Minnesota Gophers predictions: Game 7 at Wisconsin

Well, here’s a game that we thought wouldn’t happen. Minnesota vs. Wisconsin and the battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe is happening after all.

This is already a season like no other and the annual rivalry game is no different.

Last week, the Gophers were without 33 players due to injury and COVID-19, not to mention playing without top wideout Rashod Bateman for the first time since he opted out to ready himself for the NFL draft … and Minnesota then went out and beat Nebraska on the road.

Can Minnesota repeat that success away from home against Wisconsin?

The Gophers won the last time they visited Madison two years ago and this year’s Badgers aren’t exactly on a hot streak, having lost three straight games in which they were held to single-digit scoring in each. Wisconsin will also be without running back Jalen Berger as well as likely also wide receivers Danny Davis and Kendric Pryor.

And yet Las Vegas has the Badgers as double-digit favorites.

¯_(ツ)_/¯

Here are this week’s predictions from around the web:

Pete Fiutak of Collegefootballnews.com: Wisconsin 20, Minnesota 10. “It won’t be anything pretty, but it’ll be exactly how both teams will want to play. Both teams will want to run, and both teams will want to rely on the other side to screw up and give away several easy opportunities. Wisconsin’s running game will do just a little bit more against a Minnesota defensive line that doesn’t get behind the line.”

Josh Slagter of MLive.com: Wisconsin 24, Minnesota 17. ” The Badgers are a double-digit favorite, despite not reaching double digits in points scored the last three games. At one point before a special teams gift last week, Wisconsin had gone 28 straight drives without a TD. So while Minnesota has been patching its roster together each week due to COVID issues and injuries, it’s hard to really trust a Badgers offense that looks inept. After seven TD passes in his first two games, Graham Mertz has just one in the last three, with five interceptions. At some point, though, Minnesota’s attrition has to affect the win column.”

Joe Vozzelli Jr. of the Champaign News-Gazette: Wisconsin 28, Minnesota 21. “Credit to the Big Ten for figuring out a way to play this rivalry game after the earlier Nov. 28 matchup was called off due to COVID-19. Paul Bunyan’s Axe will reside in Madison for another year, though.”

Sam McKewon of the Omaha World-Leader: Wisconsin 24, Minnesota 14. “The Badgers have had to plow through some of the best teams — and best defenses — in the last month. Minnesota is neither, and it’s going on the road for the second straight week. Tough.”

J.P. Scott of Athlon Sports: Minnesota 27, Wisconsin 20. ” Wisconsin is the heavy favorite heading into the weekend, but that means very little this season. Just last weekend, the Gophers went into Lincoln, Nebraska, at double-digit underdogs, down a couple of dozen players, and came away with a win. Minnesota appears rested and battle-hardened at this point in the season. It looks like P.J. Fleck finally fully understands what this version of the Gophers excels at, and he’ll put them in a position to have success as a result. Minnesota appears to have both momentum and motivation on its side. After starting 0-2, the Gophers now have a shot to wrap up the regular season with a winning record, and I expect them to do exactly that. ”

Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press: Wisconsin 20, Minnesota 10.

Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter: Wisconsin 24, Minnesota 14. “When coronavirus issues led to a cancellation, it appeared the 113-year streak of Minnesota-Wisconsin would end. But this additional Big Ten week allowed the Paul Bunyan’s Axe rivalry to continue. That’s the detail that qualified this as a “best” matchup. The Badgers have fallen sharply since an impressive start and lost three straight, and the Golden Gophers have an average offense and atrocious defense. It’ll probably be an ugly affair in Madison, where Wisconsin will carve out a defense-driven win.”

Joe Williams of Sportsbook Wire: Wisconsin 20, Minnesota 17.

Joe DiTullio of GameHaus: Wisconsin

Bill Connelly of ESPN: His S&P+ projection has it Wisconsin 34, Minnesota 22.

SportsLine Projection Model: Wisconsin 34, Minnesota 20.

All three Athlon Sports analysts pick Minnesota to lose.