NCAA Football Lock Alert – Minnesota Golden Gophers at Syracuse Orange

The Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-6 SU, 3-5 Conf., 7-5 ATS, 6-6 O/U) and the Syracuse Orangemen (3-9 SU, 1-6 Conf., 5-6 ATS, 6-4-1 O/U) will both be gunning for a victory in the BetOnline Sportsbook when they square off at the Carrier Dome on Saturday at 12 PM ET.

The Syracuse Orange will be looking to bounce back from a disastrous 3-9 season in 2008 and have a new head coach in former New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Marrone, leading them in a new direction.

Syracuse will need all the help they can get after ranking 114th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision schools last year.

A familiar face will lead the Orange this season as former Duke Basketball star Greg Paulus, a former blue chip football prospect, gets back to paying competitive football for the first time since high school.

The Orange won’t have it easy however as Minnesota returns a whopping 18 starters with 10 of thos on the offensive side of the ball and eight on defense, the most of any Big Ten school.

Here is a look at tonight’s key trends, followed by my in-depth analysis and NCAAF Free Pick.

• Golden Gophers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games in September.
• Golden Gophers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 road games.
• Golden Gophers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games.
• Orange are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games on turf.
• Orange are 7-16-1 ATS in their last 24 games as an underdog.
• Orange are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games in September.
• Orange are 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 home games.
• Under is 5- 0 in Golden Gophers last 5 games as a favorite.
• Over is 9- 1 in Golden Gophers last 10 non-conference games.
• Over is 5- 1 in Orange last 6 home games.
• Over is 5- 1 in Orange last 6 games in September.
• Over is 4- 1 in Orange last 5 games as a home underdog.

NCAA Football Odds

• Minnesota -7 -110
• Syracuse +7 -110
• Over 47 -110
• Under 47 -110

Analysis: College football betting enthusiasts, the Syracuse Orange may have a new head coach and may be playing at home, but the battered football program has a very long way to go just to get back to respectability.

While Doug Marrone has parted ways with more than 15 players on the team since taking over last December, Minnesota is returning a slew of players including quarterback Adam Weber, who is now entering his third year as the team’s starting quarterback.

The Orange will also be facing a Minnesota team has won 12 of its last 14 season-opening contests and went undefeated (4-0) in non-conference play in 2008.

The Golden Gophers are correct pick here BetOnline NCAA college football betting members as they have gone a perfect 4-0 ATS in their last four September games and 6-1 ATS in their last seven road games.

While the Golden Gophers have gone just 2-5 ATS in their last seven non-conference games and the Syracuse Orange have gone 4-1 ATS in their last five games on turf, again, I believe the Gophers are the correct pick as Syracuse has gone a disappointing 7-16-1 ATS in their last 24 games as an underdog and a woeful 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 home games.

I also like the Over in this contest as it has gone a red-hot 9- 1 in Minnesota’s last 10 non-conference games and 5- 1 in Syracuse’s last six home games overall.

Take the Gophers and the Over BetOnline college football fanatics.

NCAAF Free Picks: Minnesota -7 Points/Over 47 Total Points