The Ohio State Buckeyes visit the Minnesota Golden Gophers for a Thursday night Big Ten game. The TCF Bank Stadium contest in Minneapolis is slated for 8 p.m., ET. Below, we look at the Ohio State vs. Minnesota odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
The Buckeyes are ranked No. 4 in the AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
Ohio State is coming off a National Championship Game loss to Alabama last season. The Buckeyes have a shot at winning a fifth consecutive Big Ten title. They’ll be counting on new starting QB C.J. Stroud to step in and lead the way.
The sophomore signal caller will be surrounded by much of the same talent – especially on the offensive line and in the receiving corps – that helped the Bucks crank out 41.0 points per game last season.
Minnesota coughed up 34.8 PPG over their first five contests last fall, finishing ninth in Big Ten defense with 30.1 PPG allowed. However, the 2021 Gophers are loaded with experience.
Minnesota returns more players than any other Big Ten team. Twenty starters return, including RB Mohamed Ibrahim, the 2020 Big Ten Running Back of the Year. Ibrahim rushed for 1,076 yards and 15 touchdowns in seven games.
Ohio State at Minnesota odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:31 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Minnesota +420 (bet $100 to win $420) | Ohio State -600 (bet $600 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Minnesota +13.5 (-105) | Ohio State -13.5 (-120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 62.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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Ohio State at Minnesota odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Ohio State 42, Minnesota 31
Money line
PASS. Minnesota would be a lean in the +525 neighborhood. Peg the true odds as being bracketed by the favorite and underdog prices here.
Against the spread
The Buckeyes are looking for their first ATS cover in four games against the Gophers, dating back to 2010. Minnesota is 7-1 ATS over its last eight games when lined as a home underdog of 7.5 points or more.
The 2020 college football season was COVID-riddled everywhere, but Minnesota was on the extreme end of things for teams that did play a representative number of games. So, what to make of a shaky start and an impressive finish becomes quite a task.
The Gophers’ finish to the 2020 regular season saw them go toe-to-toe with preseason No. 15 Wisconsin in a 20-17 overtime loss. Their 2020 autumn was a stutter start to an offensive scheme being installed by first-year offensive coordinator Mike Sanford, Jr., and improved recent-year recruiting classes just weren’t able to get consistent work together.
With a lot of talent returning and with the influx of some transfer-portal starters at key positions, look for the Gophers to keep things interesting in this Thursday nighter. TAKE MINNESOTA +13.5 (-105).
Over/Under
Minnesota QB Tanner Morgan may be able to take the top off the OSU defense for one or two key explosive plays. The game could well turn into a 40-something-20-something tussle where the Gophers stay within two scores and push the Buckeyes into fast-tempo mode even in the fourth quarter.
TAKE OVER 62.5 (-115).
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