In what might be an interesting Big East-Big Ten matchup, the 3-0 Minnesota Gophers host the 1-2 Syracuse Orange Saturday night in Minneapolis (8 pm ET Big Ten Network).

The Gophers are two-point favorites over the Orange, even though they might have lost QB MarQueis Gray for the next couple of weeks to a sprained ankle.



View Syracuse vs Minnesota Odds and Stats.

Betting Line: Oddsmakers opened the Golden Gophers as 1-point underdogs in the game, while the betting total had not been set at the time of writing.

Power Rankings / Prediction: The Power Rankings at OddsShark have the No. 19-rated Orange taking on the No. 49-rated Golden Gophers in this contest. Handicapping models indicate a 45-29 win for the Golden Gophers on Saturday.



How They Match Up:
The game also pits Minnesota's No. 44-ranked offense, averaging 34 PPG, against a Orange defense that ranks No. 96 this week at 33.7 PPG. The Golden Gophers aerial game is averaging 219.3 yards per game, more than the Orange secondary allows through the air, 164.7 YPG per game.



Syracuse won its last outing, a 28-17 result against Stony Brook on September 15. Since it involved a non-board school, there was no point spread or total on the game. Ryan Nassib's 335-yard performance through the air was enough last time out, as Syracuse earned a 28-17 win over Stony Brook on Saturday at Carrier Dome.

Last time out for Minnesota, they were a 28-23 Sportsbook as they battled Western Michigan at home. Minnesota covered in the match as a 3-point favorite, while 51 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors. Donnell Kirkwood ran through the Western Michigan defense for 110 yards in Minnesota's last game, handing the Broncos a 28-23 setback on Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium.


Syracuse Orange Trends:
When playing in September are 6-4
When playing on turf are 4-6
After outgaining opponent are 3-7
When playing outside the conference are 6-4

Minnesota Golden Gophers Trends:
When playing in September are 4-6
When playing on turf are 6-4
After outgaining opponent are 3-7
When playing outside the conference are 4-6

A few Orange at Golden Gophers trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Syracuse's last 5 games on the road
Syracuse is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Syracuse is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games
Syracuse is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games
Minnesota is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Minnesota is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Minnesota is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games


Next up:
Syracuse home to Pittsburgh, Friday, October 5
Minnesota at Iowa, Saturday, September 29