Northwestern Wildcats

Northwestern Wildcats

Mar 12, 2025

Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota Golden Gophers
  • Overview
  • Consensus
  • Stats
  • Odds
  • Trends
  • Props

Northwestern Wildcats vs Minnesota Golden Gophers Prediction – 3/12/2025

The Northwestern Wildcats and the Minnesota Golden Gophers are set to face off in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Both teams concluded the regular season with identical conference records, making this matchup a pivotal one for their postseason aspirations.

Northwestern Wildcats vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Game Preview

Northwestern enters the tournament with a 16-15 overall record and a 7-13 mark in Big Ten play. The Wildcats have demonstrated resilience, especially after losing key players Brooks Barnhizer and Jalen Leach to injuries in February. In their absence, Nick Martinelli has stepped up, averaging 20.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. The team has focused on strengthening their defense, holding opponents to an average of 63.2 points on 40.1% shooting over the final five games of the regular season.

Minnesota, also at 15-16 overall and 7-13 in the conference, has faced challenges in maintaining consistency. The Golden Gophers have lost four of their last five games, including a 75-67 overtime defeat to Rutgers in their most recent outing. Dawson Garcia has been a standout performer, leading the team with 19.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. However, the team's offensive struggles are evident, as they haven't surpassed 70 points in any of their last seven contests.

Betting Insights

  • Point Spread: Northwestern -3
  • Over/Under: 127.5 points
  • Moneyline: Northwestern -165, Minnesota +125

These odds suggest that Northwestern is favored by three points, with an expected total score of 127.5 points for the game. The moneyline indicates a higher probability of a Wildcats victory.

Betting Trends

  • Northwestern has won four of its last five games against Minnesota.
  • Minnesota has lost each of its last five games played at neutral venues.
  • Northwestern has covered the spread in 16 of 31 games this season.
  • Minnesota has covered the spread in 11 of 31 games this season.

Northwestern Wildcats vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Prediction

Considering the current form and statistical analysis, Northwestern appears to have the upper hand in this matchup. Their recent defensive improvements and the emergence of Nick Martinelli as a reliable scorer provide a solid foundation. Minnesota's offensive inconsistencies and struggles in neutral-site games further tilt the scales in favor of the Wildcats. Therefore, the prediction is that Northwestern will cover the spread and secure a victory in this Big Ten Tournament opener.

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Consensus

Spread Pick Consensus

-3.5/-102
63% NW
+3.5/-118
37% MINNST

Moneyline Pick Consensus

-148
83% NW
+124
17% MINNST

Total Pick Consensus

127.5/-110
16% UN
127.5/-110
84% OV

Stats

  • Team Stats Per Game
  • Advanced Game Stats
  • Rushing
  • Special Teams

Offense/Defense

NW
Team Stats Per Game
MINNST
72.74
PTS GM
69.65
59.39
FGA
55.9
.442
FG%
.440
.337
3PT%
.347
10.87
ORB
10.26
0.73
DRB
0.79
33.61
TRB
34.61
18.29
FTA
18.35
.737
FT%
.750
14.55
AST
14.74
3.52
BLK
3.65
9.81
TO
10.58
17.61
PF
16.65

Defense/Offense

NW
Team Stats Per Game
MINNST
69.29
PTS GM
68.19
54.42
FGA
56.55
.435
FG%
.443
.339
3PT%
.322
9.84
ORB
10.55
0.78
DRB
0.75
34.1
TRB
33.94
19.74
FTA
17.65
.747
FT%
.658
14.48
AST
15.35
3.42
BLK
4.65
13.45
TO
10.77
16.61
PF
17.42

Offense/Defense

NW
Advanced Game Stats
MINNST
66.1
Pace
63.8
108.2
Off.Rate
107.1
.308
FTr
.328
.340
3PAr
.342
.534
TS%
.539
49.6
TRB%
50.5
55.5
AST%
59.9
10.6
STL%
8.6
10.6
BLK%
10.0
.499
eFG%
.500
12.6
TOV%
14.1
30.9
ORB%
30.5
.227
TF/FGA
.246

Defense/Offense

NW
Advanced Game Stats
MINNST
66.1
Pace
63.8
103.1
Off.Rate
104.8
.363
FTr
.312
.389
3PAr
.358
.543
TS%
.525
50.4
TRB%
49.5
61.2
AST%
61.3
8.0
STL%
9.2
8.7
BLK%
12.6
.501
eFG%
.500
17.4
TOV%
14.2
30.2
ORB%
30.2
.271
TF/FGA
.205

Odds

  • Spread
  • MoneyLine
  • Over/Under
Open
Current
Book
NW MINNST
NW MINNST
Consensus
-3.0 (-112)
+3.0 (-110)
-2.5 (-112)
+2.5 (-109)
-2.5 (-102)
+2.5 (+100)
-3.5 (-102)
+3.5 (-118)
-2.5 (-118)
+2.5 (-115)
-2.5 (-118)
+2.5 (-104)
-2.5 (-112)
+2.5 (-105)
-2.5 (-112)
+2.5 (-109)
-3.0 (-110)
+3.0 (-110)
-3.0 (-110)
+3.0 (-110)
-2.5 (-105)
+2.5 (-102)
-3.5 (-105)
+3.5 (-115)
Open
Current
Book
NW MINNST
NW MINNST
Consensus
-155
+125
-154
+126
-166
+140
-148
+124
-134
+112
-152
+126
-159
+130
-155
+125
-155
+130
-155
+130
-155
+125
-155
+125
Open
Current
Book
Over Under
Over Under
Consensus
127.5 (-110)
127.5 (-110)
127.5 (-113)
127.5 (-109)
127.5 (-108)
127.5 (-112)
127.5 (-110)
127.5 (-110)
126.5 (-115)
126.5 (-105)
127.5 (-110)
127.5 (-110)
127.5 (-110)
127.5 (-110)
127.5 (-113)
127.5 (-108)
127.5 (-110)
127.5 (-110)
127.5 (-110)
127.5 (-110)
127.5 (-105)
127.5 (-115)
127.5 (-115)
127.5 (-105)

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