The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-3, 2-3 Big 10) and their great rushing offense travel to face the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-5, 2-3 Big 10), one of the nation’s softest ground defenses, at Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. The Golden Gophers are 16-point favorites, and the total is 46.5.
Minnesota is coming off a dominant 31-0 win over Rutgers at Huntington Bank Stadium last Saturday. Tanner Morgan was 14 of 21 for 122 yards. Mohamed Ibrahim ran 36 times for 159 yards and three touchdowns. Daniel Jackson caught six passes for 51 yards.
Nebraska lost 26-9 to No. 17 Illinois at Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium last Saturday. Casey Thompson threw for 188 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. Anthony Grant carried 12 times for 61 yards. Travis Vokolek scored once. He caught one reception for 56 yards.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Golden Gophers won the only game between the teams last season, a 30-23 victory in October, their third straight win against Nebraska. Tanner Morgan threw two touchdowns for Minnesota. Rahmir Johnson had two touchdowns for Nebraska.
TALE OF THE TAPE
The Golden Gophers are averaging 31.9 points per game for the season, 50th in FBS, and they are facing a Cornhuskers defense that has surrendered 30.6 PPG (100th). Meanwhile, Nebraska has scored 27.1 points a game this season, 77th in the nation, and Minnesota is allowing 14.4 PPG (4th).
The Golden Gophers rank as one of the country’s top teams in rushing yards per game (223.1, 12th), while they are 105th in passing yards (198.3). They have an advantageous matchup on the ground, as the Cornhuskers are 114th in the country in rushing yards allowed per game (190.1).
Against the pass, Nebraska is 110th (268.5).Nebraska is 50th in the nation in passing yards per game (259.3) and 72nd in rushing (142.9). Minnesota’s defense has proven stout on both fronts, as the Golden Gophers are 6th in the country in passing yards allowed per game (168.1) and 16th against the run (106.3).
TOP PERFORMERS
Through seven games, Tanner Morgan has thrown for seven touchdowns (5 INT) and 183.7 yards per game to lead Minnesota in passing. In two away games this season, he has three TDs (1 INT) and an average of 144.5 yards passing. Mohamed Ibrahim leads the team in rushing with an average of 136.4 yards a game over seven games. He has 13 touchdowns on the ground.
Brevyn Spann-Ford is the Golden Gophers’ leading receiver with 43.6 yards a game and two TDs. Casey Thompson has 12 passing touchdowns (10 INT) with 252.9 yards per game through eight games to lead Nebraska. In five home games this season, he has thrown for seven TDs (4 INT) and an average of 216.4 yards.
Anthony Grant has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 92.9 yards a game through eight games. He has six touchdowns. Trey Palmer has been the primary target in the Cornhuskers’ aerial attack. He has five touchdowns and a 97.8 yard per game average through eight appearances.
SportsTips’ College Football Pick:
Pittsburgh (-750)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
