Like defense? Then Minnesota-Northwestern is for you. Like offense? RUN, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!
How to watch Minnesota vs. Northwestern on TV or online, plus 3 things to know
Who likes defense?
After two straight seasons without making a bowl game, Northwestern looks like it has finally bounced back. The Wildcats are 4-0, with wins over Stanford (beat USC) and Duke (beat Georgia Tech). NU has done that mostly in part to its defense, which ranks among the best in the country. The Wildcats held Stanford to six points and Duke to 10, and they hardly ever surrender points, absent a turnover in their territory. Of course, there have been turnovers, and the NU offense has yet to get going under freshman quarterback Clayton Thorson. So far, the defense has been enough. But the offense needs to be better.
Meanwhile, Minnesota has had the same formula, but been less impressive. The Gophers have a good defense, and that helped them keep the opener against TCU close, but they have won each of their last three games by three points — against Colorado State, Kent State and Ohio. That is ... not good. Minnesota will be in every game because of its defense, but just like Northwestern, the Gophers have to be better on offense to win the Big Ten West.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: Noon ET, Big Ten Network
Radio: Northwestern, Minnesota
Online streaming: BTN2GO
Spread: Northwestern is favored by 6.5 points.
Make friends: Get to SB Nation’s team blog chats for this game at Inside NU for Northwestern fans and The Daily Gopher for Minnesota fans.
Three big things to know
1. Can the Minnesota offense get in any sort of rhythm? If Kent State can hold Minnesota to 10 points, Northwestern can hold the Gophers to -10 (or at least zero). Mitch Leidner and the Minnesota offense have to have their best game of the year to win this one.
2. On that same token, can Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson be more consistent? Thorson has shown promise, but he’s also struggled mightily at times, particularly against Duke and Ball State. If he keeps turning it over, NU could be in trouble.
3. Considering what Northwestern’s defense did to Duke and Stanford, what can it do to Minnesota? There might not be a lot of movement from either offense.
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