Interesting matchup in Evanston on Saturday as Northwestern tries to remain unbeaten on the season and improve their recent October woes, while Minnesota tries to steal a Big 10 game on the road. Since the start of the 2010 season, Northwestern is just 6-14 in October games and that has folks talking as the Golden Gophers visit for a critical Big 10 game. That said, we believe this is a different Wildcat team with a different mentality and the biggest difference is that this is a GREAT defensive unit. The Wildcats are allowing just 8.7 PPG over their four wins, and it’s not like they haven’t played anyone as they pretty impressive wins over both Stanford and Duke. Off an impressive opening loss to TCU at home, the Gophers have reeled off three straight wins over Colorado State, Kent State and Ohio. We could make you the argument, however, that they could have very easily lost all three of those games and their offense has been far from impressive in the early season. That spells trouble against a very good Northwestern defense that won’t give the Gophers much throughout the afternoon. The other key to this game will be a solid Northwestern running attack against a very average Minnesota rush defense that has been gashed for lots of big plays early in the season. And while the Wildcats haven’t been great in October, it isn’t like Minnesota has been tearing it up themselves…Consider that the Gophers are 5-11 against the number in their last 16 October games. After opening at NW -6, this one has seen lots of early money on the Gophers and we are currently seeing a pretty good mix of 3.5’s and 4’s. Time for these Sharps to jump in the pool, cause the water looks nice! We have locked in the home team here at -3.5 and we’re going to suggest you do the same! The Sharps say….
3 Units – Northwestern (-3.5)