Nebraska vs. Minnesota prediction: Odds, pick, best bet for Friday’s Big Ten clash

The Nebraska Cornhuskers may finally be back.

After years of false hype, the Cornhuskers look like they’re building something sustainable under Matt Rhule.

Rhule brought the Huskers to their first bowl game since 2016 last season, and he seems to be onto bigger and better things in Year 3.

The Huskers are 5-1 through six games and, thanks to a manageable schedule, have a real shot at making some noise in the Big Ten if they can take care of business.

That starts Friday night with a trip to Minnesota as 7.5-point favorites.

Nebraska vs. Minnesota odds, prediction

Minnesota started the season with a couple of wins, but those victories came against Buffalo and Northwestern State, so it wasn’t until a loss at Cal that we got to see this team for its pros and cons.

That 27-14 defeat exposed Minnesota’s biggest weakness, which was an offense that really struggles to get out of first gear.

Minnesota is averaging 19.3 points per game against FBS opponents this season, and the Gophers have hit the 30-point plateau just once in those five contests.

That will be a two-fold issue against Nebraska, a balanced team that boasts the 18th-best defense and 26th-best offense in the country, per SP+.

Not only will Minnesota’s moribund offense need to solve a standout defense, but it will also need to do it often enough to keep up with Nebraska’s attack, which ranks 13th in the country in points per play.

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Things only get worse for Minnesota when you look at the stylistic matchup.

The Golden Gophers are really leaning into the passing attack this season, throwing on 57.1 percent of plays, 13th-highest in the country. That doesn’t sound like Big Ten football, but that philosophy has been forced on Minnesota because the running game is nonexistent.

Minnesota ranks 127th in yards per rush (3.0) and 126th in rush yards per game (83.8).

That plays right into the strength of Nebraska’s defense, which allows the fewest yards per pass (4.6) and second-fewest yards per game (128.2) in FBS.

This one sets up well for Nebraska.

The Play: Nebraska -7.5 (-110, FanDuel)

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Why Trust New York Post Betting

Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.