This Saturday, Huntington Bank Stadium becomes the stage where high stakes collide with history. The Penn State Nittany Lions, ranked fourth in the nation, face off against the resilient Minnesota Golden Gophers.
For Penn State, this isn’t just another game—it’s a pivotal chapter in their pursuit of greatness. Sitting at 9-1, their only setback came against Ohio State, but the dream of a College Football Playoff berth is still alive. Two more victories could solidify their place in the national conversation.
On the other side, fueled by pride and the energy of their roaring home crowd, the Gophers are ready to rise to the challenge. Facing a Big Ten powerhouse with CFP aspirations, Minnesota has the chance to test its mettle and leave its mark. Dive deeper with 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 Friday, Nov. 22, 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 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, 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 have been a force this season, rolling to seven straight wins to open their campaign. They cruised past West Virginia, Bowling Green, and Kent State before taking down Big Ten opponents Illinois, UCLA, USC, and Wisconsin.
After a stumble against Ohio State, the Lions quickly got back on track with a convincing win over Washington.
Last Saturday, Penn State flexed its dominance with a 49-10 thrashing of Purdue. Drew Allar delivered a standout performance, throwing for 247 yards and three touchdowns. Tyler Warren shined as a dual threat, racking up 63 rushing yards and 127 receiving yards, each capped off with a score.
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Minnesota, sitting at 6-4, boasts a defense ranked fifth in the Big Ten, allowing just 17.7 points per game. However, the Golden Gophers stumbled last week in a 26-19 loss to Rutgers. Despite a strong defensive showing, their run game was non-existent, managing just 35 rushing yards and ultimately falling short.
Historically, Penn State has dominated this matchup, winning 10 of the 16 meetings, including a decisive 45-17 victory two years ago. On Saturday, Minnesota will look to slow the game down with their defense and methodical ground attack.
The Gophers have the defensive talent to make things interesting for Penn State, creating some challenges for the Nittany Lions. While Penn State remains the favorite, Minnesota’s ability to disrupt the tempo makes them a solid pick to cover the spread.
Prediction: Penn State 27, Minnesota 17
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