Minnesota beat Northwestern, 29-12, last season and the Gophers are better this season under P.J. Fleck. The Gophers have bowl incentive needing another victory to reach six wins.

Northwestern has won five in a row, but three have come in overtime. The Wildcats don't have better athletes than the Gophers. I see these teams being close to even in terms of talent so this is a generous spread.

Minnesota historically does well on the road against the Wildcats covering in eight of their last nine trips to Evanston.