Buffalo Bulls vs Minnesota Golden Gophers Point Spread Picks

The Gophers are going to have a tough time this season. Minnesota lost a significant amount of high-end talent to the NFL draft, and it will take a considerable effort to finish over .500. It looks like redshirt freshman Drake Lindsey will get the start vs. Buffalo. Minnesota won the last meeting 17-7, and this appears to be another defensive battle. Buffalo brings back nine starters on defense, and that is where the success of this team is evident. The Bulls won 9 games last year, predominantly led by their defense. Minnesota has been a staple as a strong defensive team, and this year should be no different. The Golden Gophers have featured top-10 scoring defenses in three of the last four seasons, allowing just 16.9 points per game a year ago. Early in the season, defenses seem to be sharp, while the offenses take a bit longer to come together. This is a defensive game from start to finish. Make the play UNDER the total.

Buffalo heads out on the road, stepping up to play the Big 10. It's a rebuilding program, winning five, five and two games the last three years, off a 2-10 campaign. The Bulls ranked last in the MAC in points scored, while the run defense was #124 in the nation. They stepped up once last season to play Boston College of the ACC and lost 35-3, failing to cover as part of a 4-11 spread run. They run into a strong Minnesota squad off a 9-4 campaign and welcome new coach P.J. Fleck. He was a sought-after addition, taking Western Michigan from 1–11 in 2013 to back-to-back 8–5 campaigns before a breakthrough to 13–1 and a Cotton Bowl berth against Wisconsin in 2016. Buffalo allowed 28 or more points in 8 of 12 games last season, a number the Gophers will be able to top, and Minnesota is 81-41 ATS when they score 28+ points. Play Minnesota.