Michigan and Minnesota meet Saturday at 12 p.m. ET at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN, for a Big Ten showdown.
The Wolverines are fresh off a buzzer-beater loss to Iowa — allowing a 16-yard touchdown pass as time expired to put an end to their unbeaten season. Minnesota has been playing well early in 2026, with their only loss this fall coming against No. 16 Mississippi State.
My Michigan vs. Minnesota anytime touchdown scorer predictions and college football picks take a look at a few players who have a chance to find the end zone on Saturday, Oct. 3, including a long-shot who is an under-the-radar goal-line option for the Golden Gophers.
Best Michigan vs Minnesota touchdown picks
Michigan touchdown pick: JJ Buchanan
Playable to 43%.
JJ Buchanan leads all Michigan players with four touchdowns in 2026, accounting for 80% of the team's receiving touchdowns.
His 6-foot-4 frame makes him a strong red-zone option, while his speed and route-running ability give him big-play potential, as shown by his 49-yard reception against Iowa last week.
Buchanan is one of just two Michigan pass-catchers with more than six targets this season. If the Wolverines score through the air, there's a good chance Buchanan is on the receiving end.
Minnesota touchdown pick: Darius Taylor
Playable to 51%.
Michigan hasn't allowed a rushing score yet in 2026, but if any running back is capable of breaking that streak, it's Darius Taylor.
Taylor has a bigger frame than Minnesota teammate T.J. Thomas, making him better equipped for short-yardage and goal-line work.
We've already seen that role this season, with Taylor scoring three rushing TDs compared to one for Thomas, who broke free for a 71-yard score in garbage time against Akron a couple of weeks ago.
Since he's consistently out-snapping Thomas through the first four weeks, Taylor also offers better value.
First touchdown scorer pick: Jordan Marshall
Playable to 17%.
Jordan Marshall leads Michigan running backs in snaps, rushing attempts, rushing yards, and is tied for the team lead in rushing TDs. He's also the only running back with a sizable role who hasn't fumbled, which should continue to earn him opportunities at the goal line.
Marshall has the big-play ability to score from outside the red zone, with at least one 15+ yard run in three of his four games this fall. Expect him to be among Michigan's top options to find the end zone.
Long-shot touchdown pick: Drake Lindsey
Playable to 17%.
Drake Lindsey hasn't scored a touchdown yet in 2026, but he found paydirt four times in 2025 and has a history of being used near the goal line.
Michigan has held Oklahoma to 3.4 yards per carry and Iowa to 2.4 ypc this season, with neither team scoring a rushing TD against the Wolverines.
To counter this, the Golden Gophers should opt for a tush push Saturday.
Michigan vs Minnesota touchdown combo: Bryce Underwood + Drake Lindsey
Playable to 8%.
Bryce Underwood is a weekly threat to score with his legs. He's 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, which makes him a quality option on quarterback sneaks and tush pushes.
Underwood also has the speed to break a big run if the defense loses track of him, which we saw when he scored from the 38-yard line against Oklahoma.
Lindsey has a similar build to Underwood, and I expect both of these QBs to put their body on the line in short-yardage situations.
- TD picks: 2-2 (+1.37 units)
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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