Two teams who love their golden mascots battle it out on the West Coast for some college football after dark action this Saturday Night. The Minnesota Golden Gophers are out in Berkeley taking on the California Golden Bears this weekend. Minnesota is getting ready for another year in the Big Ten, while the Golden Bears prepare for their second season in the ACC (despite being on the opposite coast). So far this season, each team has been impressive bringing a spotless 2-0 record into this matchup, so let’s get into this contest and find our favorite picks!
Go to Betting News to check out what else I’ve got on the slate for Week 3, and view the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks.
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. California Golden Bears NCAA Football Insights
Will Darius Taylor see the field on Saturday against Cal?
There’s a big question mark surrounding the Golden Gophers offense, specifically with running back Darius Taylor. He left their game last week in the first quarter with a hamstring injury, and did not return. Head Coach PJ Fleck said his diagnosis was positive, yet his status for this week’s contest still remains up in the air.
I am failing to find any player prop lines surrounding this man, leading me to believe no one really knows if he will take the field or not. Regardless, the Gopher’s offense has been moving the ball fine, putting up 66 points last week.
California surprised a lot of people by taking it to Oregon State in Week 1, beating them 34-15 on the road, and followed it up with a 35-3 win against Texas Southern in their home opener. Their true freshman quarterback is living up to expectations so far, but now they have another Power Four opponent coming to town looking to add a win to their record.
Matchup Information – Minnesota vs. California – September 13
- Venue & Location: California Memorial Stadium (Berkeley, CA)
- Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
- Kick Off: 10:30 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: ESPN
Minnesota vs. California Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of September 12, 2025 at 10:35 a.m. eastern. Sign up today with Promo Code BNBOL55 for a 55% deposit bonus up.
Spread
- Minnesota -2.5 (-118)
- California +2.5 (-102)
Moneyline
- Minnesota -140
- California +120
Total
- Over 42.5 (-106)
- Under 42.5 (-114)
Redshirt freshman Drake Lindsey is starting for the Golden Gophers and he’s been competent so far. He has a rushing touchdown already this season, despite having -13 total yards on the ground. California’s quarterback, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele demanded national attention after going for 234 yards and three touchdowns with no picks in his opener against Oregon State, following it up by competing over 71% of his passes in Week 2.
Can he keep that offensive fire power moving in the right direction against a Big Ten defense?
Minnesota vs. California NCAA Football Picks and Predictions
Cal’s freshman QB has been very exciting to watch through two games
Minnesota vs. California Prediction: California Wins Outright, Under 42.5
Best Bet: Jacob De Jesus Over 3.5 Receptions (-115) Bovada
I don’t see either team moving the ball effectively on Saturday Night. However, Cal will be forced to throw it. Jacob De Jesus leads the Golden Bears with 10 receptions through two games, totaling 95 receiving yards as well. He caught four passes against Oregon State but had a few more thrown his way, plus had six receptions last week. The guy is only 5’7″ weighing in at 170 lbs, but he’s shifty with his feet and runs plenty of quick routes.
Sagapolutele knows to get this guy the ball early and often, letting him really get going with his feet. Once the ball is in De Jesus’ hands, he is very tough to bring down given his quickness. Now, he’s not a deep threat guy, more of a slot receiver who excels when he gets the ball in space. Four catches is something he’s done in both games this year with the new QB, plus he’s gotten the ball thrown his way plenty.
Look for these two to link up as much as they can hosting a tougher defense that will focus on stopping the run. This will easily be the most potent offense the Gophers have seen, and being on the road way past their bedtime, I could see the secondary losing De Jesus over the middle multiple times throughout the contest. California’s QB is completing nearly 70% of his passes this season and has dropped back an average of 34 times per game. There should be plenty of opportunities for De Jesus to catch some passes, as I expect a minimum of 7-8 targets for the slot receiver.
I literally could not find a picture of Jacob De Jesus as a member of the Golden Bears even through two games, but he’s not there for the cameras anyways. He’s there to catch passes.
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