The Big Ten is already off and running on the conference slate, and this week’s sports betting calendar will add three more B1G battles starting with Thursday’s clash in Minnesota between the Golden Gophers and Ohio State Buckeyes.
Ohio St. Buckeyes vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Thursday, September 2, 2021 – 8:00 PM EDT at Huntington Bank Stadium
Expectations are once again very high for Ohio State as the Buckeyes head into this season opener against Minnesota. The Buckeyes check in third on the NCAA football future odds to win the College Football Playoffs, trailing only Alabama and Clemson. The Golden Gophers are much further back on that list, sitting eighth in the Big Ten to win the conference crown, a 7-win campaign about the best they can hope for.
Ohio State is an even two-touchdown favorite at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review) to win the matchup Thursday night in Minneapolis, the big FOX providing the broadcast for couch potatoes and sports bar enthusiasts. Those interested in playing the scoreboard outcome will need to make a decision on a total that runs 65½-66½ at various outlets.
Stroud Emerges from Summer Camp with QB Job
Ryan Day and his staff are once again blessed with an abundance of talent, even after losing an abundance of talent from a team that was beaten soundly by the Crimson Tide in last year’s National Championship. The biggest hole to fill was left by quarterback Justin Fields, now with the Chicago Bears, and the starting job to begin the season was claimed by CJ Stroud.
Should Stroud falter, fellow redshirt freshman Jack Miller III is penciled as the No. 1 backup, though true frosh Kyle McCord is close behind. Master Teague III leads another talented backfield, with Miyan Williams and true freshmen TreVeyon Henderson also in the mix to see action. Chris Olave leads an equally deep stable of receivers, and tackles Thayer Munford and Nicholas Petit-Frere are the strength of the offensive line.
The offense was behind the Buckeyes going ‘over’ the NCAAF betting odds more often than not last season, but the defense also contributed to that. The stop unit lost stars such as Jonathon Cooper and Baron Browning, so it will be interesting to see how replacements on that side of the ball fill the holes left on the line and in the linebacking corps.
Can Morgan Bounce Back in Senior Season?
PJ Fleck’s crew came out of the gate slow, and never did seem to find its footing in what was a crazy 2020 for everyone. Following an 11-2 campaign in 2019, the Golden Gophers fell off to 3-4, with two of the losses on the college football scoreboard in overtime on the road. How much of the trouble was caused by the pandemic and how much of it was a case of the Big Ten not taking Minnesota lightly, well, that remains to be seen.
A big part of the stumble can be traced to the falloff in Tanner Morgan’s numbers under center. Morgan will need to rebound in a big way, and he’ll have to do so without his main downfield target, Rashod Bateman. That could be a blessing in disguise since defenses won’t be able to focus on a single receiver, though Chris Autman-Bell and Texas A&M transfer Dylan Wright will have to step into some big shoes.
Minnesota has an excellent offensive line to work in front of Morgan and tailback Mohamed Ibrahim. It’s going to take vast improvements on defense, however, if the Golden Gophers are going to consistently beat the NCAAF betting odds. Minnesota’s run defense really stunk up the joint in 2020, putting pressure on the line and linebackers. Tyler Nubin and Jordan Howden return to form the nucleus for a strong secondary.
Buckeyes Have Won Last 11 Meetings
This has been a truly lopsided rivalry overall with Ohio State owning a 46-7 advantage over Minnesota, that record including a vacated win in 2010. Of the Golden Gophers’ seven wins, five came before man walked on the moon. Minnesota covered the last three matchups, most recently getting 30½-points in 2018. The Buckeyes have won their last 13 trips to Minneapolis, where two of the last three meetings failed to reach the totals.
Anyone attending the contest might want to consider bringing some rain gear as the forecast calls for better than a 50% chance of precipitation Thursday evening. The thermometer should be in the upper-60s at kickoff, along with a 12-15 mph south wind (from press box side across the field). Minnesota fans are also encouraged to bring a crying towel for yet another loss to Ohio State. The Buckeyes minus the points are my free NCAAF pick.
NCAAF Pick: Ohio State -14 (-108) at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
