Wisconsin Football: Badgers won’t break winning streak over Minnesota

Minnesota needs to beat their rival to become bowl eligible in 2018. Can the Golden Gophers take down Wisconsin football for the first time in 15 years?

Outside of the Ivy League, no rivalry series has been held more frequently than the Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe that has transpired 127 times since 1890. Wisconsin has had the upper hand for the past 14 years, with Minnesota last winning the Axe in 2003. As they meet up once again on Thanksgiving weekend at Camp Randall Stadium, though, both teams find themselves enduring a down season.

Wisconsin will miss a trip to Indianapolis for just the third time since the Big Ten expanded and started playing a conference championship game. The Badgers have been uncharacteristically mediocre on defense this season, as they rank just 54th against the run and allow 23.1 points per game. While the running game has worked this season, quarterback play has once again left something to be desired in Madison.

In their second season under P.J. Fleck, the Golden Gophers once again need to defeat their oldest rival to get into a bowl game. A three-game winning streak at the beginning of the season gave Minnesota fans hope of a return to the postseason, but a four-game swoon followed as September shifted to October. Minnesota has been great at setting up favorable field position on special teams, but has struggled to score more points than they allow.

The Badgers have had the upper hand in the series for well over a decade now, and they are a double-digit favorite at home once again. But Wisconsin is also more vulnerable than they have been in years. Could the Golden Gophers capitalize and steal a win on the road against their rivals? Here’s how you can watch the Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe between Big Ten rivals Wisconsin and Minnesota:

Date: Saturday, Nov. 24
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Madison, Wis.
Venue: Camp Randall Stadium
TV: ESPN2
Live Stream: WatchESPN | FuboTV

Keys to Victory

Wisconsin needs to get more pressure in the Minnesota backfield than they have done to other teams this season. The Badgers enter the rivalry game at home as the 99th-ranked team in both sacks generated and total tackles for loss compiled. Better performance in punting situations, both when the Badgers are punting and when they are receiving punts, will help get Wisconsin into positive field position situations to further secure victory.

On their trip to Madison, Minnesota needs to do a much better job of protecting the football against a Badgers defense looking to prove itself in the final game of the regular season. Only four FBS teams cough up more turnovers than the Golden Gophers. Better performance in the red zone, both on offense and on defense, will also be critical if P.J. Fleck’s team is going to get off the schneid and end their 14-game losing streak on Saturday.

Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of oddsshark.com

Point Spread: Wisconsin -10
Over/Under: 54

Prediction

It is tempting to look at the situation and think that a Minnesota win could be in the cards. The oddsmakers set a high point spread, with Wisconsin giving 10 points. But this is Big Ten football, and it will all come down to ground games. Jonathan Taylor will once again prove why he is the best running back in college football as he paces the Badgers to their eighth win and extends the school’s possession of Paul Bunyan’s Axe to 15 years and counting.

Final Score: Wisconsin 31, Minnesota 20