Betting Odds
Point Spread: Minnesota -13
Total Line: 55.5

September 01, 2016 at 09:00 on TCF Bank Stadium.

The Oregon State Beavers head into TCF Bank Stadium in Minnesota to take on the Golden Gophers in Week 1 of the college football season. The Gophers are a large nearly two touchdown favorite forcing their backers to lay 13.5 points.
Last season saw the Beavers with a less than impressive 3-9-0 against the spread and finished the year at a meager 2-10. This partly due to their inability to score last season as they ranked 115th in the nation scoring an average of only 19 points per game. Their air game managed to average 159.1 yards per game while attempting an average of 28 passing attempts for a less than stellar 46.9 completion. The Beavers running game faired a little better averaging 177.3 yards per game on an attempted 37.2 carries with 4.8 per carry.

On the defensive side of the ball Oregon State allowed 254.6 passing yards for an average of 37 points per game, ranking them 97th in the nation. The Beavers rush defense gave up 226.9 yards per game on 43.9 carries allowing 5.2 yards per rush.
Oregon State’s new starting QB Darell Garretson a transfer from Utah State is expected to take the Beavers up a notch in their offense after winning the position following spring training.

The Golden Gophers faired much better finishing up the season at 6-7 and gave their backers a moderate return with a 7-6 against the spread record. Minnesota managed to put up 22.5 points per game averaging 19.3 completions in 32.8 attempts for a 58.5 completion record. They ranked 73 in the nation on their passing game averaging 214.8 yards per game. On the other hand, their running game needs some work as they only managed 144.1 yards per game on 34.3 attempts for an average of 4.2 yards per game placing them 102 in the nation in their ground game.

Defensively they only allowed an average of 179.5 yards per game in the air game allowing 17.5 completions on 30 attempts for an completion of 57.6 percent. Their rush defense allowed 166.4 yards per game on 40 carries and 4.1 yards per carry. Overall the Minnesota defense allowed 345.9 yards per which equated out to 25.2 points per game.

Betting Trends

• The Beavers are 4-15 against the spread in their last 19 games.
• Oregon State is 2-6 against the spread in their last 8 road games.
• The game total has gone over the posted spread in 6 of Minnesota’s last 8 games.
• The Golden Gophers are 5-1 against the spread in their last 6 games.
• Minnesota is 10-5 straight up in their last 15 home games.

Oregon State Beavers at Minnesota Golden Gophers Free Pick

The Beavers will certainly be improved this season, but this is a team that lost by 14 or more points in 7 of their last 9 games. They take to the road to face a team that is 17-4 in straight up in there last 21 home openers. The Gophers return 7 on offense including their starting QB Mitch Leider and leading running back Shannon Brooks. This team should be better this season as well and remember that they lost to Michigan by 3 and Iowa by 4 last season.

Take the Minnesota Gophers -13