Combined, they are two games below .500 in the Big Ten standings, but this quartet of conference rivals can boost our bankrolls on the Week 10 NCAA football betting card.
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Saturday, November 5, 2022 – 12:00 PM EDT at Memorial Stadium
Even after a tumultuous start to the season and presently stuck in a 2-game slide, a bowl invite remains possible for the Nebraska Cornhuskers as they prepare for a Big Ten battle against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Status of ‘Huskers QB Remains a Mystery
Minnesota is still in line for a bowl game, and can become eligible with a win over Nebraska. The Golden Gophers just pulled out of a 3-game tailspin with a 31-0 blanking of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights who were getting two touchdowns at Caesars Sportsbook.
After a second-half rally at Purdue came up short two weeks ago, Nebraska sputtered to a 26-9 defeat at the hands of Illinois this last Saturday when the Cornhuskers managed just 248 total yards and turned it over four times.
Nebraska was a touchdown underdog at home, and played much of the game without starting quarterback Casey Thompson who injured his hand. Thompson is listed as day-to-day.
Gophers Seeking 4th-Straight in Series
Saturday’s tilt marks the 63rd meeting between Minnesota and Nebraska, and 12th since the Cornhuskers joined the Big Ten. The Golden Gophers lead both the all-time rivalry (35-25-2) and as conference foes (6-5).
Minnesota has won and covered each of the last three get-togethers, doing so as the underdog in the last two. The home side has covered the NCAAF odds four of the last six, with one push, and bettors playing the low side have cashed four of the last five games played in Lincoln.
Another Nail in Nebraska’s 2022 Coffin
A cloudy and potentially wet afternoon is in the forecast for Lincoln where the line has been steadily increasing on Minnesota since it first went out with the Golden Gophers laying a dozen.
The line is up to -16 now, and that’s still a bargain with the sorry shape of things in Lincoln.
NCAAF Pick: Minnesota -16 (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook
Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Purdue Boilermakers
Saturday, November 5, 2022 – 12:00 PM EDT at Ross-Ade Stadium
Hoping to keep pace with Illinois in the Big Ten West Division, the Purdue Boilermakers are home this week to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in what projects to be one of Week 10’s top defensive battles.
Total Has Been on the Decline
One of four Big Ten matchups to boot in the noon hour on Saturday, Purdue is currently favored by 4½ points after the initial spread went out a half-point lower. The total started at 43 and has been skinned down to 41-41½.
Boilers Coming Off Bye Week
Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes just ended a 3-game losing streak with a 33-13 win over Northwestern. The 33 points scored by the Hawkeyes are the most they’ve scored this season, and the 398 yards of offense also marked a season-high.
Purdue was idle this past week after seeing a 4-game win streak come to an end at Wisconsin in Week 8. The closing odds had the Boilermakers small underdogs, but they dug an early 21-0 hole thanks to turnovers, and were never able to recover.
The loss was the first in Big Ten play for Jeff Brohm’s bunch since falling to Penn State in Week 1, and it dropped Purdue a game behind Illinois in the division standings. The Boilermakers travel to Champaign next week to face the Fighting Illini.
Last 3 Meetings Failed to Breach the Totals
These two have been going at it for 112 years, and Purdue sports a nice advantage in the rivalry with a 50-39 record, plus three ties along the way. The Boilermakers have won the last two, and four of the last five.
Purdue nabbed win No. 50 over the Hawkeyes last season in a 24-7 decision at Iowa City where the Boilermakers used their defense to pull off the upset as 11-point underdogs at the best sportsbooks, the fifth consecutive cover for Jeff Brohm’s bunch.
Great Weather… for a Duck
There are two factors why the total has been bet down:
1. The combination of Iowa’s strong defense coupled with an offense that ranks last in the Big Ten.
2. A nasty forecast that includes a 70% chance of rain and SSW winds in the 20-30 mph range.
Lousy weather like what the weatherman is suggesting for West Lafayette can work both ways, either holding the score down or leading to more points. It won’t be a wild scoring affair, but the right college football pick is to play the final to slip past the mark.
NCAAF Pick: Over 41 (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook
