The No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes and Minnesota Golden Gophers get their seasons going Thursday in Minneapolis. Kickoff in the conference clash at TCF Bank Stadium is slated for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Ohio State vs. Minnesota odds and lines; check back for our college football picks and predictions.
Rankings according to the USA TODAY AFCA Coaches Poll.
Ohio State was sometimes iffy on defense but was highly efficient on offense en route to the program’s fourth consecutive Big Ten title and an eventual appearance in the National Championship Game in 2020.
Now the Buckeyes move forward with a new quarterback, C.J. Stroud. He’ll be surrounded by much of the same talent that helped crank out 41.0 points per game in 2020.
Minnesota coughed up 34.8 PPG over their first five contests last fall, ending 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 Monday at 12:13 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Minnesota +380 (bet $100 to win $380) | Ohio State -540 (bet $540 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Minnesota +14.5, -117 (bet $117 to win $100) | Ohio State -14.5, -103 (bet $103 to win $100)
- Total (Over/Under): 65.5, O: -105 (bet $105 to win $100) | U: -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
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2020 betting stats:
- ML: Minnesota 3-4 | Ohio State 7-1
- ATS: Minnesota 4-3 | Ohio State 4-4
- O/U: Minnesota 3-4 | Ohio State 5-2-1
Ohio State at Minnesota head-to-head
The Buckeyes are looking for their first ATS win against the Gophers since 2010; they are 0-3 ATS since. OSU’s last SU loss to Minnesota came on Oct. 14, 2000.
Ohio State is 9-2 ATS across its last 11 games lined as 13-to-13.5-point favorites.
Minnesota is 1-4 ATS in its last five home openers (1-3 under head coach P.J. Fleck). Over the last 10 OSU-UM meetings, the Gophers have been outscored by an average score of 36.6 to 13.1.
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