Saturday, November 19, 2016

TCF Bank Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Northwestern Wildcats take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Saturday, November 19, 2016 at TCF Bank Stadium. The opening line for this game has Minnesota as 2 point favorites. This season the Wildcats are 6-4-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 3-7-0. The Golden Gophers have an over/under record of 5-5-0 and they are 3-5-2 against the spread.

Clayton Thorson finished with 277 yards through the air for Northwestern last week. He completed 28 passes out of 52 attempts for a 54% completion percentage. The Wildcats were led in rushing by Justin Jackson, who finished with 42 yards on 13 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 3 yards per carry. Austin Carr was the team leader in receiving with a total of 132 yards and 12 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 11 yards per reception. As a team in that game Northwestern got a total of 14 first downs. Of those first downs, 2 came on the ground while 12 came through the air. They ran 71 total plays for 316 yards for the game. The Wildcats ran for 39 yards on 19 attempts.

Mitch Leidner finished with 231 yards passing for Minnesota last week. He went 14 for 23, resulting in a 61% completion percentage. The Golden Gophers were led on the ground by Rodney Smith, who finished with 153 yards on 24 carries. He ended the game with an average of 6 yards per rush. Rashad Still led the team in receiving with 87 yards and 4 catches. He finished the game with an average of 22 yards per reception. Minnesota had 18 first downs total. 12 came from running the ball and 6 came from a pass. They ran 66 total plays for 466 yards for the contest. The Golden Gophers ran for 235 yards on 43 carries as a team.

Northwestern scores 25.3 points per game on offense this season, which ranks 90th in Division 1. In the passing department, they average 21.8 passes on 38.2 attempts for a 57.1 percent completion percentage this season. They throw for a total of 257.5 yards per game through the air as well, which ranks them 42nd in college football. The Wildcats run for an average of 140.2 yards per game on 36.9 attempts for an average of 3.8 yards per carry. That ranks them 107th in the nation. They also run 75.1 plays per contest and average 5.3 yards per play for an average of 397.7 yards per game, ranking their offense 76th overall this season. The Wildcats average 21.1 first downs per game which ranks them 67th in the country. They accumulate 28.4 penalty yards per game via 3.5 penalties, which ranks 126th in the nation.

Northwestern allows 260.7 passing yards per game, ranking 98th in D-1, and they allow 21.5 points per contest on defense, which ranks 27th. They give up 24.5 completions on 38.8 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 63.1. The Wildcats allow 145.2 rushing yards per game on 38 carries for an average of 3.8 yards per carry, which ranks their rush defense 42nd in the country. Northwestern allows 405.9 total yards per game including 5.3 yards per play, which ranks their overall defense 62nd in terms of yards per game. They force 1.5 turnovers per contest and get flagged for 4.4 penalties for 43.5 yards per game, ranking them 20th among D-1 teams.

Minnesota averages 31.8 points per game this season on offense, which ranks them 49th in the country. In the passing department, they complete 14.7 passes per game on 25.7 attempts for a 57.2 percent completion percentage. They throw for 177.3 yards through the air per game, ranking them 107th in Division 1. The Golden Gophers run for an average of 197.8 yards per game on 43.9 attempts for an average of 4.5 yards per carry this season, which ranks them 41st on the ground. They also run 69.6 plays per game and average 5.4 yards per play for a total of 375.1 yards per game, ranking them 99th in the country on offense. The Golden Gophers get an average of 20 first downs per game, which ranks 88th in the nation. They average 60.2 penalty yards per game via 6.9 penalties, ranking them 40th in college football.

Minnesota allows an average of 231 passing yards per game, which ranks 69th in Division 1. Their defense overall allows 23.2 points per contest, which has them ranked 38th in the nation. They give up 20.3 completions on 36.9 attempts for a completion percentage of 55 per game. The Golden Gophers allow 122 rushing yards per contest on 35 carries for a 3.5 average per rush, ranking their overall rush defense 24th in the country. Minnesota allows 353 total yards per game for an average of 4.9 yards per play, which ranks 23rd in D-1. They force 2.1 turnovers per contest and 4.8 penalties for 43.6 yards in each contest, ranking 21st in the nation.

Northwestern Betting Trends

Northwestern is 3-7-0 against the over/under this season

Northwestern has an ATS record of 6-4-0 this season

Minnesota Betting Trends

Minnesota is 5-5-0 against the over/under this season

Minnesota has an ATS record of 3-5-2 this season

Injuries to Watch

Northwestern

10/24/16 CB Matthew Harris Undisclosed has left team
09/18/16 RB Warren Long Hand expected to miss 3-4 weeks
08/19/16 DB Keith Watkins II Knee out for season

Minnesota

11/13/16 OL Garrison Wright Shoulder "?" Saturday vs. Northwestern
11/08/16 LB Cody Poock Shoulder out for season
11/02/16 WR Brian Smith Dismissed dismissed from team
10/25/16 TE Brandon Lingen Foot out for season
10/22/16 DE Tamarion Johnson Legal problems expected to redshirt
09/26/16 S Ace Rogers Knee out for season

Tony's Pick: Take Minnesota -2

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