Welcome into the final week of the college football regular season, this Saturday the Wisconsin Badgers head into Minneapolis after knocking off No. 21 Illinois to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers. With this being the final game of the year, it will be senior night for the Gophers, which could add a little extra fuel to their fire after a tough road loss this past weekend.
Early Line Movement
The line opened at 2.5 in favor of the hometown Gophers and has since moved to 1.5, still in favor of Minnesota. The total opened at 38.5 and has dropped a full point. I do not have a strong lean on the total, and with it being so low, I would rather stay away. Plus, I have a system play and I have to take a side in this game. Fade the Storm system play. Let us get into it.
Fade the Storm
I live by a code, and that code is that if a school storms a court or field after a win, I must fade them in their very next game. The same goes for if a player or coach cries and it was not the championship game, that is an instant fade.
Wisconsin stormed the field after taking down No. 21 Illinois 27 to 10 this past weekend. This was the Badgers Super Bowl, and the Badger faithful rushed the turf as if the Illini were Nick Saban's Crimson Tide. Kids these days have no idea what it actually means to storm a field. Yes, Illinois was inside the top 25, but it was not as if Illinois was making the College Football Playoffs, so sorry to burst your high Wisconsin fans.
I will be all over the Golden Gophers moneyline at home for Week 14. Minnesota is coming off a loss to Northwestern 38-25 this past weekend at Wrigley Field. At home this season, the Golden Gophers are a perfect 6-0.
Badgers Offense < Gophers Defense
The Badgers have been horrendous all season long, ranked 132nd in points per game. Their offense has struggled to put up points the entire season. Not only that, they are dead last in yards per game, barely putting up over 250 yards a game. Coming off such an emotional win, now having to hit the road to end the season in Minnesota, is an all time let down spot.
The Gophers do not have the best defense, but at home, they have kept opponents under 17 points per game and under 340 yards per game. They have thrived at home all season long, and we just need them to secure one more win to close out their year and, for some of their players, their college careers.
Minnesota enters senior night with momentum on its side and a perfect home record on the year. Wisconsin arrives in a classic letdown spot after an emotional win, and its struggling offense faces a tougher challenge on the road. I trust the Gophers to finish strong and wrap up their season with a statement.
