th against the run (89.7).Michigan State is 43rd in the country in passing yards per game (264.0) and 65th in rushing (166.3). Minnesota’s defense could present a challenge on both fronts, as the Golden Gophers are 4th in the nation in passing yards allowed per game (100.7) and 9th against the run (69.7).
TOP PERFORMERS
Through three games, Morgan has thrown for four touchdowns (1 INT) and 206.0 yards per game to lead Minnesota in passing. Ibrahim leads the team in rushing with an average of 154.7 yards a game over three games. He has seven touchdowns on the ground. Autman-Bell is the Golden Gophers’ leading receiver with 71.3 yards a game and one TD. Thorne has seven passing touchdowns (4 INT) with 256.0 yards per game through three games to lead Michigan State. In two home games this season, he has thrown for four TDs (3 INT) and an average of 222.5 yards. Berger has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 84.7 yards a game through three games. He has four touchdowns. Coleman has been the primary target in the Spartans’ passing game. He has three touchdowns and a 78.7 yard per game average through three appearances.
SportsTips’ College Football Pick:
Minnesota (-145)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
