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One of the biggest Big 10 matchups of the year goes down Saturday when the Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-1) host the Wisconsin Badgers (9-2) at TCF Bank Stadium.
The game is scheduled to start at Noon ET and will be televised on ABC. If you don’t have cable, you can watch the game live on your computer, phone, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Xbox One, PS4 or other streaming device via one of the following cable-free, live-TV streaming services:
AT&T TV Now
AT&T TV Now (formerly DirecTV Now) offers six different channel bundles. They range from 45 to 125 live TV channels, and they all include ABC (live in select markets).
Start Your AT&T TV Now Free Trial
Once signed up for AT&T TV Now, you can watch a live stream of Wisconsin vs Minnesota on your computer via the AT&T TV Now website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, or other compatible streaming device via the AT&T TV app. You can also watch the game on the ESPN app if you sign in using your AT&T TV Now credentials.
If you can’t watch live, AT&T TV Now — no matter what channel package you choose — comes with included cloud DVR.
Hulu With Live TV
ABC (live in select markets) is one of 60-plus live TV channels included with Hulu With Live TV, which also comes with Hulu’s extensive on-demand library of TV shows and movies.
Once signed up for Hulu With Live TV, you can watch a live stream of Wisconsin vs Minnesota on your computer via the Hulu website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Echo Show, or other streaming device via the Hulu app. You can also watch the game on the ESPN app if you sign in using your Hulu credentials.
If you can’t watch live, Hulu With Live TV comes with 50 hours of cloud DVR space, as well as the option to upgrade to “Enhanced Cloud DVR,” which gives you 200 hours of space and the ability to fast-forward through commercials.
YouTube TV
YouTube TV comes with 70-plus live TV channels, including ABC (live in select markets).
Once signed up, you can then watch Wisconsin vs Minnesota live on your computer via the YouTube website, or on your phone (Android and iPhone supported), tablet, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or other compatible streaming device via the YouTube app. You can also watch on ESPN.com or the ESPN app by signing in with your YouTube TV credentials.
If you can’t watch live, YouTube TV comes with included DVR.
ESPN Digital Platforms
The game is also on ESPN3, which you can watch on your computer via ESPN.com, or on your phone, tablet, or streaming device via the ESPN app.
You won’t need to log-in to a cable provider to watch this way as long as you are signed in to a participating Internet Service Provider (ISP). However, if you don’t have one of those, you can also sign up for one of the above options and then use your AT&T TV Now, Hulu or YouTube TV credentials to sign in and watch the game on the ESPN digital platforms.
Wisconsin vs Minnesota Preview
It’ll be the battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe this Saturday, and the implications will be huge. If the Badgers win this game, they will have a chance to upend Minnesota and represent the Big 10 West in the Big 10 Championship game against Ohio State. If the Gophers win, they’ll be facing the Buckeyes.
The Badgers will likely rely heavily on star running back Jonathan Taylor, who is on a hot streak of late. Taylor has three consecutive 200-yard rushing games entering this game, and he’s facing a Minnesota defense that is allowing over 122 yards rushing per contest. How well the Gophers contain Taylor will be a major factor in the outcome of this game.
The play of Wisconsin’s junior quarterback Jack Coan will also be key. Coan doesn’t have a huge arm, but he has been solid and efficient. He has 15 touchdowns and four interceptions this season, and he will have to take care of the ball against a Minnesota secondary that has 14 interceptions, which is tied with Ohio State for the best in the Big 10.
On defense, the Badgers have been excellent against the run all season. They’re allowing a very stingy 58.4 yards per game and just 2.2 yards per carry. They’ll be facing a Gophers running attack that is averaging 187.9 yards a game on the ground, so something will have to give in this game.
For the Gophers and head coach P.J. Fleck, this game will be a chance for his team to prove they belong in the championship after an excellent season that saw Minnesota losing just once to a scrappy Iowa team.
Minnesota will definitely challenge this Badgers defense, primarily in the passing game. Led by sophomore quarterback Tanner Morgan, the Gophers are scoring 36.1 points a game, and they’re averaging just over 16 yards per pass attempt. Morgan has 26 touchdowns and five interceptions this season, and he has been taking excellent care of the ball. He’ll need to do that against the Badgers if his team wants to represent the Big 10 West.
The teams are 60-60-8 over the years, so this game will sway that statistic in someone’s favor. The Badgers are 5-0 in games in which both teams are nationally ranked, however, so this should be an intriguing contest to be sure.