In the highly anticipated penultimate game of the regular season, the Nittany Lions find themselves once again as significant favorites over their opponents. This week, they embark on a journey to Minnesota, where they will face the Golden Gophers at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 23, in the bustling Huntington Bank Stadium. DraftKings has set the opening line at -12 points in favor of the Nittany Lions, accompanied by an over/under of 45 points. The money line clearly indicates that the Nittany Lions are the stronger team, with -440 in their favor, making Minnesota the underdog at +340.

Historical Head-to-Head Battle

In the last ten matchups between these two Big Ten opponents, the Nittany Lions have held a slight edge, leading 6-4 in the head-to-head battle. Interestingly, they have also had a 5-4-1 record against the spread, according to OddsShark. The last time Minnesota managed to defeat Penn State was a surprising 31-26 upset in 2019. This historical data adds an extra layer of significance to this week's game.

Recent Form and Spreads

After their victorious performance last week against Purdue, Penn State now stands at 5-5 against the spread and 3-7 when it comes to playing toward the over/under. This recent form gives both fans and bettors something to ponder as they anticipate this week's showdown.

First-Quarter Analysis

The Nittany Lions have shown remarkable dominance in the first quarter of their last three games, outscoring their opponents 31-7. On the contrary, Minnesota has been held to three points or less in the first quarter of seven out of their 10 games. This significant disparity makes the small margin of 3.5 points in the first-quarter spread for Penn State an extremely attractive bet. It showcases the potential for a quick-starting offense from the Nittany Lions and the struggles of the Golden Gophers in the opening minutes.Pick Of The WeekPenn State -3.5 first-quarter spread at +110. This bet offers a unique opportunity for those looking to capitalize on the Nittany Lions' first-quarter prowess and Minnesota's early-game struggles.Brendan is a senior majoring in print and media journalism. Born in Pittsburgh, he now lives in Mooresville, North Carolina. As a die-hard Pittsburgh sports fan, you can find him on Twitter, @brchwags, often expressing his passion for the Pittsburgh Steelers and maybe even having a few words about Justin Fields. We'll just have to wait and see!