Let’s start a win streak, folks.

Penn State football will play its first game in true football weather on Saturday against Minnesota as a nearly double-digit favorite. Feels-like temperatures could drop to as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit during the game, with a chance of snow, which could be a factor.

The Golden Gophers — aside from bringing Minnesota weather — will arrive in Happy Valley with a 5-4 overall record and a 3-3 conference record. Minnesota’s two best wins are arguably a 13-10 upset over then-No. 15 Iowa and a 20-14 win over Michigan.

The Nittany Lions are 9.5-point favorites (-108) in Saturday’s matchup with their moneyline set at -355, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Sixty-eight percent of bettors have taken the Lions’ moneyline, though 32% have favored Minnesota to win at +280.

Nearly 80% of bettors have taken Minnesota to cover 9.5 points.

The over/under is set at 41.5.

Penn State covered the spread as a 2.5-point underdog against Washington, despite the Huskies’ late comeback attempt. The Nittany Lions have now covered the spread in their last three games, bringing their record against the spread to 5-4.

Minnesota ranks No. 133 in rushing offense and No. 93 in passing offense nationally, while posting only 17.4 points per game against Power Four opponents.

The better half of the Golden Gopher offense will have a difficult task ahead, as Penn State’s pass defense ranks No. 3 nationally in passing yards allowed per game, at 144.8.

The Nittany Lions hold an 11-6 all-time record over Minnesota and have won the last two meetings. Penn State beat the Golden Gophers by a single point on the road in 2024 and won 45-17 in Happy Valley in 2022.

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