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ESPN’s FPI predicts outcome of Axe game for Minnesota vs. Wisconsin
By Paul Harvey
Published:
ESPN’s FPI is predicting a full slate of Rivalry Weekend matchups in Week 13 of the college football season. That includes the battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe between Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Historically speaking, the matchup has been all Badgers for the majority of the past two decades. Since 2000, the Gophers have just 4 total wins in the series and have not won back-to-back games against Wisconsin since 1993-94, but PJ Fleck is trying to turn the tide.
Since arriving at Minnesota in 2017, Fleck is 2-3 against Wisconsin and has a shot at consecutive wins against the Badgers. He’ll also be going up against Jim Leonhard in Leonhard’s first try at the rivalry as the interim head coach of Wisconsin.
Heading into the game, the Football Power Index is predicting a tight finish between the two teams. The FPI currently has Wisconsin favored with a 53.6% chance of winning the game. With this matchup being played in Madison, home-field advantage could wind up being the difference.
We’ll see how this one plays out on Saturday.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.