Buffalo vs Minnesota Odds, Lines & Best CFB Bets for Thursday

• The fun of Thursday night college football comes back when Minnesota hosts Buffalo tonight at 8 p.m.

• Buffalo is 1-11 all-time against Big Ten teams. Minnesota is 17.5-point favorites.

• Check out my look at the Buffalo vs Minnesota odds, lines and best bet for this CFB clash.

After another solid season, Minnesota kicks off its 2025 campaign hosting Buffalo at Huntington Bank Stadium. Fox has the broadcast to your favorite screen.

The Golden Gophers were 8-2 in their last 10 games last season against the spread and are more than a two-touchdown favorites, but Thursday is where teams in the MAC shine. Can Buffalo pull off the upset?

I’ve got all the details you need before placing your bet on Buffalo vs Minnesota, including my prediction, tip on the best line and preview.

Buffalo vs Minnesota Odds

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Minnesota has covered in eight of its last nine games and has won each of its last nine home openers as favorites. This is season 142 for Minnesota. The Golden Gophers got 11 votes in the AP Top 25, Buffalo got one.

The Bulls haven’t beaten a Big Ten team since 2018, when they thumped (checks notes) Rutgers. The Bulls were 6-4 in their last 10 games last year, but won their last five. Each of the Bulls’ last six games as an underdog has gone over.

The over/under total is set at 43.5, which is quite low. You can get the under at -105 at DraftKings and FanDuel. The best moneyline bet on Buffalo is at FanDuel at +720. DraftKings has Minnesota at -900.

Buffalo vs Minnesota Lines

This is year nine for Coach PJ Fleck at Minnesota, and he’s turned the Golden Gophers into a second-tier Big 10 team consistently. Redshirt freshman Drake Lindsey will make his first start at quarterback. He played in three games last season in spot duty.

My favorite Lindsey tidbit is that his grandfather Jim played for the Vikings in the ’60s and was on Arkansas’ 1964 undefeated team, along with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson.

Minnesota’s offense will be centered around running back Darius Taylor, who had 10 touchdowns last year. The Golden Gophers are breaking in a new defensive coordinator.

Buffalo will start 25-year-old uber-senior Ta’Quan Roberson at quarterback. Roberson was a highly recruited player coming out of high school in 2019 and started his college career at Penn State, then transferred to UConn, and most recently joined Kansas State. The Bulls went 9-4 last year and feature elite linebacker Red Murdock, who forced an NCAA-best seven fumbles last season.

Buffalo vs Minnesota Bets

• Buffalo +17.5 (-110 at BetMGM)

• Under 43.5 (-110 at BetMGM)

Even though the numbers are strong on Minnesota, we’re predicting Buffalo to keep it close. The Bulls only lost two games last season by more than 17 points. Both teams are breaking in new starting quarterbacks, so we can’t expect either team to light up the scoreboard.

Buffalo has also managed to do the unthinkable in this day and age in college football, keeping its team together. They return 10 defensive starters and six on offense. I don’t see them beating Minnesota.

The Golden Gophers will be too good on the offensive line and push Buffalo around, but the Bulls’ game plan will be to keep things close and make Minnesota sweat. I also like the under because both teams are strong defensively. Minnesota is better, but not 17 points better.