The University of Minnesota football team has accepted a College Football Betting invitation to compete in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Jan. 3, 2025. Specifically, the matchup is in Charlotte, N.C. The Duke’s Mayo Bowl will be Minnesota’s 25th bowl game all-time. The Gophers have won seven straight bowl games dating back to the 2015 Quick Lane Bowl. Correlate that is the longest active streak in the nation (excluding national championship games). Also, it is the longest in Big Ten history and tied for the seventh longest in college football history.
Mayo Bowl Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Virginia Tech Hokies
| Date and Time: | Friday, January 3, 2025, 7:30 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC |
| TV Coverage: | ESPN |
| Team | Spread | Total | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota U | -6½ -110 | 42½ -110 | -245 |  |
| Virginia Tech | +6½ -110 | 42½ -110 | +205 | |
| ||||
Mayo Bowl Overview
Following a decade of sponsoring this bowl game, Belk pulled out of the title role after the 2019 edition. That left this bowl looking for a sponsor, and it was announced that Duke’s Mayo would become the new sponsor in the summer of 2020.
At the onset, this game has always featured an ACC team since it is in the heart of ACC country. From 2002 to 2013, the ACC took on a team from the Big East in Charlotte. However, the dissolution of the conference’s football programs led to Duke’s Mayo Bowl featuring teams from the SEC and ACC between 2014 and 2019. The ACC will take on a Big Ten team in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in even-numbered years and an SEC team in odd-numbered years.
The West Virginia Mountaineers handled the North Carolina Tarheels in the 2023 Duke’s Mayo Bowl 30-10. At the beginning, West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene found Traylon Ray deep down the left side for a 75-yard touchdown pass. In turn, it marked the third-longest pass play in Duke’s Mayo Bowl history.
Minnesota Golden Gophers Team Overview
Last game, the Minnesota Golden Gophers won 24-7 against the Wisconsin Badgers as 2-point road favorites. The game went under the online betting total of 41. Minnesota has a record of 7-5 straight up, 9-2-1 against the spread, and 6-6 over/under the total. Minnesota ranks 112th for total offense, 74th for passing, 116th for rushing and 79th for scoring. Defensively they rank 7th overall, 15th against the pass, 21st against the rush, and 12th for points allowed. Also, Minnesota ranks 16th for fewest turnovers lost and 9th for takeaways.
Virginia Tech Hokies Team Overview
Last game, the Virginia Tech Hokies won 37-17 against the Virginia Cavaliers as 5-point home favorites. The game went over the College Football Betting total of 45. Virginia Tech has a record of 6-6 straight up, 6-6 against the spread, and 8-4 over/under the total. Virginia Tech ranks 75th for total offense, 102nd for passing, 39th for rushing and 53rd for scoring. Defensively they rank 59th overall, 60th against the pass, 61st against the rush, and 44th for points allowed. Also, Virginia Tech ranks 54th for fewest turnovers lost and 19th for takeaways.
Mayo Bowl SBG Free Picks
Overall, the Gophers are 5-0 in bowl games under Fleck. They posted wins against Bowling Green (2023 Quick Lane Bowl), Syracuse (2022 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl), West Virginia (2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl), Auburn (2020 Outback Bowl), and Georgia Tech (2018 Quick Lane Bowl). In this situation, Minnesota brings a Big Ten pedigree and a better body of work.
Mayo Bowl SBG Best Bet: Minnesota Golden Gophers.