TV/radio:
11 a.m. Saturday; ESPN2, WGN-AM 720, WNUR-FM 89.3.
Line:
Northwestern by 31/2.
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Records:
Northwestern 5-1, 1-1 Big Ten; Minnesota 4-1, 0-1.
Last meeting:
Northwestern won 28-13 on Nov. 19, 2011, in Evanston.
ON THE OFFENSIVE:
Northwestern has to get back to its bread-and-butter: Kain Colter running the spread option as the offense chews up clock. Minnesota leads the Big Ten in defensive pass efficiency.
GETTING DEFENSIVE:
The scouting report on Minnesota quarterback Max Shortell: Huge (6-6, 235 pounds), strong arm, decently mobile, fairly accurate (59.3 percent completion rate), susceptible to mistakes (4 INTs in 86 attempts this season).
THE NUMBER:
8.4. In Minnesota’s last game, Iowa running back Mark Weisman gashed the Gophers for 177 yards on 21 carries (8.4 average).
THE TALK:
Will Minnesota run-pass QB MarQueis Gray return from a high ankle sprain? Gray ran for 160 yards on the Wildcats last season.
TEDDY GREENSTEIN’S PICK:
The expected soggy conditions should favor the running team, and that’s Northwestern.
Northwestern 24-23