Minnesota vs. Northwestern, Picks, Odds, Prediction and Preview, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025
Use Code SSWC It's going to be a cold one in the mid-40s on Saturday in this Minnesota vs. Northwestern prediction. Minnesota comes into this contest at 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the Big 10 to tie with four other teams for sixth place. The Wildcats are 3-4 in the Big 10 and 5-5 overall. Northwestern is a 3.5-point favorite and the total is 40.5. They have a chance to become bowl eligible with one more win. These teams meet on Saturday at 12pmET from Wrigley Field in Chicago. Check out this game and more college football picks at Stat Salt.
Reality check for Gophers
Minnesota has six wins, but has lost to Cal (27-14), No. 1 Ohio State (42-3), Iowa (41-3), and last week, fell at No. 8 Oregon 42-13. They are now 0-4 on the road this season. It shows that the Golden Gophers are good enough to make a bowl game, but probably not much more after that. P.J. Fleck's team was manhandled by a potential playoff team last week as Dante Moore threw for 306 yards (27 of 30) and two TD passes in the Ducks' win.
QB Drake Lindsey (6-5, 230) struggled against Oregon, throwing for just 138 yards. However, he's had a pretty good season, completing 61.9% of his passes for 1,881 yards with 11 TDs and six INTs with four rushing TDs. Darius Taylor had 57 rushing yards on 10 attempts in the loss, returning from an injury that cost him most of the last two games and three total games this season. He still leads the Gophers with 411 yards on 4.6 yards per carry. WR Le'Meke Brockington is his top target with 45 catches for 417 yards and three TDs.
Defensively, they have one of the top pass rushers in the Big 10 in Anthony Smith, who has 9.5 sacks and 28 tackles.
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Key Injury Report for Minnesota:
no recent key injuries
Wildcats still can earn a bowl berth
Northwestern has lost three straight games after winning four straight. The schedule certainly got tougher after their wins over ULM (42-7), Penn State (22-21), Purdue (19-0) and UCLA (17-14). Nebraska, USC and Michigan are all going to bowl games, with the Wolverines pushing for a playoff berth. Last week, the Wildcats played well at home against No. 18 Michigan, but fell 24-22 as a 10-point dog. Michigan needed a 31-yard field goal as time expired to edge the Wildcats, who struggled offensively against a very good Michigan defense. Northwestern had just 11 first downs and 245 total yards and allowed 496 yards from the Wolverines. However, Michigan committed five turnovers that nearly cost them the game, while the Wildcats had none.
When you're Northwestern, you have to play a clean game to have a shot against a more talented team. The Wildcats are very ordinary on offense, averaging just 21.9 points (109th), 171.3 passing yards (118th) and 169.4 rushing yards. The defense is solid, holding teams to just 19.6 points (23rd) and 191 passing yards (32nd).
Stone has thrown for 1,706 yards with 11 TDs and nine picks. RB Caleb Komolafe leads the ground attack with 757 yards and nine TDs (4.9ypc).
Key Injury Report for Northwestern:
- RB Dashun Reeder (undisclosed) is questionable. Has 222 yards and one TD (10.1ypc).
- DL Richie Hagarty (undisclosed) is questionable. Has 14 tackles and 0.5 sacks.
Spread Pick and Prediction for Minnesota vs. Northwestern
- Minnesota +3.5 (5 units)
Northwestern needed five turnovers to hang in that Michigan game last week and they still couldn't win. The Gophers have struggled on the road because they played three very good teams in Oregon, Iowa, and Ohio State, and played poorly early in the season against Cal on the road. This is a solid team who will show down a very pedestrian offense, especially on the ground since they allow just 115.2 yards per game (27th). Getting Taylor back healthy is also key for Minnesota as they feed off him on offense.
- Under 40.5 (4 units)
It's hard to go over with either team. When you get five turnovers and score just 22 points, you know that you're not explosive on offense. The Gophers, good competition or not, have really struggled offensively on the road, producing just 208 yards per game and 71 yards rushing with 8.2 points per game. Northwestern is holding teams to just 14.3 points per game at home. Expect a very low-scoring game with Minnesota winning 17-14.
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