It's rivalry week, and what originally looked like it was going to be another frustrating year of Wisconsin vs. Minnesota has turned into the potential for a generational game. Minnesota is coming into Saturday with zero momentum, losing to Northwestern, while Wisconsin is riding a win over a ranked team and its second-ranked win in three tries.
When Vegas opened the week with Minnesota as a 3.5 favorite, money started moving towards the Badgers so much that they adjusted the line to 1.5 in Minnesota's favor. Truly, this game may end up being a pick-em by Saturday, which is essentially what ESPN Analytics is predicting, too.
ESPN Analytics model has Wisconsin beating Minnesota but only barely
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ESPN Analytics does probability percentages for every FBS game, and right now, Wisconsin has a 51.2% chance to beat Minnesota. It's the first time that Wisconsin has been projected to win a game since the Maryland contest to open Big Ten play. Yet, here we are.
Even with the game being on the road in Minnesota, there's just enough momentum on Wisconsin's side that the model sees the Badgers pulling it off. Not by much, but it's there.
Last year, the Golden Gophers came to Madison and beat the Badgers 24-7. It was a brutal way to end a very frustrating season. This season it's gone a different direction, starting terribly but now ending with some excitement and energy. Winning this game against Minnesota would be the cherry on top of this final stretch of hope and momentum.
It's time to bring the axe home and put it back in its rightful place. It's also time to humble Minnesota and put it back in its rightful place. Wisconsin has the chance this Saturday to head into Minneapolis and do both of those things.
The game is at 2:30 pm CT on FS1 and will be played at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.