Nebraska at Minnesota odds, expert picks: Cornhuskers start Matt Rhule era as underdogs

Forget easing into the season. The Nebraska Cornhuskers and Minnesota Golden Gophers are wasting no time getting into their conference schedules with a Big Ten matchup in Week 1. Minnesota is the favorite and is seeking its fifth consecutive win over its Big Ten West foe.

Matt Rhule returns to college football after an uninspiring stint with the Carolina Panthers. The man known for turning around college programs has been called upon to work his magic at Nebraska, which hasn’t posted a winning season since 2016 (23-45 in the past six seasons).

The Cornhuskers weren’t particularly impressive on either side of the ball last season, ranking in the bottom half of the Big Ten in both points scored and points allowed per game en route to finishing with a 4-8 record. Rhule will have to hope Georgia Tech transfer quarterback Jeff Sims can lead a hard-nosed offense that, yes, does intend to deploy a fullback.

Minnesota shows up with its own set of new faces. Quarterback Tanner Morgan is gone after starting 47 games for the Golden Gophers. Minnesota also lost Mohamed Ibrahim — its all-time rushing leader — and first-team All-American center John Michael Schmitz.

Redshirt sophomore Athan Kaliakmanis takes over as Minnesota’s full-time starter at quarterback after throwing three touchdowns and four interceptions in limited playing time last season. Tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford should provide Kaliakmanis with a veteran to depend on as he gets settled into a new season.

After going 9-4 last season, Minnesota faces a tough schedule in 2023 that includes five preseason top-25 teams. It will be crucial for the Golden Gophers to win against a Nebraska team trying to prove it has turned a corner under Rhule.

What is the spread for Nebraska at Minnesota?

How to watch and stream Nebraska at Minnesota

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium. The game will be televised on Fox and can be streamed on the Fox Sports app with authentication.