Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Pick
Is No. 5 Wisconsin in any danger of being upset when it hits the road to face Minnesota this afternoon at 3:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Wisconsin is the clear favorite on the road, as the Badgers are getting odds of -17.5 points against the Gophers. The over/under total for the contest has been set at 43.5 points. Wisconsin has won 10 straight meetings in this series, but the Gophers are 6-3-1 against the spread in those 10 games. The public is currently putting 71 percent of the wagers on Wisconsin on the road. Today’s game takes place at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota and will air on ABC.
Minnesota is coming off a 39-0 thrashing on the road at the hands of Northwestern. The Golden Gophers are now 5-6 overall and 2-6 in the Big Ten. Minnesota is just 4-6-1 against the spread this season and only 1-3-1 ATS in their last five games. Minnesota is holding opponents to just 22.1 points and 336.7 yards per game. However, the offense is putting up just 24.1 points and 324.3 yards per game. Conor Rhoda has thrown for 839 yards and five touchdowns this year while Rodney Smith has run for 895 yards and three scores. The leading receiver is Tyler Johnson, who has 35 catches for 677 yards and seven touchdown.
Wisconsin is off to an 11-0 start to the season following a 24-10 win over Michigan at home last weekend. The Badgers have punched their ticket to the Big Ten Championship Game next week thanks to an 8-0 conference record. They will face Ohio State in the championship contest. Wisconsin is 7-4 against the spread for the season, covering in their last three games. The Badgers have one of the top defenses in the country, allowing just 13.1 points and 246.4 yards per game. Their run defense is holding opponents to only 79.4 yards per game. On offense, Wisconsin puts up 35.2 points and 423.3 yards per game. Jonathan Taylor has run for 1,657 yards and 12 touchdowns to lead the team while Alex Hornibrook has thrown for 2,006 yards with 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Bet on Wisconsin vs. Minnesota
While this is a rivalry game, it’s hard to see Wisconsin having a letdown tonight. The Badgers know a win this week and a win next week against the Buckeyes gets them in the playoffs in all likelihood. Wisconsin has won its last five games by at least 14 points and Minnesota looks like a defeated football team after getting blown out by Northwestern last week. The Gophers just aren’t ready to match the toughness Wisconsin has.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: WISCONSIN -17.5