Badgers predictions: Game 11 at Minnesota

By foxsports
Published

It is Axe week, or as it has been known since 2004, the game in which Wisconsin lays claim to Paul Bunyan's Axe.
Will the Badgers continue their winning streak against Minnesota? The Gophers come in with a lot of confidence having won four in a row.
(OK, spoiler alert: None of our predictors thinks it will be five in row.)
Here's this week's picks:
Our own Jesse Temple via his Know the Foe series: Wisconsin 38, Minnesota 21
FOX Sports North's Tyler Mason: Wisconsin 35, Minnesota 24. "Minnesota will keep it close, but Wisconsin's ground game will be too much."

The Associated Press' Ralph D. Russo: Wisconsin 35, Minnesota 17.
All four Big Ten Network analysts are picking Wisconsin to win. The scores: Sean Merriman 35-17, Stephen Bardo 31-30, Tom Dienhart 35-24 and Brent Yarina 34-17.
Whatifsports.com simulation: Wisconsin given the edge, with a 57.4% chance of winning with an average margin of victory of 21.9-18.5. (Note: This is second straight week for a pretty low score average for UW.)
ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett: Rittenberg -- Wisconsin 28, Minnesota 20. "Minnesota is looking a lot more like Wisconsin these days, which is a good thing, but the Badgers still are the superior version. The Gophers jump ahead early behind a David Cobb touchdown run, but Wisconsin's defense buckles down and James White and Melvin Gordon get rolling, combining for three touchdowns. Minnesota hangs tight, but Wisconsin retains the axe for a 10th consecutive season."; Bennett -- Wisconsin 31, Minnesota 17. "The Minnesota mojo makes it tempting to pick the home team. But as well as the Gophers are playing, Wisconsin is on even more of a roll. The Wisconsin run game will take its toll and help the Badgers break through with a pair of touchdown runs by White in the fourth quarter, chopping down the Gophers."
Phil Steele (ESPN Insider): Wisconsin 34, Minnesota 13
All six CBSSports.com analysts are picking Wisconsin to win with just two – Dennis Dodd and Jeremy Fowler taking Minnesota + 15.5 points.
CBSSports.com's Bruce Feldman:  Wisconsin 44, Minnesota 27. "As well as the Gophers are playing, Wisconsin still runs the ball better and is playing even better on defense." 

Collegefootballnews.com: Wisconsin 34, Minnesota 16. "Wisconsin will be too methodical. Minnesota’s early success will start to slip away as the game goes on. The Badger defense might not receive enough credit, but it’ll come up with several key stops in the second and third quarters to take full control."
All four Athlon Sports analysts are picking Wisconsin to win. The scores: Braden Gall, UW 41-24; Mitch Light, UW 38-15; Steven Lassan, UW 34-24; David Fox, UW 35-24.
All six analysts at USAToday.com pick Wisconsin to win.
Each of the 10 analysts at the Sporting News pick Wisconsin to win.