Gophers-Purdue: Preview, betting odds

How to watch

• Date: Saturday, Oct. 10
• Time: 7 p.m. CT
• TV/streaming: Big Ten Network (BTN)
  • Broadcast crew: Wayne Randazzo (play-by-play), Rhett Lewis (color commentator)
• Radio: KFAN FM 100.3

After a ginormous national spotlight against Michigan with FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff pregame show in Minneapolis and the network’s No. 1 broadcast crew, Minnesota and Purdue have been handed the late-night BTN window. It’s arguably the smallest stage you can have for a Big Ten conference game.

The Gophers opened as high as 6.5-point betting favorites, but that line has fallen to -2.5. Purdue has started the season 2-3, but its three losses have come against Wake Forest (in double overtime), UCLA on the road and Notre Dame, all three of which are currently performing at a top-25 level. Second-year head coach Barry Odom has found some momentum.

For anyone who follows Big Ten football closely, a late-night road trip to Purdue after an emotional win at home is among the biggest let-down spots in the conference. The Boilermakers are clearly a better team than their preseason expectations suggested, and Minnesota should expect 60 minutes of classic Big Ten West football in West Lafayette, Indiana, on Saturday night.