The Nebraska Cornhuskers and Minnesota Gophers face off in a Big Ten opening match, with new faces and tactics expected to result in a run-heavy, low-scoring game. Read on for our free match preview and betting picks.
Match Live Thursday 31th August, 8:00 PM ET
Key Stats
– Minnesota’s Athan Kaliakmanis averaged only 137.4 yards per game and two touchdowns in his five starts last year.
– The over/under for the match has shifted from 46 to 42.5 since the lines opened, indicating an expectation for a low-scoring game.
BettingPicks Expert Predictions
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Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Minnesota Golden Gophers predictions: Vegas On the Brink of Triumph
The college football season brings with it the excitement of Thursday night games, and this week, the Nebraska Cornhuskers face the Minnesota Gophers in the opening of Big Ten play. This match promises to be intriguing as both teams have experienced significant changes since the last season. Nebraska welcomes Matt Rhule as head coach and Georgia Tech transfer Jeff Sims as the new QB1, while Minnesota will see Athan Kaliakmanis starting his first full season as quarterback. However, the Gophers will miss Mohamed Ibrahim, their all-time leading rusher, and will have Western Michigan transfer Sean Tyler running behind an offensive line with three new faces.
Nebraska’s New Tactics:
Rhule and Sims are expected to bring a fresh approach to a Nebraska program that has struggled for the past six years. While Rhule utilized an RPO-heavy, pass-first offense during his time at Baylor, it is anticipated that he will revert to his run-heavy, two-tight end sets that he used while coaching at Temple. This change is due to Nebraska returning three of its top four rushing leaders, and Sims being a run-first, mobile quarterback. It is expected that Rhule will have a variety of plays designed for Sims to use his legs.
Minnesota’s Run-First Approach:
Minnesota, coming off an 8-4 season under veteran head coach P.J. Fleck, is expected to finish around the same mark according to oddsmakers (over/under 7 wins). Despite the absence of Ibrahim, Fleck is known for his preference to establish the run. This strategy seems wise considering Kaliakmanis’ average of only 137.4 yards per game and two touchdowns in his five starts last year. It is likely that he will need some time to settle in. Nebraska is returning their top three tacklers from the previous year, and defensive coordinator Tony White’s chaotic tactics should pose a challenge for an inexperienced Minnesota offense.
Prediction:
Considering the run-first nature of both offenses, it is unlikely that this will be a high-scoring game, as significant clock time will be consumed. The over/under has already shifted from 46 to 42.5 in some places since the lines opened, indicating a consensus on this. Expect a classic Big Ten dogfight, and it would be wise to take the under.
BettingPicks Expert Predictions
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