Minnesota at Northwestern College Football Picks & Predictions 11/18/2017

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Ryan Field

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The Northwestern Wildcats host the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Ryan Field on Saturday, November 18, 2017. The opening line for this game has Northwestern as 6.5 point favorites. The Wildcats have an over/under record of 4-5-1 and they are 7-3-0 against the spread. The Golden Gophers have an ATS record of 4-5-1 while their over/under record is 6-4-0.

Valuable Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Trends

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are 6-4-0 against the over/under

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are 4-5-1 against the spread

Important Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends

The Northwestern Wildcats are 4-5-1 against the over/under

The Northwestern Wildcats are 7-3-0 against the spread

Key Minnesota Golden Gophers Injuries

11/12/17 DB Antoine Winfield Jr. Hamstring is "?" Saturday vs. Northwestern
11/12/17 OL Jared Weyler Leg is out for season
11/12/17 DB Kiondre Thomas Leg is "?" Saturday vs. Northwestern
11/12/17 RB Shannon Brooks Shoulder is "?" Saturday vs. Northwestern
11/04/17 OL Nick Connelly Concussion is out for season
10/01/17 WR Demetrius Douglas Foot out for season
09/27/17 WR Melvin Holland Jr. Leg out for season
09/27/17 DB Zo Craighton Leg out for season
08/30/17 WR Chris Autman-Bell Leg out indefinitely

Key Northwestern Wildcats Injuries

11/12/17 WR Jalen Brown Lower Body is "?" Saturday vs. Minnesota U
09/18/17 DB Brian Bullock Leg out for season
09/18/17 DB Roderick Campbell Undisclosed out for season
09/03/17 CB Keith Watkins II Knee out for season
08/31/17 DE Xavier Washington Suspension out indefinitely
08/23/17 WR Solomon Vault Lower Body out for season

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Minnesota Golden Gophers have run for 1,957 yards as a team, which ranks 36th in college football. They've run 448 times, averaging 4.4 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Golden Gophers have been penalized on offense 36 times for 312 yards so far this season, which has them 129th in the country in penalties. They are 80th in the nation in points scored with 265. They have run 661 plays this season for 3,387 yards, which ranks them 118th in Division 1 in total offense. The Golden Gophers average 5.1 yards per play, which is 111th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 182 1st downs this year, placing them 105th overall as an offensive unit. Demry Croft averages 5.8 yards per pass attempt and 4.8 adjusted yards per throw. He has completed 46 passes on 102 attempts for a completion percentage of 45.1%. His quarterback rating this year is 98.9. He has thrown for 591 yards this season.

Defensive Statistics

The Golden Gophers rush defense has allowed 328 attempts for 1,502 yards this year, putting them in 53rd place in D-1 against the run. Minnesota has committed 58 penalties for 576 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 77th in college football. They are 27th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 204. They have surrendered a total of 3,341 yards on D, which is 29th in the country. The Golden Gophers are ranked 41st in yards per play allowed with 5.3. Opposing offenses have completed 184 passes on 298 attempts against the Minnesota Golden Gophers defense this season, placing them 68th and 50th in Division 1. The Minnesota pass defense has also given up a total of 1,839 yards through the air, which is 23rd overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Minnesota Golden Gophers have attempted 18 field goals this season and made 14, which is 35th in D-1. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 78%. Minnesota Golden Gophers kickers have made 97% of their extra points, going 31 for 32 this year. Their punters have totaled 2,232 yards on 51 punts, averaging 44 yards per punt. That places them 21st in Division 1 in punting average. Minnesota is ranked 111th in the nation in punt returns with 9. They've accumulated 36 punt return yards and average 4 yards per return, which is 115th in college football. They have returned 30 kicks for 655 yards on special teams, ranking 42nd in kick return yardage. The Golden Gophers average 22 yards per kick return and they are 112th in the country in all-purpose yards with 4,078.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Wildcats are 73rd in the country in points scored with 275. They have run 784 plays this year for 4,053 yards, which ranks them 33rd in Division 1 in total offense. The Northwestern Wildcats average 5.2 yards per play, which is 100th in the nation. As a team they have accumulated a total of 233 1st downs this season, ranking them 21st overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Northwestern has run for 1,348 yards as a unit, which ranks 98th in college football. They've run 379 times, averaging 3.6 yards per rush as a unit. Northwestern has been penalized on offense 51 times for 507 yards so far this year, which has them 101st in the country in penalties. Clayton Thorson has passed for 2,583 yards this year. He's completed 236 throws while attempting 392 passes for a completion percentage of 60.2%. His quarterback rating this season is 119.2. He averages 5.9 adjusted yards per throw and 6.6 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Northwestern is 44th in the country in points surrendered on defense with 231. They have given up a total of 3,885 yards on D, which is 66th in D-1. The Wildcats are 36th in yards per play allowed with 5.2. Opponent offenses have completed 246 throws on 414 attempts against the Northwestern defense this season, ranking them 125th and 128th in the nation. The Northwestern Wildcats pass defense has also surrendered a total of 2,789 yards in the air, which is 120th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has given up 337 attempts for 1,096 yards this season, putting them in 8th place in the country against the run. The Wildcats have had 54 penalties for 494 yards on defense this year. That places them 52nd in college football.

Special Teams Stats

Northwestern is 112th in the country in punt returns with 9. They've totaled 82 punt return yards and average 9.1 yards per return, which is 41st in D-1. They have returned 22 kicks for 406 yards on special teams, which puts them 115th in kick return yardage. The Northwestern Wildcats average 19 yards per kick return and they are 85th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 4,541. The Wildcats have tried 14 field goals this year and made 12, which is 55th in college football. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 86%. Northwestern kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 33 for 33 this season. Their punters have accumulated 2,164 yards on 52 punts, averaging 42 yards per punt. That ranks them 69th in the NCAA in punting average.

Who will win tonight's Golden Gophers/Wildcats college football game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take the Wildcats -6.5

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