Wisconsin @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 9, 2010 ) Minnesota 23, Wisconsin 41

THE STORY: The oldest rivalry in FBS football opens it 121st chapter when Wisconsin comes to Minnesota in Week 11. The No. 14 Badgers, coming off a 62-17 win over Purdue, have won seven straight over the Golden Gophers but trail the battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe 54-58-8. Minnesota appears capable of snapping that skid, having playing inspired football the past two weeks, including an upset over Iowa and a close loss to Michigan State.

TV: Big Ten Network. LINE: Wisconsin -27

ABOUT WISCONSIN (7-2, 3-2 Big Ten): After suffering back-to-back, last-second losses, Wisconsin left nothing to chance versus the Boilermakers. The Badgers bulldozed Purdue behind a mammoth offensive line, dominating with 364 yards rushing. RB Montee Ball posted a career-high 223 yards and three touchdowns. Wisconsin has a lot to prove with this trip to TCF Bank Stadium. Both of its losses have come on the road as they allowed 70 points on 756 total yards in those games. The Badgers allow 56 more yards per game on the road and have given up 25.7 ppg in their three games away from Madison, compared to 11.3 points against at home.

ABOUT MINNESOTA (2-7, 1-4 Big Ten): The Golden Gophers have won just once in the last six games, but head coach Jerry Kill is very happy with the progress of his team. Minnesota fought tooth and nail versus Michigan State, tying the game in the fourth quarter and taking a last-second shot to upset the Spartans. The offense has sprung to life after averaging just over 10 points in the first three conference games. The Golden Gophers have scored 22 and 24 points in the last two outings, led by dual-threat QB MarQueis Gray.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Minnesota hasn’t forgotten about Wisconsin’s two-point conversion attempt when it was up by 25 in the fourth quarter of last year’s 41-23 Badgers' victory. "They know about it," Kill told reporters. "They've heard enough about it."

2. Minnesota hasn’t defeated a ranked Wisconsin team since a 28-21 victory on Oct. 23, 1993.

3. Wisconsin is the only FBS team to rank in the Top 10 in both scoring (47 – fourth) and scoring defense (16.1 – 10th).

PREDICTION: Wisconsin 44, Minnesota 21 – The Badgers continue to dominate the Golden Gophers and win Paul Bunyan’s Axe for the eighth straight time.