Nebraska vs Minnesota NCAAF Week 1 Preview and Prediction August 31, 2023
Posted 10 months ago | Betting Previews and Predictions, NCAAF, Uncategorized | 0 comments
Nebraska vs Minnesota August 31, 2023 @ Minneapolis, MN
Opening Betting Odds
Spread: Minnesota -7.5, Nebraska +7.5
Moneyline: Minnesota -270, Nebraska +245
Total: 46.5
Preview
The Golden Gophers have dominated this series in recent seasons, winning five of the last six and seven of the last 10 meetings outright. This BIG10 West rivalry is a battle for the $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy. Last year’s game was the second edition of the annual Chair-ity with proceeds going to the Team Jack Foundation and the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital.
The Gophers won a defensive battle by a score of 20-13. Mohamed Ibrahim ran for 128 yards and two TDs on 32 carries in the victory. The bookmakers have the Gophers favored by over a touchdown here at home in 2023, and we might see a similar score as we saw in last year’s game.
Nebraska
- 4-8 Overall in 2022
- 3-5 in the BIG10 in 2022
- 5-7 ATS in 2022
Scott Frost was given a long leash as head coach of the Huskers, but his firing was long overdue. Nebraska came into the 2022 season highly touted, stacked with high profile players acquired in the transfer portal. They opened the season with a shocking 31-28 loss to Northwestern in Ireland. Foster would be fired after a 1-2 start, and the program was unable to pick up the pieces with an interim coach.
The Huskers made what looks like a good hire bringing in Matt Rhule who has a solid resume from his time at Temple and Baylor. There is plenty of remaining talent from a roster that failed to live up to expectations last season. Rhule has promised to get this team bowl eligible in his first season, and that shouldn’t be a tough ask.
Minnesota
- 9-4 Overall in 2022
- 5-4 in the BIG10 in 2022
- 7-6 ATS in 2022
P.J. Fleck has his work cut out for him in 2023, losing his leading rusher and all three interior offensive linemen from last year. Freshman quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis threw for 946 yards, three TDs and four INTs on 54 percent passing in limited action last season, and he will take over for Tanner Morgan. With so many new faces coming in at key positions, some regression should be expected.
The defense was good last year, but losses in the secondary could be an issue. Safety Jordan Howden and cornerback Terell Smith are now playing on Sundays, and nickel back Michael Dixon transferred to Rutgers.
Relevant Trends:
- The Cornhuskers are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four conference games.
- The under is 4-1 in the Cornhuskers last five conference games.
- The underdog is 5-2-1 ATS in their last eight meetings.
- The under is 4-1 in the Golden Gophers last five home games.
- The home team is 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven meetings.
Prediction: Nebraska 24 – Minnesota 17
Historically these teams have played close low scoring games. The margin of victory has been exactly the same in each of the last three meetings. Three of the last four meetings have gone under the total. It appears that these teams are trending in opposite directions, and the bookmakers have the wrong team favored.
