Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-5) vs. Wisconsin Badgers (5-6)
November 29, 2024 12:00 pm EDT
The Line: Wisconsin Badgers -2.5 / Minnesota Golden Gophers +2.5; Over/Under: +44.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Wisconsin Badgers meet in week 8 college football action from Camp Randall Stadium on Friday afternoon. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Minnesota vs. Wisconsin prediction.
Minnesota Recap
The Minnesota Golden Gophers come into this one looking to bounce back from a 26-25 heartbreaker loss to Penn State last time out to fall to 6-5 on the year.
Golden Gophers Looking To Play Spoiler
Max Brosmer has thrown for 2,426 yards, 15 touchdowns and 5 interceptions on 67% passing while Darius Taylor has a team-high 730 rushing yards with 9 touchdowns and Marcus Major has 309 rushing yards with 3 TDs as well. Daniel Jackson has a team-high 69 receptions for 802 receiving yards while Elijah Spencer has 528 receiving yards with 4 TDs and the aforementioned Taylor has 320 receiving yards. Two more Gophers have 200+ receiving yards on the year. On defense, Cody Lindenberg has a team-high 90 total tackles while Jah Joyner has a team-high 4.5 sacks. Koi Perich has a team-high 5 interceptions as well on the year. As a unit, Minnesota’s defense has combined for 21 sacks and 16 interceptions.
Why the Minnesota Golden Gophers will win
- Minnesota has won 11 of its last 16 games as an underdog against non-AP-ranked teams.
- Wisconsin has lost each of its last four games.
- The road team has covered the spread in nine of the last 10 games between Minnesota and Wisconsin.
- Wisconsin has failed to cover the spread in nine of its last 10 home games against non-AP-ranked teams.
Wisconsin Recap
The Wisconsin Badgers come into this one looking to finish the year with a win after a 44-25 loss to Nebraska last time out to fall to 5-6 on the year.
Badgers Looking For Bowl Game
Braedyn Locke has thrown for 1,806 yards, 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on 56.4% passing while Tawee Walker has 828 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Darrion Dupree also has 302 rushing yards while Vinny Anthony II leads the Badgers with 633 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. Will Pauling leads the Wisconsin receiving group with 42 receptions for 407 yards and 3 touchdowns while another three Badgers have 200+ receiving yards as well on the year. On defense, Hunter Wohler has 63 total tackles including 44 solo tackles while Christian Alliegro has a team-high 3 sacks. As a unit, Minnesota’s defense has combined for 16 sacks and 4 interceptions so far this season.
Why the Wisconsin Badgers will win
- The favorite has won each of Wisconsin’s last seven games at Camp Randall Stadium.
- Minnesota has lost each of its last four November games against non-AP-ranked teams.
- Minnesota has failed to cover the spread in each of its last four November games against non-AP-ranked teams.
- The favorite has covered the spread in four of Wisconsin’s last five games.
Minnesota vs. Wisconsin Prediction
I’m on Wisconsin here. I just think this is the world for Wisconsin who really have aspirations of making it to a bowl game. On the other side, I just wonder about motivation here for Minnesota. I know it’s a rivalry/trophy game, but they just lost a heartbreaker to Penn State and have already got a bowl game locked up. Wisconsin just needs it more here and while normally that’s not enough for me for a bet, they have the talent to follow through and I think it does here. Give me Wisconsin.
