The Minnesota Golden Gophers and Wisconsin Badgers meet on the college football field Saturday for the chance to play in the Big Ten title game. The game is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. start time and it will be televised live on the Big Ten Network. Currently the odds for the game have the Badgers favored to pick up this win at home.
The winner of this game will take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big Ten title game in Indianapolis next week. Wisconsin is still probably kicking itself for a bad 20-14 loss at Northwestern earlier this season as they wouldn't be in this situation had they won that game. But alas, the Badgers now have to play host to a hot Minnesota team that is a lot better than many know nationally.
Jerry Kill has his group playing very good football, but they also have a poor loss on the schedule — a 28-24 defeat at Illinois a couple of weeks ago. The Golden Gophers are 8-3 with losses against TCU and Ohio State as well, but can get another crack at the Buckeyes with a win in this game, which is the biggest for Minnesota in decades. The Gophers legitimately could be 10-1 on the season as they hold a four-point loss to Illinois and a TD loss to the Buckeyes. A play here or there could have them where Ohio State is right now, so Kill's team should be ready to go and focused on the task at hand.
The biggest task for Minnesota is to try and slow down Melvin Gordon. The Heisman candidate has run for over 2,100 yards on the season with 25 touchdowns. He's obviously the Badgers' top overall option, but Corey Clement (the backup) also has been averaging 6.2 yards per carry and eight touchdowns on the season as well. Wisconsin averages 343.5 yards per game on the ground this season, which is third best nationally. The offense has piled up nearly 38 points per game, winners of six straight games overall in which they peeled off 41 points per game and allowed opponents to score only 16.5 points per game. On the season Wisconsin has ranked fourth nationally at allowing only 16.1 points per game.
Minnesota has a mobile quarterback and a decent running game themselves. Mitch Leidner has thrown for 10 TDs and 1,400 yards while running for 408 yards and seven touchdowns. David Cobb is the go-to back for the Gophers though, averaging 5.3 yards per carry and better than 1,400 yards on the ground. If Minnesota can sustain drives and find a way to score points, they're going to be in this game.
The team that gets the better defense will have an advantage. Wisconsin has the better one overall, and they will be playing at home, so they have an edge in this one. Gordon is clearly the best player on the field in this game and he should be able to run the ball effectively. Look for the Badgers to get some stops and Gordon to have a big day.
Free Pick: Wisconsin 34, Minnesota 24
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