This Saturday, Huntington Bank Stadium transforms into a stage where stakes meet history. The Penn State Nittany Lions are ranked fourth in the nation, and they take on the resilient Minnesota Golden Gophers.
For Penn State, this isn’t just another game — it’s a chapter in their quest for greatness. At 9-1, their lone blemish came at the hands of Ohio State, but the dream of a College Football Playoff berth remains alive. Two more wins would all but seal their fate.
Fueled by pride and a roaring home crowd, the Gophers stand ready to test their mettle against a Big Ten powerhouse looking to take a bigger step on a national stage in the CFP. Find out more in this Penn State vs. Minnesota prediction and preview.
Penn State vs. Minnesota Betting Preview
All Penn State vs. Minnesota odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. The CFN Spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Penn State -8.5 - Spread
Penn State -12 - Moneyline
Penn State -440, Minnesota +365 - Over/Under
45.5 points - Game time
3:30 p.m. ET - Location
Huntington Bank Stadium | Minneapolis - Predicted Weather at Kick
36 degrees, mostly cloudy, 8 mph winds - How To Watch
CBS
Penn State opened as a 10-point favorite, and that number has already climbed as high as -13, but some action on the underdog Gophers has dropped it back to -12. This number is likely to see more movement before kickoff on Saturday.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
The total opened at 47.5 and has fallen to 45.5, where it currently stands. It hasn’t drifted outside of those two numbers and is likely to remain within a point of 45.5.
Penn State’s Winning Probability
According to CFN’s Football Playoff Meter, the Nittany Lions have a 74.5% chance of defeating the Gophers on Saturday.
If the win probabilities hold, Penn State will finish 11-1 and earn a spot in the first-ever 12-team college football playoff. This would mark the fourth time in 11 seasons under James Franklin that Penn State has won 11 games.
- at Minnesota: 74.5%
- vs. Maryland: 95.1%
Minnesota’s Winning Probability
According to the FPM, Minnesota has a 25.5% chance of defeating Penn State on Saturday.
If the win probabilities hold, the Golden Gophers will finish 6-6, but their road finale at rival Wisconsin sits as a true coin flip. Either way, Minnesota will be bowl-eligible for the fourth straight season under P.J. Fleck. The Gophers have been 7-0 in their last seven bowl appearances.
- vs. Penn State 25.4%
- at Wisconsin: 49.2%
Prediction for Penn State vs. Minnesota
The Penn State Nittany Lions opened their season in dominant fashion, rolling through seven straight wins. They dispatched West Virginia, Bowling Green, and Kent State before conquering Big Ten foes Illinois, UCLA, USC, and Wisconsin. After a stumble against Ohio State, Penn State rebounded with a decisive win over Washington.
Last Saturday, the Lions showed no mercy against Purdue, storming to a 49-10 victory. Drew Allar threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns, while Tyler Warren led on the ground and through the air, tallying 63 rushing yards and 127 receiving yards, each with a score.
FREE: Sign up for the College Football Network Newsletter to receive unique stories from the world of college football directly to your inbox!
Meanwhile, Minnesota stands at 6-4, their defense ranked fifth in the Big Ten, surrendering just 17.7 points per game. The Golden Gophers had a setback last week, falling 26-19 to Rutgers despite a strong effort for much of the contest. Their run game stalled with only 35 rushing yards, but their defense kept the game within reach.
Historically, Penn State has held the upper hand, winning 10 of 16 meetings, including a commanding 45-17 triumph two years ago. On Saturday, Minnesota will aim to slow the tempo with their defense and ground attack. They’re skilled enough on the defensive side to give Penn State some fits. Minnesota will make things challenging on the Nittany Lions and keep it within the number.
Prediction: Penn State 27, Minnesota 17
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.