<p>The Ohio State Buckeyes begin their quest for a fifth-straight Big Ten title and a third-straight berth in the College Football Playoff when they open their 2021 season with a visit to Minnesota for a Big Ten bout with the Gophers Thursday, Sept. 2. Ohio State is a heavy favorite to win the Big Ten again this season, while Minnesota is looking to regain some of that Row the Boat magic that worked so well two seasons ago.</p>
<p>The Buckeyes are favored by two touchdowns for this one, which is less than usual. How are we playing this game with our <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/ncaaf/free-ncaaf-picks&quot; title="College Football Picks Against the Betting Line">college football pick against the spread</a>?</p>
<h2>Ohio State-Minnesota Betting Odds </h2>
<p><a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/ncaaf/odds&quot; title="Compare Week 1 College Football Odds">Week 1 college football betting lines</a> opened Ohio State at -14 over Minnesota, with an over/under of around 65.5. Early betting action then dipped the Buckeyes to -13.5.</p>
<h2>Ohio State-Minnesota College Football Betting Preview</h2>
<p>Ohio State returns 11 starters this season from a team that played 7-1 last year, won the Big Ten again but lost, badly, to Alabama in the national championship game. The Buckeyes played 5-0 through the shortened Big Ten regular season, then beat Northwestern in somewhat ugly fashion in the Big Ten championship game 22-10. Ohio State then upset Clemson in the national semifinal Sugar Bowl 49-28 but got rolled by the Tide in the CFP final 52-24.</p>
<p>Six starters are back this year from an offense that averaged 519 yards per game last year, including the best WR combo in the country and three along the offensive line. But they lost QB Justin Fields and will probably start a freshman in his place. And only five starters are back from a defense that allowed 402 YPG last year, just two among the front seven. But as we all know, Ohio State usually doesn't really "replace" people; it just reloads.</p>
<p>Minnesota, meanwhile, returns 20 starters (!) from a team that played 3-4 last year and missed a bowl. The Gophers, coming off their best season in over 50 years, opened their abbreviated 2020 schedule with a bad loss to Michigan and an upset loss to Maryland. Minnesota then won three of its next four games, including a convincing victory at Nebraska, but with a shot at a bowl on the line in the season finale at Wisconsin lost 20-17 in overtime.</p>
<p>Ten starters are back for the Gophers from an offense that averaged 391 yards per game last year, including junior QB Tanner Morgan (26 career starts), RB Mohamed Ibrahim (eight straight 100-yard games last year, 15 touchdowns), and the entire offensive line. And ten starters return on a defense that allowed 416 YPG last year, so you'd figure Minnesota would improve upon that number this season.</p>
<h2>Ohio State-Minnesota Recent History</h2>
<p>The Buckeyes own an 11-game winning streak against the Gophers, going 6-5 ATS along the way. But Minnesota is 3-0 ATS over the last three meetings, keeping games relatively close as a double-digit underdog. Most recently, three seasons ago, the Buckeyes beat the Gophers 30-14, but Minnesota hung on for the money as a 30-point dog. </p>
<p><b>More Picks: <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/ncaaf/boise-state-broncos-central-fl… State at UCF Spread Pick</a></b></p>
<h2>College Football Betting Trends</h2>
<ul>
<li>The Buckeyes are 17-0 SU, 11-6 ATS in Big Ten play under Coach Day.</li>
<li>The Gophers are 10-6 SU, 11-5 ATS over their last 16 Big Ten games.</li>
<li>The Buckeyes are 7-0 SU, 6-1 ATS on the road under Coach Day.</li>
<li>The Buckeyes are 3-1 ATS when favored by two touchdowns or less under Coach Day.</li>
<li>The Gophers are 4-1 ATS as underdogs of 10-17 points under Coach Fleck.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Totals Report</h2>
<p>Overs played 4-2-2 in Buckeyes games last season, which averaged 67 total points.</p>
<p>Unders played 4-3 in Gophers games last season, which averaged 58 points.</p>
<p>Unders are 3-0 over the last three meetings between these teams, which have averaged 47 total points against an average O/U of 57.</p>