Nebraska vs. Minnesota Predictions, Picks & Odds Week 1: The Matt Rhule Era is Set to Begin
Nebraska vs. Minnesota Predictions, Picks & Odds Week 1: The Matt Rhule Era is Set to Beginiv class=”bodyContent col-lg-9 mb-3″>

The Minnesota Golden Gophers will look for their fifth consecutive win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in their 2023 season opener. Here is our best Nebraska vs. Minnesota prediction based on the best college football odds.

When these two teams met last season, the Golden Gophers went into Lincoln and fought for a 20-13 victory. It was their third consecutive win of exactly seven points over the Cornhuskers, and it marked their fourth straight victory in the series. 

The Golden Gophers expect to be a defensive-minded team again this season, after finishing 2022 tied for third in points allowed. The Cornhuskers didn't have much of an identity last season, but they enter this year with hope after naming Matt Rhule their head coach in the offseason. Will Rhule make an immediate impact in Lincoln, or will the Golden Gophers make it five in a row?

Here is our best Nebraska vs. Minnesota prediction and college football picks (odds via our best college football betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Nebraska vs. Minnesota prediction: Week 1

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In 2022, the Cornhuskers scored more than 20 points just three times against Big Ten opponents. Their offense will look different with Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets' transfer Jeff Sims under center, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will look better. In five of his seven games last season, Sims threw for fewer than 200 yards, and he never rushed for 10 0.

Sims will face an immediate test in Week 1 against Minnesota. The Golden Gophers' defense is stout, and they return most of the key talent that made them so successful a season ago.

But it's hard to love the Golden Gophers as touchdown favorites, because their offense simply isn't very good. Like the Cornhuskers, they struggled against Big Ten competition last season, and though starting quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis showed potential down the stretch, he's far from a sure thing heading into the season opener.

Therefore, we're going with the Under. Neither one of these teams showed that they could score in the 20s with any type of consistency last season, and there weren't enough offseason moves made to signal that change ahead of Week 1.

Nebraska vs. Minnesota best odds

DraftKings FanDuel BetMGM Caesars bet365
Under 43.5 Under 42.5 Under 43.5 Under 43.5 Under 43.5
-110 -105 -110 -110 -110

The best sports betting sites mostly agree with the lines for this game. Each of the five major sportsbooks are showing Minnesota as a 7-point favorite at the moment, with a price of -110.

As for the total, four of the five sportsbooks have the number listed at 43.5. Only FanDuel has the number listed lower at 42.5. If the price for this 42.5 was +100, then it would be worth considering, but at just -105, it's safer to just take the extra point. 

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Nebraska vs. Minnesota odds

Nebraska vs. Mi nnesota odds analysis

The Golden Gophers opened as 7.5-point favorites. Maybe bettors really think that Matt Rhule is going to be the difference maker, because the spread has dropped to 7 across the board, and 59% of wagers are backing the Cornhuskers. It's worth noting that even though the Golden Gophers have dominated this series of late, only one of their four wins was by more than seven.

As for the total, there has been very little movement. The line opened at 43.5, and that is where it has stayed everywhere except for FanDuel. A slight majority of bettors are backing the Over, as 52% of wagers expect more than 43.5 points to be scored. At this point, bettors are calling this total a toss-up, which is not surprising considering how low the number is.

Nebraska vs. Minnesota game info

  • When: Thursday, August 31, 8 p.m. ET
  • Where: Huntington Bank Sta dium, Minneapolis, MN
  • How to watch: FOX
  • Weather: 67 degrees, 12-mph winds, 56% chance of precipitation

Nebraska-Minnesota pick made on 08/29/2023 at 11:20 a.m. ET.

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