Quick Lane Bowl: Bowling Green vs. Minnesota odds, picks and predictions
The Bowling Green Falcons (7-5) and Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-7) meet in the Quick Lane Bowl on Tuesday at Ford Field in Detroit. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET (ESPN/ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Bowling Green vs. Minnesota odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Falcons head to Detroit, a short 83-mile jaunt up Interstate 75 to Ford Field. It's the 2nd straight trip to The D for the Quick Lane Bowl, as Bowling Green was tripped up 24-19 by New Mexico State in last year's installment. This is the 4th trip to Detroit for a bowl game, as Bowling Green was on the short end of a 30-27 game against Pitt in 2013 in the Little Caesars Bowl, while topping Northwestern 28-24 in 2003 in the Motor City Bowl.
Bowling Green is a little short in the backfield, as RB Terion Stewart is still recovering from a broken leg, and RB Taron Keith entered the transfer portal. The team also lost CBs Jalen Huskey and Deshawn Jones Jr. to the portal, while S Trent Simms is questionable due to an undisclosed injury, leaving the secondary rather thin.
The Golden Gophers qualified for a bowl by NCAA rule due to having the best Academic Progress Rate (APR) score after not enough teams qualified for the available bowl slots.
Minnesota is 4-0 in bowl games under head coach P.J. Fleck, and on a 6-game bowl win streak overall, including a 34-10 win over Georgia Tech in Dec. 2018 in the Quick Lane Bowl, and a 21-14 win over Central Michigan in Dec. 2015 in the Quick Lane Bowl.
The Gophers lost QBs Athan Kaliakmanis and Drew Viotto to the portal, so QB Cole Kramer is expected to get the starting nod.
These teams last met in Minneapolis in 2021, with Bowling Green stunning Minnesota 14-10 as a 31-point underdog.
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Bowling Green vs. Minnesota odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated 6:06 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Bowling Green +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Minnesota -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bowling Green +3.5 (-110) | Minnesota -3.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 39.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Bowling Green vs. Minnesota picks and predictions
Prediction
Minnesota 22, Bowling Green 16
Moneyline
MINNESOTA (-175) is a little on the expensive side, especially for a 5-7 team forced to use a career backup under center for his 1st-ever start. Still, Bowling Green (+145) is also shorthanded in the backfield, as well as the secondary. Things are tough all over.
The Gophers show up in bowl season, and they can also play the revenge angle after losing that game in 2021 which some players might remember. If don't want to fiddle around with the points, especially an unappealing 3 and a hook, just play the Gophers straight up.
Against the spread
MINNESOTA -3.5 (-110) is the lean. Both teams have some issues at key areas, but the Gophers have some decent enough skill position options even after the portal movement.
Gophers WR Daniel Jackson had 57 receptions for 831 yards and 8 TDs, and he could be a difference maker against a Bowling Green +3.5 (-110) secondary down 3 key members. Minnesota TE Brevyn Spann-Ford is an NFL prospect who has not yet opted out for the game, and he also could be a difference maker, especially in the red zone.
Over/Under
UNDER 39.5 (-115) is worth a look.
Even when these teams faced each other at full strength in 2021, they posted only 24 total points.
Bowling Green hit the Over at a 4-1 clip in the final 5 regular-season games, but the defense allowed 19 or fewer points in 4 of the final 6 games, and the total went low in 3 of the past 4 games off campus.
Minnesota went low in the final 2 regular-season games, and 4 of the final 6 outings, with the offense posting 14 or fewer points in 4 of the final 7 outings.
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