Wisconsin Badgers predictions: Game 6 vs. Minnesota

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

The Badgers have lost three straight games – scoring fewer than 10 points in each — and will be without running back Jalen Berger and likely also wide receivers Danny Davis and Kendric Pryor.

However, Wisconsin is still a double-digit favorite over the Gophers, who have their own manpower issues. Last week, Minnesota was without 33 players due to injuries and COVID-19 and in addition, had top wideout Rashod Bateman opt out of the season to prepare for the NFL draft.

Nevertheless, Minnesota beat Nebraska last week 24-17.

Much like everything else in 2020, the point spread here is a question mark as is how the Badgers will get into the end zone (the Gophers are allowing 31.8 points per game).

Perhaps that makes this a tough game to predict. Nevertheless, people are doing it (although fewer in previous weeks since neither team is ranked).

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.”

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 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.

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 are picking Wisconsin to win.