The Northwestern Wildcats host Minnesota on Saturday, looking to build on their 15-10 mark against the 17-9 Golden Gophers in college hoops action at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Northwestern battles the Golden Gophers, currently sitting with a 17-9 mark (11-12 ATS). The OVER/UNDER records, always important for totals bettors, are 13-7 for the Wildcats and 12-11 for the Golden Gophers.



View Minnesota vs Northwestern Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
The visitors opened as 3.5-point underdogs in this one at most sportsbooks tracked at Odds Shark.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Wildcats - Golden Gophers odds would favor the Golden Gophers if the lines were set according to our power ranks. Northwestern is rated No. 229 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Minnesota is at No. 102. Mathematical models based on recent stats and predictive formulas point to a 73-70 win for the Golden Gophers.



How They Match Up:
When it comes to rebounds, the visiting Golden Gophers rank No. 196 in NCAA Division 1 with 34.2 per game. That compares with Northwestern’s No. 327 ranking in that category. The story is different when it comes to three-point shooting where Northwestern is college basketball's No. 9-ranked team at 8.8 per game, while the Golden Gophers rate No. 261 with 5.2 per game.

Comparing how these foes stack up statistically, Minnesota owns the country's No. 170-rated mark, allowing 69.9 points per game on the highway. Northwestern, on the other hand, rates No. 135 in scoring at home.

Last time out for Minnesota, they were a 78-68 loser as they battled Ohio State at home. They failed to cover in the match as an 8-point underdog. The Golden Gophers got 21 points from Rodney Williams, but it was Ohio State that prevailed in a 78-68 final on Tuesday at Williams Arena.

Northwestern lost its last outing, a 71-66 result against Indiana on February 15. They covered in that game as an 8.5-point underdog. Northwestern got 29 points from John Shurna on the way to a 71-66 loss against Indiana on Wednesday at Branch McCracken Court at Assembly Hall.


Minnesota Golden Gophers Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 5-5
Before playing Michigan State are 6-4
After playing Ohio State are 5-5
After a loss are 4-6

Northwestern Wildcats Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 5-5
Before playing Michigan are 3-7
After playing Indiana are 5-5
After a loss are 5-5

A few Golden Gophers at Wildcats trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 6 games when playing on the road against Northwestern
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Minnesota's last 9 games on the road
Minnesota is 6-12 SU in its last 18 games on the road
Minnesota is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Northwestern
Northwestern is 15-3 SU in its last 18 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Northwestern's last 6 games when playing at home against Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Northwestern's last 5 games
Northwestern is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Minnesota


Next up:
Minnesota home to Michigan State, Wednesday, February 22
Northwestern home to Michigan, Tuesday, February 21