Northwestern vs. Minnesota Prediction, How to Watch, Odds, Channel - Jan 3

Updated Jan. 3, 2026 3:27 p.m. ET

Data Skrive

Cade Tyson and the Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-5, 1-1 Big Ten) are up against Nick Martinelli and the Northwestern Wildcats (8-5, 0-2 Big Ten) on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game starts at 5 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.

The Wildcats enter their game against the Golden Gophers as a 5.5-point favorite. The matchup's over/under is set at 140.5.

Keep reading to get everything you need to know ahead of betting on the Northwestern-Minnesota game.

Northwestern vs. Minnesota How to Watch & Odds

When: Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET
Where: Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Illinois
TV: Big Ten Network
Streaming: FOXSports.com, FOX Sports App and FOX One (Try free for 7 days)

Wildcats vs Golden Gophers Betting Information
Favorite	Spread	Favorite Spread Odds	Underdog Spread Odds	Total	Over Total Odds	Under Total Odds	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline
Wildcats	-5.5	-105	-115	140.5	-111	-109	-230	+188

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Northwestern vs. Minnesota Prediction

Pick ATS: Northwestern (-5.5)
Pick OU: Over (140.5)
Prediction: Northwestern 76, Minnesota 68

Learn more about the Northwestern Wildcats vs. the Minnesota Golden Gophers game on FOX Sports!

Northwestern vs. Minnesota Betting Insights

Betting Line Implied Predictions

Per the spread and over/under, the implied score for the encounter is Wildcats 73, Golden Gophers 68.
The Wildcats have a 69.7% chance to collect the win in this meeting based on the moneyline's implied probability.
The Golden Gophers have a 34.7% implied probability to win.

Key Spread Facts

Northwestern has covered four times in 13 chances against the spread this season.
Minnesota has won five games against the spread this year, while failing to cover eight times.
Northwestern has covered the spread three times this season (3-5 ATS) when playing as at least 5.5-point favorites.
Minnesota has covered the spread once when an underdog by 5.5 points or more this season (in three opportunities).

Key Total Facts

The Wildcats games have had more than 140.5 points scored on nine occasions this season.
There have been seven Golden Gophers games this year with more than 140.5 points scored.
The total for this matchup is 140.5 points, 12.7 fewer than the combined scoring average of the two teams.

Key Moneyline Facts

Northwestern is 8-2 in games when it was listed as the moneyline favorite (winning 80%).
This season, Minnesota has been the underdog five times and won one of those games.
Northwestern has won all eight games it played as a moneyline favorite with odds of -230 or shorter.
Minnesota has a record of 1-2 when it is set as the underdog by +188 or more by oddsmakers this season.

Northwestern vs. Minnesota: Recent Results

Wildcats vs Golden Gophers Recent Games
Date	Favorite	Spread	Total	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline	Result
3/12/2025	Wildcats	-3.5	128.5	-163	+137	72-64 NW
2/25/2025	Golden Gophers	-1.5	131.5	-131	+109	75-63 NW

Northwestern vs. Minnesota: 2025-26 Stats Comparison

	Northwestern	Minnesota
Points Scored Per Game (Rank)	80.5 (118)	72.7 (282)
Points Allowed (Rank)	69.4 (94)	64.8 (22)
Rebounds (Rank)	8.2 (296)	9.2 (217)
3pt Made (Rank)	6.2 (322)	7.8 (198)
Assists (Rank)	18.6 (26)	18.2 (33)
Turnovers (Rank)	8.8 (6)	11.3 (156)

Northwestern 2025-26 Key Players

Wildcats Leaders
Name	GP	PTS	REB	ASST	STL	BLK	3PM
Nick Martinelli	12	22.8	6.6	1.7	0.8	0.6	1.3
Arrinten Page	12	14.7	6.8	2.8	1.0	1.2	0.5
Jayden Reid	13	11.0	1.7	5.3	0.7	0.2	0.7
Tre Singleton	13	8.1	5.1	1.8	0.5	0.6	0.4
Angelo Ciaravino	12	6.9	4.4	1.8	0.3	0.7	0.2

Minnesota 2025-26 Key Players

Golden Gophers Leaders
Name	GP	PTS	REB	ASST	STL	BLK	3PM
Cade Tyson	13	21.9	5.2	2.5	0.9	0.0	2.2
Jaylen Crocker-Johnson	13	13.2	7.5	1.5	0.5	1.2	1.7
Isaac Asuma	13	9.8	3.5	4.6	1.3	0.7	1.5
Langston Reynolds	13	9.5	4.5	3.2	0.8	0.0	0.2
Bobby Durkin	13	8.3	3.1	1.7	0.8	0.1	1.7