Minnesota at Northwestern Week 4 College Football Matchup Minnesota at Northwestern Matchup - Week 4
Sat, Sep 23 2023 · Week 4 · 🏟 Ryan Field Evanston, IL · Turf · 47,130 cap
Minnesota✈ 342 miSame TZ
34 37
Final
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Minnesota
19
NW +11.5
Northwestern
24
P&R Line Northwestern -4.5
P&R Total O/U 43
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Minnesota -11.5 · O/U 39.5
Matchup Prediction
Metrics disagree on this matchup
Momentum Control favors Northwestern, while Game Control favors Minnesota. Split signals historically show weaker predictive confidence — treat as a toss-up.
⚡ Split Signal — Metrics Disagree
Momentum Control
58.4%
Northwestern wins
Lean
Game Control
75.9%
Minnesota wins
Solid
Vegas Spread
Minnesota -11.5
O/U 39.5
William Hill (New Jersey)
Advanced Stats
3 factors agree (PPA + PPO + Havoc) → Northwestern · 82.4% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
🚌 Minnesota 2nd straight Road Game
Minnesota 2023 Schedule
Minnesota's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Thu 8/31Minnesota vs Nebraska-7.5W13–1043.0W13–10UN
Sat 9/9Minnesota vs Eastern Michigan-19.5W25–648.0W25–6UN
Sat 9/16Minnesota at North Carolina+7.0L13–3151.0L13–31UN
Sat 9/23Minnesota at Northwestern-11.5L34–3739.5L34–37ON
Sat 9/30Minnesota vs Louisiana-9.5W35–2449.0W35–24OY
Sat 10/7Minnesota vs Michigan+18.5L10–5246.0L10–52ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/21Minnesota at Iowa+3.0W12–1030.5W12–10UY
Sat 10/28Minnesota vs Michigan State-6.5W27–1241.5W27–12UY
Sat 11/4Minnesota vs Illinois-1.5L26–2743.0L26–27ON
Sat 11/11Minnesota at Purdue-1.5L30–4948.5L30–49ON
Sat 11/18Minnesota at Ohio State+27.5L3–3751.5L3–37UN
Sat 11/25Minnesota vs Wisconsin+1.5L14–2842.0L14–28UN
Tue 12/26Minnesota vs Bowling Green-2.5W30–2445.0W30–24OY
Northwestern 2023 Schedule
Northwestern's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sun 9/3Northwestern at Rutgers+5.0L7–2439.0L7–24UN
Sat 9/9Northwestern vs UTEP-1.0W38–740.0W38–7OY
Sat 9/16Northwestern at Duke+17.0L14–3848.0L14–38ON
Sat 9/23Northwestern vs Minnesota+11.5W37–3439.5W37–34OY
Sat 9/30Northwestern vs Penn State+27.0L13–4148.0L13–41ON
Sat 10/7Northwestern vs Howard-23.0W23–2051.0W23–20UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/21Northwestern at Nebraska+10.5L9–1740.0L9–17UY
Sat 10/28Northwestern vs Maryland+14.0W33–2748.5W33–27OY
Sat 11/4Northwestern vs Iowa+4.5L7–1030.5L7–10UY
Sat 11/11Northwestern at Wisconsin+9.5W24–1043.5W24–10UY
Sat 11/18Northwestern vs Purdue-2.5W23–1547.5W23–15UY
Sat 11/25Northwestern at Illinois+5.0W45–4346.5W45–43OY
Sat 12/23Northwestern vs Utah+6.5W14–744.5W14–7UY
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2023 season
Northwestern PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Northwestern
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Split
Metrics disagree
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Minnesota #118
+0.222
Northwestern #113
+0.323
Northwestern Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Minnesota #123
+0.324
Northwestern #100
+0.468
Northwestern Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Minnesota #131
0.114
Northwestern #115
0.141
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Northwestern Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Minnesota #73
+7.501
Northwestern #48
+8.778
Northwestern Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Minnesota #87
+0.836
Northwestern #110
+0.809
Minnesota Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Minnesota #85
71.0
Northwestern #57
70.3
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Northwestern Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2023 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
6.0
Northwestern
-0.6
Offense Rating
Minnesota
16.9
Northwestern
16.0
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Minnesota
10.9
Northwestern
16.6
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Northwestern Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Minnesota #105
1.00
Northwestern #47
1.33
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Minnesota #70
0.00
Northwestern #35
0.67
Northwestern +0.33
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% of games historically
Based on 3 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
37.7
Northwestern #1
18.5
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Minnesota #91
46.0
Northwestern #67
66.8
Minnesota +19.1
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 75.9% of games historically
Based on 3 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
Tie
1 — 1 sequences
✗ Predicted incorrectly
GC Battle
Minnesota
8.3 — 76.3 GC score
✓ Predicted correctly
Game Result
Northwestern won by 3
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

CSS and GC disagree on this matchup. When the metrics split, historical cover rates are essentially random — treat this as a coin flip against the spread.

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

Coaching Matchup
Minnesota
P. J. Fleck #1
46–28 (62%) · Yr 7 at school
OC Greg Harbaugh Jr. Yr 1 #1
DC Nick Monroe Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Northwestern
David Braun #1
1–2 (33%) · Yr 1 at school
OC Mike Bajakian Yr 3 #1
DC Vacant 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