BadgersWire Staff Predictions: Wisconsin vs Minnesota

The Battle for the Axe is lastly right here as Wisconsin and Minnesota go at it on Saturday at Camp Randall.

The Badgers want to regain management of The Axe after Minnesota’s win within the Twin Cities a yr in the past.

Earlier than dropping to Iowa final week, Minnesota had gained their earlier three matchups. Wisconsin comes into Saturday following a dramatic late win over  Nebraska that gave them bowl eligibility. Wisconsin has gained 16 of the final 18 matchups within the longest-running rivalry in all of school soccer.

How will Saturday play out with two evenly-matched rivals? Here’s what our BadgersWire workers thinks:

Wade’s Prediction’s:

Nov 12, 2022; Iowa Metropolis, Iowa, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz (5) takes the snap towards the Iowa Hawkeyes through the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports activities

This can be a particularly powerful matchup for the Badgers as they may attempt to win again Paul Bunyan’s Axe towards the Golden Gophers. 

The Gophers had a strong begin to the season and have discovered their success with a thriving run recreation and nice protection. Wisconsin will want one other improbable recreation from Keeanu Benton and the line of defense, who’ve been inflicting havoc on opposing offensive strains the previous few weeks. It will likely be fascinating to see how they work across the lack of outdoors linebacker Nick Herbig within the first half. 

The Badgers will even should be artistic on offense towards a gifted Minnesota protection. I feel the Badgers will have the ability to put up sufficient factors to win, whereas counting on their protection to restrict the Golden Gophers’ scoring. Like final week, it is probably not fairly, however I imagine that Wisconsin will discover a approach to get it accomplished at house and take again the Axe. 

Wisconsin beats Minnesota 21-17

Asher’s Prediction:

LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 19: Working again Braelon Allen #0 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs towards defensive again Quinton Newsome #6 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers through the second quarter at Memorial Stadium on November 19, 2022 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Picture by Steven Branscombe/Getty Photographs)

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This one will really feel so much like Wisconsin basketball’s matchup with Dayton earlier this week. It will likely be the soccer equal of a 43-42 basketball recreation with each play which means one thing, groups struggling to attain, and defenses controlling the afternoon.

The run video games would be the featured story as Mo Ibrahim has been on a tear for Minnesota whereas Wisconsin depends on their deep working again room headlined by Braelon Allen. Which run recreation has the higher day? That may resolve the matchup.

Graham Mertz doesn’t should go win the sport, however has to play mistake-free soccer towards an opportunistic Minnesota protection. The Badger protection is taking part in their greatest soccer of the season, however haven’t seen a working again like Ibrahim as a result of there aren’t many like him within the nation. The house-field benefit is what leans me towards the Badgers in an in depth, low-scoring contest.

Wisconsin beats Minnesota 17-14 

Story initially appeared on Badgers Wire