Lately, it’s been a one-sided affair in the Battle for the Little Brown Jug. The Michigan vs. Minnesota prediction dives into what the Wolverines do well, and what it will take for the Gophers to surprise everyone.
Michigan vs. Minnesota Betting and DFS Preview
- Spread
Michigan -19.5 - Moneyline
Michigan -1200, Minnesota +750 - Over/Under
46 total points - Game time
7:30 p.m. ET - Location
Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN - Predicted Weather at Kick
51 degrees, rainy, 17 mph winds - How to Watch
NBC
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Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
All values below come from FanDuel’s multi-team entries for the weekend. Are you looking to sign up for FanDuel? New customers bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets guaranteed. Click here for more details.
Michigan Depth Chart | Minnesota Depth Chart
- QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan ($9,100)
- QB Athan Kaliakmanis, Minnesota ($6,500)
- RB Blake Corum, Michigan ($10,000)
- RB Darius Taylor, Minnesota ($7,500)
- RB Bryce Williams, Minnesota ($5,900)
- RB Zach Evans, Minnesota ($5,800)
- RB Jordan Nubin, Minnesota ($5,500)
- RB Donovan Edwards, Michigan ($5,300)
- WR Roman Wilson, Michigan ($9,300)
- WR Daniel Jackson, Minnesota ($7,000)
- WR Cornelius Johnson, Michigan ($6,800)
- WR Corey Crooms Jr., Minnesota ($5,600)
- WR Chris Autman-Bell, Minnesota ($5,500)
- TE Colston Loveland, Michigan ($5,600)
If the weather stays at what it currently reads, stay away from either team’s quarterbacks or pass catchers. Slippery conditions could make for some old-school football, meaning teams will lean on their rushing attacks to get the job done.
Michigan RB Blake Corum remains one of the best rushers in college football, and his offensive line continues paving the way for him to gash defenses. The Wolverines are averaging 3.6 yards per rush this year, and it’s made Corum’s life way easier. For a better value pick, RB Donovan Edwards comes in at a cheaper price for Michigan.
Minnesota freshman RB Darius Taylor is well on his way toward a 1,000-yard season, but he’ll find that running room comes at a premium this week. If conditions aren’t ideal for passing, the Gophers will need to find a way to spring him free. So far, he’s been able to do that.
Both Michigan and Minnesota have proven to be disruptive defensively, so both teams must find a balanced approach, regardless of conditions. If you’re going to tap into the passing attacks for either team, the quarterbacks appear to hold the best value.
Prediction for Michigan vs. Minnesota
When we came into the 2023 season, we knew the Minnesota Golden Gophers needed time, so nothing has been surprising for those analyzing the team. Fans still hope they can put up a strong performance against a potential playoff team.
Most of the offense’s future success lies on QB Athan Kaliakmanis’ shoulders, but he also needs the offensive line to step up too. Minnesota relies on the rushing attack to get them by most of the time, but that’s hard to do when teams know what they want to accomplish.
Michigan’s defense has dominated every offense they’ve faced, and it doesn’t feel like the Gophers are the team to change that trend. LB Junior Colson and the front seven aren’t easy to block thanks to a 21% havoc rate. The Wolverines aren’t the only team with a defense that can cause problems in this game, though.
Minnesota’s defense isn’t nearly as talented as Michigan’s, but they look tough when they play together. With Michigan’s rushing attack being as potent as it is, the Gophers might as well load the box to force Big Blue QB McCarthy to beat them with his arm. Michigan hasn’t had to show much offensively, and the rest of the Big Ten would appreciate it if Minnesota could open up that playbook.
Picking this game should be easy. It’s a rivalry game that’s seen Michigan win the last three matchups in a row and nine of the last 10. It’s in Minnesota, so maybe the hometown fans can help their Gophers pull off an all-time stunner.
Prediction: Michigan 30, Minnesota 7