Minnesota vs Indiana Picks and Predictions for Saturday, October 31, 2026

Minnesota is heading to Bloomington on Saturday to face No. 4 Indiana in a Big Ten matchup at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 pm ET on CBS. The Golden Gophers are 5-2 overall, fifth in the conference at 3-1, following a 13-10 victory over Iowa. Indiana is 7-1 and third in the Big Ten at 4-1 after beating Michigan 13-6 in overtime. The Hoosiers are favored by 19.5 points, with the total sitting at 42.5. Cash another winning ticket with our free NCAAF picks.

Minnesota Has Been Winning Close Games

Minnesota's latest win wasn't pretty, but the Gophers won't complain about beating Iowa. They managed just 13 points Saturday and still came away with a three-point victory. It was a welcome result after a 41-13 loss at Purdue earlier in October. Minnesota had previously beaten Michigan 20-14 and Washington 27-24, giving the Gophers three wins in their last four games. The offense hasn't always delivered, but Minnesota has shown it can stay competitive when the defense plays well.

Quarterback Drake Lindsey has thrown for 1,472 yards, with nine touchdowns and six interceptions. Javon Tracy leads the receiving group with 420 yards, while TJ Thomas has rushed for 325 yards. The Gophers average only 3.4 yards per carry, something Indiana's defense will look to exploit. Minnesota has received some important defensive contributions from Maverick Baranowski, who leads the team with 51 tackles. The Gophers need another strong performance from that unit Saturday.

Injuries: Ryan Estrada is out. B. Stevens, Zeke Bates, Beckham Sunderland and A.J. Turner are questionable.

Indiana Keeps Finding Ways to Win

Indiana has played three consecutive games decided by six points or fewer. The Hoosiers escaped Nebraska with a 20-17 victory, lost 19-15 to Ohio State and then needed overtime to beat Michigan 13-6 last Saturday. That's a much different stretch from their earlier 47-15 victory at Rutgers. Indiana has continued winning despite a noticeable drop in scoring, although the defense deserves plenty of credit. Michigan managed only six points against the Hoosiers, who now return home looking for more production from their offense.

Josh Hoover has thrown 18 touchdowns against only one interception, giving Indiana a quarterback who rarely makes costly mistakes. Turbo Richard has been a major part of the ground game, rushing for 711 yards and six touchdowns. Charlie Becker leads the receivers with 726 yards and eight scores. Indiana can also put serious pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Tobi Osunsanmi has recorded nine sacks, and the Hoosiers have 28 as a team. Minnesota's offensive line faces a difficult afternoon.

Injuries: K. Martin is questionable.

Key To The Game

Indiana's defensive front could decide how much Minnesota accomplishes offensively. The Gophers struggled to move the ball against Iowa, and their rushing average of 3.4 yards per attempt doesn't offer much encouragement against a defense with 28 sacks. Minnesota needs Lindsey to avoid turnovers and keep drives alive. Indiana's offense has also been quieter recently, however, which gives the visitors a chance to stay close if they can prevent Richard from breaking long runs.

Minnesota vs Indiana Game Pick

• Minnesota Golden Gophers +19.5

Indiana is clearly the stronger team, but asking the Hoosiers to win by 20 points is a different proposition. Their last three games have been decided by three, four and seven points, including the overtime victory at Michigan. Minnesota has already beaten Michigan and Iowa, so the Gophers know how to handle difficult conference games. Indiana's pass rush presents a serious concern for Lindsey, and the Hoosiers should control much of the contest. Still, Minnesota's defense gives the Gophers a chance to keep the margin respectable. Indiana wins, but Minnesota covers the 19.5-point spread.

Minnesota vs Indiana Over/Under Pick

• Under 42.5

Indiana has scored only 48 points across its last three games, despite winning twice during that stretch. Minnesota's latest victory over Iowa produced just 23 combined points, and its meeting with Michigan finished with 34. Both defenses have shown they can make life difficult for opposing quarterbacks. Indiana's pass rush is particularly dangerous, while Minnesota has struggled to establish a consistent running game. The Hoosiers have enough offensive talent to win, but their recent games haven't featured many points. Expect another defensive contest, with the final score staying under 42.5.