GOPHERS OFFENSE VS. BADGERS DEFENSE
Wisconsin hasn't missed a beat since D-coordinator Dave Aranda left for LSU. Justin Wilcox (previously USC) added new wrinkles to the 3-4 scheme. Jim Leonhard has worked wonders with the secondary, as the Badgers have 17 interceptions with seven TD passes allowed. Advantage: Wisconsin.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Badgers kicker Rafael Gaglianone suffered a season-ending back injury, so the Badgers have turned to senior Andrew Endicott, who is 10-for-15 on field goals. Advantage: Gophers
Player to watch
Wisconsin junior T.J. Watt was a tight end before switching to outside linebacker last year. Now he looks like the kind of NFL prospect his brother, J.J., became at Wisconsin. Watt ranks second in the Big Ten with eight sacks and has 11½ tackles for loss. He added a pick-six last week at Purdue.
THE OPPONENT
Wisconsin has played the nation's 15th-toughest schedule, according to sportsreference.com, and the Badgers are riding a five-game winning streak. One more win would give Wisconsin its sixth 10-win season in the past eight years.
GOPHERS DEFENSE VS. BADGERS OFFENSE
Redshirt freshman Alex Hornibrook starts at QB, but Chryst routinely spells him with senior Bart Houston. Both have been effective. The Badgers have averaged 233.3 rushing yards over the past six games, but the Gophers counter with the Big Ten's third-best run defense. Advantage: Even
INTANGIBLES
The weather — partly cloudy, about 48 degrees — shouldn't be a factor. The Badgers are dominant at home, but the Gophers have nothing to lose. Advantage: Wisconsin
JOE'S PREDICTION
Wisconsin: 20
Gophers:13
![Wisconsin's linebacker Vince Biegel took the Paul Bunyan's Axe to one of the goal posts after Wisconsin defeated Minnesota 31-21 at TCF Bank Stadium, Saturday, November 28, 2015 in Minneapolis, MN. ] (ELIZABETH FLORES/STAR TRIBUNE) ELIZABETH FLORES • eflores@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/L2EMA4KPQI55AE5TDZZZFLURCY.jpg?&w=1080)
