Gophers are big underdogs at Washington: Where would an upset rank in the Fleck era?
· Yahoo Sports
The Gophers are currently between 9.5- and 10-point betting underdogs for this week’s Big Ten opener at Washington. That means a Minnesota win would be one of the biggest upset victories in the P.J. Fleck era based on betting odds. Let’s find out where that would rank.
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Fleck’s biggest upset wins at Minnesota (based on betting odds)
Sports betting has become more and more normalized among the general public. You can have your opinions on its place in society, but it adds context to many games, rather than a top-25 poll that is far more inaccurate. Here are Fleck’s biggest upset wins at Minnesota based on point spread.
*Note: Betting odds often fluctuate between sportsbooks, so these are unofficial odds and more of an average, based heavily on historical data from teamrankings.com
- 2018: 37-15 W @ Wisconsin (12-point underdogs)
The Gophers carried a 14-game losing streak against rival Wisconsin into their 2018 meeting. The Badgers were 7-4 heading into that game, and nobody gave Minnesota much of a chance. Wisconsin closed as high as 12-point favorites, and the Gophers won the game by 22 points in Camp Randall, marking one of the most significant wins in Fleck’s tenure at Minnesota and the biggest upset win by point spread.
Minnesota players carry Paul Bunyan’s Axe after defeating Wisconsin 37-15 Saturday, November 24, 2018, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
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- 2019: 31-26 W vs. Penn State (6.5-point underdogs)
Minnesota’s 2019 win over Penn State is the most significant in Fleck’s tenure, but not the biggest upset. Despite the Nitanny Lions being ranked No. 4 in the country, they closed as just 6.5-point favorites at Huntington Bank Stadium. Home field advantage plays a big role in college football betting odds, and we saw why on Nov. 9, 2019.
Nov 9, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive lineman Esezi Otomewo (9) holds the Governor Liberty Bell trophy after defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
- 2019: 31-24 W vs. Auburn (7-point underdogs)
Minnesota’s magical 2019 season was capped off by another upset win in the Outback Bowl against Auburn. The oddsmakers weren’t giving the Gophers any respect after losing two of their final three regular-season games. The Tigers were ranked No. 12 at the time, and Minnesota found a way to leave Tampa, Florida with a win.
Jan 1, 2020; Tampa, Florida, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers quarterback Tanner Morgan (2) looks to pass the ball during the second quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
- 2020: 24-17 @ Nebraska (8.5-point underdogs)
This might be a game that you can just chalk up to the craziness that was the shortened 2020 college football season. Nebraska wasn’t ranked, and it held a 2-4 record for this game, but oddsmakers favored them by 8.5 points over a 2-3 Gophers squad. Minnesota had zero issues going into Lincoln and beating an overrated Nebraska team by a touchdown.
Dec 12, 2020; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers coach P.J. Fleck (right) and linebacker James Gordon IV (13) celebrate after victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
- 2021: 23-13 W vs. Wisconsin (7-point underdogs)
Wisconsin came to Huntington Bank Stadium as the 14th-ranked team in the country in 2021, and the Gophers handed them a 23-13 loss. Fleck has beaten the Badgers four out of the last five years, and the 2021 win was one of the most impressive.
Fans storms the field to touch the Paul Bunyan Ax after Minnesota beat Wisconsin 23-14 Saturday, November 27, 2021 at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. Minnesota beat Wisconsin 23-13.MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
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- 2022: 23-16 W @ Wisconsin (9.5-point underdogs)
Oddsmakers were counting the Gophers out heading into their 2022 meeting against Wisconsin. Led by Athan Kaliakmanis, who delivered his best performance in a Minnesota uniform, they went into Camp Randall and handed the Badgers a 23-16 defeat to retain Paul Bunyan’s Axe.
Minnesota linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin (55) wields the Paul Bunyan Axe after their game Saturday, November 26, 2022 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. Minnesota beat Wisconsin 23-16.
- 2024: 24-17 W vs. USC (8.5-point underdogs)
Fleck and the Gophers welcomed No. 11 USC to Huntington Bank Stadium in their first meeting as Big Ten programs, and they handed them an upset loss. It marked a huge turning point of the 2024 season, which sparked a four-game win streak.
Oct 5, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck looks on during the second half against the USC Trojans at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
- 2025: 24-6 W vs. Nebraska (7-point underdogs)
In accurate Nebraska fashion, an overrated team came to Minneapolis as seven-point favorites last fall, and the Gophers dominated them for 60 minutes. It marked Fleck’s seventh win over a ranked opponent at Minnesota.
Oct 17, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers wide receiver Lemeke Brockington (0) celebrates his receiving touchdown against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the second half at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
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This story was originally published by Bring Me The Sports on Sep 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN Gophers section. Add Bring Me The Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.