2005 Minnesota Golden Gophers Handicapping Review

 

By Tom Wilkinson

 

Minnesota has developed an interesting sports handicapping pattern over the past four seasons of doing fairly well in the first half of the year, against weak non conference opposition, often sneaking up on the sports betting odds, and then falling hard in the season’s second half, when playing better competition in the Big Ten Conference and also after having captured the attention of sports bettors. In 2001 The Gophers fell to 1-3 against the odds in their final four games. In 2002, after covering their first two lined games, Minnesota limped home with a 3-7 mark against the sports betting line including a 1-4 mark in their last five games. In 2003, the Gophers started off 5-1 against the line, only to collapse and go 2-5 the rest of the way with three consecutive failures against the odds to close out the campaign.

Minnesota entered 2004 coming off back-to-back bowl seasons, which increased their sports handicapping esteem amongst the general sports betting public, but decreased their early season value that often provided an enticing advantage against the online sports betting boards and sportsbooks.

Minnesota returned to form, however, shooting out of the gate in 2004 with a straight up record of 5-0, and 3-1 mark against the odds. They carried this record into the “Big House” at Michigan for a highly touted rematch with the Wolverines. In 2003, Minnesota blew a huge fourth quarter lead at home against Michigan, and with it, the chance to make a statement as to their legitimacy as a true Big Ten contender. The Gophers were pointing to this rematch for one year since and were slight 3.5-point dogs. Once again, the Gophers led late in the fourth quarter only to have their defense picked apart with miraculous ease on Michigan’s final drive as the Wolverines prevailed 27-24 as Minnesota got the money.

Minnesota was clearly overvalued in their next game at Michigan State in which they were made 9-point favorites by the sports betting odds makers. With their emotions shattered, they folded like a tent in a 17-51 blowout loss, which was the start of a 2-4 finish to their season against the odds as Minnesota kept to their late season form of previous years.

Until the prove otherwise, Minnesota is a good team to have on a sports handicapping list of football picks early in the season, and a team to oppose come November.