Minnesota Golden Gophers (18-12) vs. Northwestern Wildcats (20-10)
March 9, 2024 9:00 pm EDT
The Line: Northwestern Wildcats -5.5; Over/Under: -
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The Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Northwestern Wildcats meet Saturday in college basketball action from Welsh-Ryan Arena. Let’s get into our Minnesota vs. Northwestern prediction. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Gophers got off to a solid 12-3 start this year, then took six losses in the next nine games. Those came versus Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Purdue. It’s been a 3-3 run since then with wins over Rutgers, Ohio State and Penn State alongside losses to Nebraska, Illinois and Indiana.
In the Indiana game on Wednesday, the Gophers went into the second half with a 30-25 deficit. Minnesota didn’t end up getting any closer on a 40-33 run the rest of the way in a 70-58 loss. Parker Fox led the team in the defeat with his 14 points and five boards off the bench.
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Northwestern Wildcats
Over on the Wildcats’ side, they were 15-5 to start the year before losing three of five to Purdue, Minnesota and Rutgers. After wins over Indiana, Michigan and Maryland in the next trio, Northwestern has since taken consecutive losses to Iowa and Michigan State.
Matched up against Michigan State on Wednesday, the Wildcats were up 25-20 going into the locker room. Northwestern was outscored 33-24 the rest of the way however and ended up losing 53-49. Boo Buie was tops in the defeat with 15 points, three rebounds and four turnovers.
ANDREW’S FREE MINNESOTA VS NORTHWESTERN PREDICTION
I’ll take a stab on Northwestern, but this one seems like a coin flip. The Wildcats need an offensive shot in the arm after a tepid outing versus Michigan State. Northwestern hit just 35.3 percent from the field in that one with 12 turnovers and a 45-35 rebounding deficit. The Wildcats had hit 68 or more points in the previous four straight games, though.
On February 3 in their last meeting with Minnesota, the Wildcats took a 75-66 overtime loss. Northwestern shot a rough 38.2 percent in that one and had 17 turnovers as well. It’s going to take a big effort to turn things around in this rematch, but with the home lift I think the Wildcats can pull it off.
