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#148 Minnesota -17 over Nevada 2:30 PM CT

Minnesota deserved to win the opener against North Carolina and took care of business last week with a 48-0 win vs. FCS Rhode Island. Max Brosmer has looked like the best quarterback of the P.J. Fleck era in Minneapolis and the team’s top running back Darius Taylor missed the opener and returned last week with a strong game. The Gophers face a gauntlet of quality foes to start the Big Ten season as this is not a game the team can overlook. Nevada has looked drastically improved through three games under Jeff Choate with a clear upgrade defensively. This is a daunting spot for the Wolf Pack however with a fourth game already and three tight finishes the past three weeks. The opener against SMU stands out as a nice performance but Minnesota’s offensive line is likely significantly stronger, as the run defense for Nevada that allowed 189 yards per game last season could face its toughest match. Nevada deserved to win last week as they soundly outgained Georgia Southern but the close call vs. SMU featured a 110-yard deficit for Nevada at home. Brendon Lewis has played well this season, but he was a turnover risk last season and Minnesota’s defense did cause problems for the Tar Heels in the opener. Nevada was +38 at USC last season and +28 at home against Kansas in two major conference tests as while this year’s team has warranted a positive bump, this matchup likely still deserves at least a three-touchdown figure. With an often conservative offense, the Gophers don’t feel like a team that should fare well as a big favorite, but Minnesota is 8-0 S/U and 6-2 ATS the past two seasons as a favorite of 14 or more, allowing a combined total of just 39 points in those eight games.