Bowling Green Falcons vs Minnesota Golden Gophers Prediction, Odds and Picks

Vote on who will cover the spread!

Point Spread Pick

Bowling Green +3.5

Reasoning

Tuesday’s bowl action features Bowling Green and Minnesota in the Quick Lane Bowl. This game is played in Detroit on the day after Christmas, and it involves a team that didn’t meet the minimum 6-win threshold for bowl eligibility, and yet somehow that team is favored. Say hello to the Golden Gophers, whose bowl appearance is because of their work in the classroom. I’m not betting on that team, even if the majority of the early money is on Minnesota to cover because they are a Big 10 school playing a small conference team that is usually pretty bad.

Bowling Green’s calling card is their defense. They have allowed about 24 points per game, and they enter the bowl game riding a solid second half surge in which they won 5 of their final 6 games. They won’t be missing a whole lot of players, and they rank higher than Minnesota in most categories already. Naysayers will protest that the Falcons did this against a weaker schedule, but the Big 10 West has a lot of winnable games, and the Gophers didn’t deliver. They closed the season on a 4-game losing streak, and they will be playing the bowl game with a 3-string quarterback. Sure, they primarily run the football, but wouldn’t you stack the box if you were game planning against them, under the circumstances? The Gophers are also missing their defensive coordinator, who left for Michigan State. I think the wrong team is favored, and we’ve got a prime spot for a small conference upset over a big conference foe. Also note that oddsmakers have this game total at 39.5 at the time of this writing, which means they do not expect a lot of scoring; this game ought to be close, and I’m happy to take the points with the underdog.

Bowling Green +3.5 (-110) available at the time of publishing; playable at that number

Sportsbook

Set Wager

Payout

Select NJ Odds

$18.33

A teacher and minister by training, a fantasy sports enthusiast and sports bettor by hobby. I live in the Great Smoky Mountains, and I especially love NCAAF, NFL, NCAAB and MLB. For Chad Hartsock media enquiries, please email [email protected].