Minnesota vs Indiana Prediction 10/31/2026 Today’s College Football Picks

Minnesota vs Indiana Prediction

In this Minnesota vs Indiana prediction for this College Football Week 9 matchup on Saturday, October 31st, Indiana is coming as -21 home favorites. Indiana has been the better team this season, having lost only once but have been terrible against the spread, with a 1-7 ATS record. On the flip side, Minnesota is 4-1 both straight up and against the spread in its last 5 games, but have scored just 13 points in each of their last two games, so I cannot pick a side here. Indiana has also scored just 28 points combined in its last two games, they have the second-best defense in the entire nation and Minnesota is also a top-35 defense. Both teams are 5-1 to the under in their last 6 games combined, so take the under 42 points in this one.

Indiana Hoosiers Preview

Indiana has a 7-1 record and a 4-1 record in the Big Ten. They are coming off a 13-6 road win against Michigan and will face USC and Washington next.

Offensively, Indiana averages 33.6 points per game, ranking 38th in the nation, while defensively, they allow 12 points per game, which is 2nd. Indiana averages 419.6 total yards per game (228.1 passing and 191.5 rushing), while allowing 264.8 total yards per game (73.1 rushing and 191.6 passing).

Josh Hoover leads Indiana with 1,741 passing yards with 62.0% completed passes and 18 touchdowns. Turbo Richard leads the team in rushing yards with 711, while Charlie Becker has a team-high 726 receiving yards and 42 receptions. Defensively, Isaiah Jones has a team-high 60 total tackles (37 of them solo), while Tobi Osunsanmi leads the team with 9 sacks.

Injury Report

Davion Chandler (WR) — Out | Est. Return: Week-to-week
Kellan Wyatt (DL) — Out | Est. Return: Week-to-week
Quan Sanks (DB) — Questionable | Est. Return: Oct 31 vs. Minnesota
Josh Hoover (QB) — Probable | Est. Return: Oct 31 vs. Minnesota

Minnesota Golden Gophers Preview

Minnesota has a 5-2 record and a 3-1 record in the Big Ten. They are coming off a 13-10 home win against Iowa and will face UCLA and Penn State next.

Offensively, Minnesota averages 26.6 points per game, ranking 84th in the nation, while defensively, they allow 20.1 points per game, which is 34th. Minnesota averages 322.4 total yards per game (222.3 passing and 100.1 rushing), while allowing 288.7 total yards per game (123.6 rushing and 165.1 passing).

Drake Lindsey leads Minnesota with 1,472 passing yards with 63.5% completed passes and 9 touchdowns. TJ Thomas leads the team in rushing yards with 325, while Javon Tracy has a team-high 420 receiving yards and 39 receptions. Defensively, Maverick Baranowski has a team-high 52 total tackles (28 of them solo), while TJ Bush leads the team with 4 sacks.

Injury Report

Ashton Beers (OL) — Out | Est. Return: Out for season
Michael Merdinger (QB) — Out | Est. Return: Indefinite
Ryan Estrada (RB) — Out | Est. Return: Indefinite
Elisha West (DB) — Out | Est. Return: Indefinite
Enoch Atewogbola (DL) — Out | Est. Return: Indefinite
Brett Carroll (OL) — Out | Est. Return: Indefinite
Hayden Moore (WR) — Out | Est. Return: Indefinite
Pierce Walsh (TE) — Doubtful | Est. Return: Nov 7
Garrison Monroe (DB) — Questionable | Est. Return: Oct 31 vs. Indiana
Riley Sunram (DL) — Probable | Est. Return: Oct 31 vs. Indiana
Beckham Sunderland (K) — Probable | Est. Return: Oct 31 vs. Indiana

Minnesota Golden Gophers @ Indiana Hoosiers Betting Trends: Week 9

Why the Indiana Hoosiers will win

• Indiana has won each of its last 28 games against non-AP-ranked teams.
• Minnesota has lost each of its last six games against top-10 AP-ranked teams.
• Minnesota has failed to cover the spread in five of its last six games against top-10 AP-ranked teams.
• The home team has covered the spread in four of Minnesota’s last five games.
• Indiana has won the first quarter in nine of its last 10 games against conference opponents at Memorial Stadium (Bloomington).
• Indiana has won the first half in each of its last 20 games as a favorite in Indiana.

Why the Minnesota Golden Gophers will win

• Minnesota has won seven of its last eight games as an underdog against teams from Indiana.
• Indiana has lost seven of its last eight games after coming off overtime.
• Indiana has failed to cover the spread in each of its last six games at Memorial Stadium (Bloomington).
• Minnesota has covered the spread in seven of its last eight games as an underdog against teams from Indiana.
• The underdog has won the first quarter in each of Minnesota’s last four games.
• Minnesota has won the first half in seven of its last eight games as an underdog against teams from Indiana.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Minnesota’s last six road games have gone OVER the total points line.
• Five of Indiana’s last six October home games against non-AP-ranked teams have gone OVER the total points line.

Indiana Hoosiers Player Prop Facts

• Tobi Osunsanmi has recorded at least one sack in seven consecutive games – longest streak in the FBS, heading into Week 9.

Minnesota Golden Gophers Player Prop Facts

• Heading into Week 9, Darius Taylor leads Minnesota for touchdowns (6) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• Indiana has recorded the equal-most home wins by a margin of 35+ points of any FBS team this season (3).
• Indiana ranks 1st among FBS teams for Q2 opponent points per game this season (1.6).
• Minnesota has won the third quarter in each of its last seven games – equal-longest active streak in the FBS.
• Minnesota ranks T4th among FBS teams for Q3 opponent points per game this season (1.4).

Nikos Lagouretos's Pick: Under 42