The Indiana Hoosiers (-2.5) are set to pay a visit to their in-conference nemesis Minnesota Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium. Kickoff for this showdown is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET and FS1 has the TV rights.
Indiana Hoosiers at Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Preview
In this Friday Big Ten game, Indiana is tabbed as the favorite and is currently giving up 2.5 points. The Hoosiers are also receiving -140 moneyline odds while the Golden Gophers are +120. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 54.5 points. It looks like there should be some good live betting opportunities for this showdown.
The Hoosiers are 3-5 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 1.0 unit so far. The team’s posted an O/U mark of 5-3. The Golden Gophers have lost 1.0 unit for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 4-3 ATS and have an O/U record of 4-3.
The Hoosiers have gone 4-4 straight up (SU), including 1-4 SU against Big 10 opponents. The Golden Gophers are 3-4 SU overall and 0-4 SU in conference play.
The Hoosiers are most-recently on the rebound after a 33-28 defeat to Penn State last week. the Hoosiers completed 35-of-55 passes for 330 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Peyton Ramsey went 26-for-36 for 236 yards, one touchdown and one interception while Michael Penix Jr. completed nine-of-19 for 94 yards. Stevie Scott (138 yards on 26 rush attempts, two TDs) and the signal-caller Ramsey (-5 yards on 11 carries) led the ground attack. Luke Timian (six receptions, 58 yards) and Donavan Hale (four catches, 52 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Minnesota most-recently dropped an ugly 53-28 game to Nebraska. As a group, the Gophers collectively completed 20-of-36 passes for 349 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Zack Annexstad went nine-for-20 for 135 yards and one touchdown while Tanner Morgan was 11-of-16 for 214 yards and one interception. Mohamed Ibrahim (49 rushing yards on 18 attempts, one TD) handled the running game while Tyler Johnson (11 receptions, 184 yards) and Demetrius Douglas (three catches, 31 yards, one TD) led the receiving corps in the loss.
Indiana has run the ball on 48.0 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 41.6 percent across possessions in conference play. Minnesota has an overall rush percentage of 56.4 percent, and has kept it on the ground 52.4 percent of the time when playing Big 10 opponents. The Hoosiers have produced 159 rush yards/game (including 113 per game against Big Ten opponents) and have 11 scores on the ground this year. The Gophers are totaling 147 rushing yards per game (121 in conference) and have 11 total rush TDs.
The Hoosiers offensive scheme has tallied 260 yards per contest in the air overall (295 per game against conference opposition) and has 14 passing TDs so far. The Gophers have produced 221 pass yards per contest (242.5 against Big 10 foes) and have 10 total pass scores.
Defensively, Indiana has allowed 160 rush yards and 230 pass yards per game. The Minnesota defense has allowed 238.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 158.9 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Hoosiers have given up an ANY/A of 6.32 to opposing QBs, while the Gophers are allowing an ANY/A of 6.46.
Offensively, Ramsey is up to 1,597 passing yards this season, and has completed 68 percent of his 247 attempts with 12 scores through the air and six interceptions. He’s got a 5.60 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 4.02 over the past two games.
Stevie Scott, Donavan Hale and Ty Fryfogle have collectively accounted for 396 total yards and three touchdowns over the last two outings.
Zack Annexstad has completed 84-of-164 passes for 1,059 yards, nine TDs and five INTs for Minnesota. His ANY/A stands at 5.15 for the year and 5.85 over his last two outings.
We also expect the Minnesota offense to utilize a balanced attack this Friday. Tyler Johnson (586 receiving yards, six receiving touchdowns on the year), Mohamed Ibrahim (307 rush yards, one rush TD) and Bryce Witham (13 receiving yards) have combined for 584 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns the past couple of games.
These two Big 10 foes did not get a chance to face each other in 2017.
RELATED: Week 9 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Free Pick: Indiana Hoosiers at Minnesota Golden Gophers
SU Winner – Minnesota, ATS Winner – Minnesota, O/U – Under
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The Hoosiers offense has recorded one pass play of 40 yards or more, while the Golden Gophers have accounted for three such plays.
The Indiana defense has allowed four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Minnesota has given up six such plays.
The Indiana offense has created eight rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Minnesota has created six such runs.
The Hoosiers defense has allowed nine rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Golden Gophers have given up 15 such runs.
The Indiana defense has 14 sacks on the year while Minnesota has 13.
As a team, Indiana has averaged 4.1 yards per carry across its past three outings and 4.2 over its last two.
Minnesota has averaged 3.9 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.4 over its past two.
Indiana has lost five of its last six games SU, with a seven-point victory over Rutgers on September 29th representing the only win over that stretch.
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