ESPN FPI Predicts Big Ten Program to Win One More Game in 2024

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are coming off a third straight bowl game appearance under head coach PJ Fleck. However, things have not gotten off to a good start in 2024, as the team is currently 2-3 with one win over a Power Four program.

Minnesota lost to the North Carolina Tar Heels in its season opener due to a missed game-winning field goal. The Golden Gophers then won back-to-back games against Rhode Island and Nevada before dropping the next two to the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Michigan Wolverines.

ESPN's FPI had some unfortunate news for Minnesota fans, only favoring the team against the UCLA Bruins on Oct. 12. Despite being in different parts of the country, UCLA and Minnesota have played three games against each other in college football. However, the last meeting was in 1978.

Here are the odds of a Minnesota win in the final seven regular-season games according to the FPI:

Oct. 5: vs. USC Trojans, 28.2%
Oct. 12: at UCLA, 59.1%
Oct. 26: vs. Maryland Terrapins, 48.2%
Nov. 2: at Illinois Fighting Illini, 38.1%
Nov. 9: at Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 34.5%
Nov. 23: vs. Penn State Nittany Lions, 22.1%
Nov. 29: at Wisconsin Badgers, 24.3%

If Minnesota fails to reach a bowl game this season, it would be the third time under Fleck. Fleck has a 52-37 record since beginning his tenure with the Golden Gophers in 2017.

Minnesota takes on No. 11 USC at Huntingdon Bank Stadium. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.

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