Minnesota at Northwestern Week 9 College Football Matchup Minnesota at Northwestern Matchup - Week 9
Sat, Oct 30 2021 · Week 9 · 🏟 Ryan Field Evanston, IL · Turf · 47,130 cap
Minnesota✈ 342 miSame TZ
41 14
Final
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Minnesota
33
Northwestern
10
P&R Line Minnesota -23
P&R Total O/U 43.5
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Minnesota -7.5 · O/U 43.5
Matchup Prediction
Minnesota has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Minnesota entering this game.
Momentum Control
61.3%
Minnesota wins
Lean
Game Control
75.9%
Minnesota wins
Solid
Vegas Spread
Minnesota -7.5
O/U 43.5
teamrankings
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Minnesota · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
Minnesota 2021 Schedule
Minnesota's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Thu 9/2Minnesota vs Ohio State+14.0L31–4562.0L31–45OY
Sat 9/11Minnesota vs Miami (OH)-18.5W31–2655.0W31–26ON
Sat 9/18Minnesota at Colorado+2.5W30–049.0W30–0UY
Sat 9/25Minnesota vs Bowling Green-30.5L10–1452.5L10–14UN
Sat 10/2Minnesota at Purdue+2.0W20–1346.0W20–13UY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/16Minnesota vs Nebraska+4.5W30–2348.5W30–23OY
Sat 10/23Minnesota vs Maryland-4.0W34–1653.0W34–16UY
Sat 10/30Minnesota at Northwestern-7.5W41–1443.5W41–14OY
Sat 11/6Minnesota vs Illinois-14.5L6–1444.5L6–14UN
Sat 11/13Minnesota at Iowa+4.0L22–2737.5L22–27ON
Sat 11/20Minnesota at Indiana-7.5W35–1443.0W35–14OY
Sat 11/27Minnesota vs Wisconsin+7.0W23–1339.0W23–13UY
Tue 12/28Minnesota vs West Virginia-5.0W18–644.5W18–6UY
Northwestern 2021 Schedule
Northwestern's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Fri 9/3Northwestern vs Michigan State-3.0L21–3845.5L21–38ON
Sat 9/11Northwestern vs Indiana State-28.5W24–646.0W24–6UN
Sat 9/18Northwestern at Duke-2.5L23–3050.0L23–30ON
Sat 9/25Northwestern vs Ohio-13.5W35–647.5W35–6UY
Sat 10/2Northwestern at Nebraska+11.0L7–5651.5L7–56ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/16Northwestern vs Rutgers+2.5W21–745.0W21–7UY
Sat 10/23Northwestern at Michigan+23.5L7–3351.5L7–33UN
Sat 10/30Northwestern vs Minnesota+7.5L14–4143.5L14–41ON
Sat 11/6Northwestern vs Iowa+11.5L12–1740.5L12–17UY
Sat 11/13Northwestern at Wisconsin+26.0L7–3541.5L7–35ON
Sat 11/20Northwestern vs Purdue+11.0L14–3247.5L14–32UN
Sat 11/27Northwestern at Illinois+7.0L14–4745.0L14–47ON
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2021 season
Minnesota PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Minnesota
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Minnesota
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Minnesota
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Minnesota
+0.478
Northwestern
+0.217
Minnesota Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Minnesota
+0.546
Northwestern
+0.296
Minnesota Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Minnesota
0.168
Northwestern
0.120
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Minnesota Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Minnesota
+8.019
Northwestern
+6.716
Minnesota Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Minnesota
+0.886
Northwestern
+0.757
Minnesota Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Minnesota
68.0
Northwestern
73.3
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Minnesota Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2021 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Minnesota Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Minnesota
6.1
Northwestern
-0.6
Offense Rating
Minnesota
16.9
Northwestern
16.0
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Minnesota
10.8
Northwestern
16.6
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Minnesota Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Minnesota #52
1.29
Northwestern #133
0.50
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Minnesota #11
0.57
Northwestern #137
1.50
Minnesota +0.79
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 6 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Minnesota Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Minnesota #1
62.8
Northwestern #1
38.9
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Minnesota #29
21.5
Northwestern #121
55.9
Minnesota +23.9
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 75.9% of games historically
Based on 7 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Minnesota with a large edge. Historically, dominant teams like this are fully priced into the spread — the agreed-upon team covers just 50.2% of the time. The metrics predict game control better than they beat the number.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Minnesota
P. J. Fleck #1
28–20 (58%) · Yr 5 at school
OC Mike Sanford Jr. Yr 1 #1
DC Joe Rossi Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Northwestern
Pat Fitzgerald #1
107–83 (56%) · Yr 16 at school
OC Mike Bajakian Yr 1 #1
DC Jim O'Neil Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself