This Axe is Sharp
This Axe is Sharp!
Adam Hefty
Adam Hefty, a Bucky Backer
Here we are! It’s rivalry week. It seems like yesterday that we were awaiting the kickoff of College Football. The final week of the season looks to be a doozy, as it normally is. There are important rivalries everywhere. “The Game” with Ohio State and Michigan, or the “Iron Bowl” featuring Alabama and Auburn are just a couple. Finally, though, we can get excited about the rivalry between Wisconsin and Minnesota!
Last year Minnesota broke Wisconsin’s 14 game win streak in the series last year winning 37-15 in a drubbing at Camp Randall. That happens to be the longest streak by either team in the border battle. Minnesota’s longest win streak is 9 taking place from 1933-1941. Believe it or not, this tout is even. 60-60-8. Can’t get any more equal than that. Wisconsin, however, has owned the series as of late, winning 21 of the last 24.
Looking ahead to the game on Saturday, this could be the most significant game in the series. Wisconsin coming in at 12th in the country to face the 8th ranked Gophers. Line as of 11/27 is Wisconsin -3, and the O/U in 46.5. It feels like Las Vegas is begging people to pick Minnesota. Which makes me feel kind of comfortable about Wisconsin pulling this one out. If we’re going to look at the O/U, I may take the under on that one, if I were a betting man. It’s looking like it’s going to snow. Which, personally speaking, it’s going to make this game so much better! With the snow, it may be an ugly game offensively. I’ll take that trade for sure!
These teams are coming into his game fairly even statistically. Wisconsin scoring 35.5 PPG, and Minnesota scoring 35.9 PPG. UW allowing 14.4 PPG, UM 21.0 PPG. Where the difference comes in is how the gain their yards offensively.
The Gophers pass it around the yard very well. Tanner Morgan is very efficient. He rarely misses. He also has two 1000 yard receivers with Johnson and Bateman. Minnesota has a pretty good running game as well. They beat you with balance and taking what you give them.
Wisconsin doesn’t try to trick you. They know what they want to do, they don’t care if you know what they’re going to do. They dare you to stop them. Jonathan Taylor is beast of a running back. He has run farther than any other running back in history before the end of their Junior year. Supplanting Herschel Walker in that record. Wisconsin fans need to appreciate Taylor while we can. JT23 taking a curtain call last week in the last home game of the season doesn’t bode well if you want him to come back for his senior year. Don’t be sad that it’s over, appreciate that it happened. Not to mention, Watson will do pretty well for Bucky next year. The running game will be just fine in Madison.
Oh boy! This is going to be so much fun! The winner of this one earns to right to be destroyed by Ohio State next week in Indianapolis in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Buckeyes are just on a different planet than anybody else in the Big Ten.
If you’re looking for a prediction, I’ll give you my humble opinion. It has two spokes to it. If it’s a non-snow game, I give the nod to Minnesota maybe 31-21. Snow game on the other hand I think will give the advantage to the boys from Madison 21-14.
Video from last year’s Gopher Axe Celebration from the field as The WE ARE Network’s Bob Rombach was there and captured the moment.