Minnesota (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) will take on Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5) this Friday at 12 p.m. EST, a matchup that will be broadcast live on CBS.
BetMGM currently has the odds favoring Wisconsin by 2 ½ points.
The series between these two teams is tightly contested, with Wisconsin leading the all-time record 63-62-8.
The stakes are high for both teams in this critical game. Wisconsin is in danger of breaking its streak of 22 consecutive bowl game appearances and winning seasons. For the Badgers to extend this streak to 23, they must secure a victory in this game as well as win their upcoming bowl matchup, which would also mark their 23rd consecutive winning season—an impressive feat that would be the longest among all Power Four conference teams. Minnesota, on the other hand, would tie the historical series at 63-63-8 with a win. Since 1948, this matchup has also determined the holder of Paul Bunyan’s Axe, making it a significant rivalry.
When looking at key player matchups, Wisconsin’s quarterback Braedyn Locke will be one to watch against Minnesota’s pass defense. Despite throwing 10 interceptions in 264 attempts this season, Locke had a strong performance last Saturday against Nebraska, completing 20 of 30 passes for 292 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He will now face a formidable Minnesota defense, which ranks fourth in the Big Ten for pass efficiency and has recorded 16 interceptions, sharing the top spot in the conference. Minnesota’s Koi Perich is particularly noteworthy, leading the league with five picks.
In terms of players to keep an eye on, Minnesota’s linebacker Cody Lindenberg has been a standout, registering 14 tackles in each of his last two outings and achieving double-digit tackles in three of his last four games. With 90 tackles this season, he sits sixth in the Big Ten rankings. Last year, Lindenberg made 11 tackles in a 28-14 defeat against Wisconsin. For Wisconsin, wide receiver Vinny Anthony has been making waves with a career-high 137 receiving yards and seven catches against Nebraska, as well as scoring his third touchdown of the season. He leads his team with 633 receiving yards, averaging an impressive 18.1 yards per catch.
Some additional facts worth noting include that Wisconsin has allowed only 11 sacks this season, tying with Penn State for the least sacks given up in the Big Ten.
Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer had a streak of 206 consecutive passes without an interception until he was picked off in a close 26-25 loss to No. 4 Penn State last Saturday.
Wisconsin linebacker Christian Alliegro is making notable contributions as well, with 37 tackles over his last three games and at least 10 tackles in each of those matches.
Lastly, Minnesota’s Daniel Jackson ranks third in school history with 198 career receptions, showcasing his significant impact on the team’s offense.