Buffalo Bulls vs Minnesota Golden Gophers Prediction, Odds and Picks for Thursday, 08/28/25

Thursday’s college football slate features a number of games where MAC teams will take on Big Ten opponents, and this matchup in Minneapolis features a combination of factors that I love to target early on in the season. More specifically, we’re getting a team I’m looking to back against a team I’m looking to fade early in the campaign. On one side, Buffalo should be a serious contender for the MAC title in head coach Pete Lembo’s second season at the controls. The Bulls were a much improved defense a season ago, and they’ll be returning 9 starters from a unit that should take another step forward this fall. Buffalo’s offense was certainly not the strength of the team in 2024, but the Bulls do have a decent ground game and they’ll return 3 starters on the offensive line, along with bringing in Ta’Quan Roberson at quarterback to provide a veteran element at the position. This experience and returning production gives me confidence that Buffalo won’t be intimated against a Big Ten foe.

As for the hosts, PJ Flecks group is going to be replacing quite a bit following a strong end to the 2024 season. On offense, the Gophers are going to be without quarterback Max Brosmer, along with 80% of their targets at the wide receiver spot. Yes, Darius Taylor is still a massive weapon out of the backfield, but the veteran running back will be running behind an offensive line that lost a trio of players to the NFL and will be breaking in 5 players at new positions on the line this season. With a redshirt freshman coming in to start at quarterback, I have a hard time believing that Minnesota will do anything but keep things simple in his first start at the collegiate level. With that in mind, the Bulls should be able to key in on Taylor and at least somewhat limit the explosiveness of the Gophers ground game. Lastly, given the fact that the total in this game is in the mid-40’s, there is inherent value on backing an underdog in this spot, particularly when Buffalo can be expected to play at a pretty slow pace. The Gophers should acquiesce to that tempo when they are on offense as well, so I’ll grab the points with the Bulls at +17 or better.

Buffalo vs Minnesota prediction: Buffalo +18.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to +17.

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