Sportsbooks for US players favor the Auburn Tigers over the Minnesota Golden Gophers by seven points, as the spread goes for the 2020 Outback Bowl on January 1, with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m. EST, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
Minnesota vs. Auburn 2020 Outback Bowl Odds by GTBets
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota U | +7 (-110) | 54 (-110) | +215 |  |
| Auburn | -7 (-110) | 54 (-110) | -255 | |
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Betting Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Gophers finished the regular season 10-2 SU (7-2 in Big Ten play) and 6-4-2 ATS, per the best online sportsbooks. Starting QB Tanner Morgan is 191 of 289 (66.1%) for 2,975 yards with 28 TDs, six picks, and 30 sacks. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman has 57 catches for 1,170 yards and 11 TDs. Running back Rodney Smith has rushed for 1094 yards and eight TDs on 212 carries. Minnesota ranks 50th in the country with 426.8 total yards per game. The Gophers score 34.3 points per game (23rd) but were held to 17 by Wisconsin in their regular-season finale.
Linebacker Carter Coughlin has 4.5 sacks, and defensive back Antoine Winfield has 80 tackles and seven interceptions. Minnesota has the 14th best total defense (312.8 ypg) and the 11th best pass defense (184.9 ypg). The Gophers 34th-ranked scoring defense (22.4 ppg) has allowed 22 or more points in their last four games.
Minnesota is, according to sportsbooks for US players, 6-2 ATS in their last eight games as an underdog. 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine non-conference games. And 17-6-4 ATS in their last 27 games after an ATS loss.
Morgan leads the Big Ten in passing yards. He torched Purdue for a season-best 396 yards with four touchdowns. And picked apart Penn State for 339 yards, Iowa for 368, and Wisconsin for 296. Bateman and Tyler Johnson combined for 131 receptions, 2,284 yards, and 22 touchdowns in the regular season. The Gophers are seventh in the country on third down (50.3%) and have converted 11 of 17 fourth-down opportunities.
Betting Auburn Tigers
The Tigers went 9-3 SU (5-3 in SEC play) and 9-3 ATS, as reported by sportsbooks for US players. Starting QB Bo Nix is 200 of 351 (57.0%) for 2,366 yards with 15 TDs, six picks, and 15 sacks. Wide receiver Seth Williams has 55 receptions for 801 yards and eight TDs. Running back JaTarvius Withlow has 739 yards and nine TDs on 147 carries. Auburn rounds the top 25 rushing offenses with 211.0 yards per game. The Tigers rank 52nd in total offense (421.1 yards per game). Auburn’s tied-for-26th scoring offense (34.0 ppg) outscored opponents 100-45 in the last two games of the season.
Defensive end Marlon Davidson has 7.5 sacks, and defensive back Jeremiah Dinson has 79 tackles and two interceptions. The Tigers have allows 323.9 total and 115.5 rushing yards per game, ranking 20th in both categories. Auburn’s 14th-ranking scoring defense (18.6 ppg) has allowed more than 24 points just once this season.
The Tigers are 4-1 ATS in their last five neutral site games as a favorite. 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games overall. And 6-2 ATS in their last eight games after an ATS win.
Nix is still coming into his own as a passer. That means Auburn must run the ball well. As well as they did against Alabama, when the Tigers posted 181 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Conversely, Auburn lost to LSU, Georgia, and Florida. In all three games they couldn’t gain more than 130 rushing yards.
Minnesota vs. Auburn 2020 Outback Bowl Pick
The Gophers’ offense is filled with underclassmen that will return to Minneapolis next year. Most of Auburn’s offensive line and defense are comprised of seniors. Will they show up to play at a high level or are they already thinking about the future? If the Tigers do show up, they have more talent at key positions to leave Raymond James Stadium with a solid win.
