Minnesota at Northwestern
Minnesota (2-8, 1-5) at Northwestern (5-5, 2-4)
When: 11 a.m. at Ryan FieldTV: BTNRadio: WGN 720-AM, WNUR 89.3-FM.Series: Minnesota leads 50-32-5; Northwestern won last season 29-28.Coaches: Pat Fitzgerald (39-34, sixth year at NU); Jerry Kill (2-8, first year at Minnesota).Players to watch: Minnesota QB MarQueis Gray ranks eighth in the conference in rushing. DB Kim Royston is fifth in the Big Ten in tackles. ... NU#146;s Drake Dunsmore was named one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award, given to the nation#146;s best tight end. ... WR Jeremy Ebert now ranks third on NU#146;s career lists in receiving yards and touchdown catches.The skinny: It#146;s pretty simple for Northwestern. Win and the Wildcats become bowl eligible for the fourth straight season. Lose and they#146;ll need to upset division-leading Michigan State next week to get to 6 wins. Under former Northern Illinois coach Jerry Kill, Minnesota started to build some momentum by beating Iowa on Oct. 29 and taking MSU to the wire a week later. But last time out, the Gophers were pounded at home by Wisconsin 42-13. Minnesota ranks last in the Big Ten in most offensive categories.Fast fact: The last four meetings in this series have been decided by an average of 5 points. #8212; Mike McGraw