The Golden Gophers and the Auburn Tigers are set to do battle in Tampa, as they will face off in the Outback Bowl. The Golden Gophers won this bowl game in 2018 and are focused on defending it successfully. The Tigers, on the other hand, will look to win their second bowl game in a year’s span, having won the Music City Bowl in 2018.
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Betting Preview for the Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Auburn Tigers Outback Bowl Game on January 1 2020
Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
When: Wednesday, January 1, 2020, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Minnesota Golden Gophers (+7) vs. Auburn Tigers (-7) – view all 2019 NCAAF lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-2 Overall / 7-2 Conference)
The Golden Gophers had their College Football Playoff dreams squashed with two late-season losses to the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Wisconsin Badgers, but what they’ve done so far this season can’t be overlooked. The Golden Gophers started the season like a house on fire with nine-straight wins, a stretch that includes their loud win over then no. 4 Penn State Nittany Lions at home on Nov. 9, 31-26. The Golden Gophers are being led by their offense that has a pair of NFL talents downfield. Quarterback Tanner Morgan has shown that he is capable of maximizing them downfield, as he’s thrown for 2,975 passing yards and 28 touchdowns against six interceptions this year, and also owns a 66.1 completion percentage. The two receivers we’re talking about are Rashod Bateman and Tyler Johnson, who both have over 1,100 receiving yards in 2019 with 11 touchdown grabs each. Auburn is battle-tested against powerful offenses in the SEC, but they were torched in previous games by the passing attacks of the LSU Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The Golden Gophers are 6-3-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last 10 games.
Betting on the Auburn Tigers (9-3 Overall / 5-3 Conference)
The Tigers have lost three times this season, but those were all against teams ranked 10th or higher at the time of those games. Additionally, they were competitive in all of those matchups; they only lost to the LSU Tigers by three points and to the Georgia Bulldogs by seven. The other was a 24-13 setback at the hands of the Florida Gators. Compared to the Golden Gophers’ schedule, the Tigers’ is unquestionably tougher. The Tigers will enter the Outback Bowl unfazed of a Minnesota team with questionable ability to get things done when up against ranked opponents. Sure, the Tigers have three losses to Top 25 teams, but they have also defeated the likes of the Oregon Ducks, Texas A&M Aggies, and even the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Iron Bowl. The Tigers’ pass rush will be key against Minnesota’s offensive line that is in the bottom third in terms of pass protection in the nation, having allowed 30.0 sacks in the season.
The Tigers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
Auburn wins, 31-24.
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