Riding their first losing streak of the season, the Minnesota Golden Gophers will try to get back on track this weekend against the Wisconsin Badgers in a Big Ten clash at Camp Randall Stadium. The Gophers have been one of the best stories in the Big Ten this season, as they have already won seven games after notching just one victory in 2007. The team though, has dropped its last two outings, including a 29-6 setback against Michigan last weekend. It was certainly a disappointing home loss for Minnesota, which now sits at 7-3 overall and an even 3-3 within the conference. On a positive note, the Gophers now take to the road, where they have gone 3-1, including two straight victories. As for Wisconsin, it has posted wins in two of its last three outings following a four-game slide. Last weekend, the Badgers thumped Indiana by a 55-20 score on the road. The 55 points are tied for the 12th-most in school history and improved the team to a level 5-5 on the year. Wisconsin and Minnesota are meeting for the 118th time this weekend with the Gophers hanging onto a 59-50-8 lead in the all-time series. The Badgers, though, have won 11 of the past 13 encounters, including the last six meetings in Madison.

Protecting the ball has been the key to Minnesota's success on offense, as the team has committed just 12 turnovers in 10 games. Overall, the Gophers are gaining a decent 343.2 total ypg and that includes 226.8 ypg through the air. Minnesota, though, is coming off a poor offensive showing in which is managed a mere 188 total yards and six points in a loss to Michigan last weekend. DeLeon Eskridge was one of the few bright spots in the game, as he rushed for 80 yards on just 11 carries. On the year, Eskridge paces Minnesota with 615 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, although he is averaging just 3.9 yards per carry. Quarterback Adam Weber was sacked four times last weekend and the consistent pressure was certainly a factor, as he finished with just 105 yards and an interception on 13-of-24 tosses. It wasn't a typical effort from Weber, who has completed 65.1 percent of his pass attempts for 225.6 ypg this season. Eric Decker has clearly been his go-to-guy and he leads the team with 74 receptions for 892 yards and six touchdowns. He, however, injured his ankle last weekend and is expected to miss this game. That is a huge blow to Minnesota, especially when considering its second-leading receiver has just 28 catches.

The Gophers are giving up a few too many yards (370.0 ypg) this season, but they have been able to still hold opponents to just 19.0 ppg. Big plays are the reason this is possible, as Minnesota has forced 27 turnovers and recorded 24 sacks thus far. Last weekend, however, the Gophers managed only one turnover and no sacks, as they gave up 435 total yards to Michigan. The defense surrendered 232 of those yards on the ground, well above the 142.4 rushing ypg it is allowing on the season. Tramaine Brock paced the team in defeat with 10 tackles and a forced fumble. On the season, Willie VanDeSteeg has made a big impact for this defense and he heads the club with 7.5 sacks and 15 TFLs.

For Wisconsin, it is averaging a solid 407.0 total ypg, with a majority of its success coming on the ground. The Badgers are not only rushing for 224.4 ypg, but they have also scored 24 of their 32 offensive touchdowns via the run. The team is also coming off an impressive performance in which amassed 601 totals, including a whopping 441 on the ground, in a lopsided win over Indiana. The Badgers scored seven rushing touchdowns in that game and had three players crack the century mark. David Gilreath led the charge with 168 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries, while P.J. Hill churned out 126 yards and three scores on 19 totes. John Clay also carried the ball 19 times, as he went for 112 yards and a score of his own. On the year, Hill heads the squad with 845 yards and nine touchdowns, and Clay is next in order with 703 yards and six scores. With the success on the ground last weekend, quarterback Dustin Sherer wasn't need much and he passed for 143 yards on 10-of-19 tosses. Sherer hasn't exactly had a tone of success this season, passing for just three touchdowns, so it's a good thing Wisconsin is able to run the ball effectively.

The Badgers have lacked consistency on defense this season, but their overall numbers of 23.6 ppg and 319.6 ypg allowed aren't that bad. The defense has done a good job against the pass, holding foes to just 197.2 ypg, with nine touchdowns against 11 interceptions. Last weekend, Wisconsin limited Indiana to only 274 total yards and that includes just 141 through the air. Indiana completed a mere 13-of-34 tosses, while the Badgers racked up three sacks in the victory. Jay Valai led Wisconsin with 10 tackles and a forced fumble. He currently ranks third on the team in tackles (52), trailing Jaeve McFadden, who has made 72 stops on the year.

After a midseason slump, Wisconsin has started to come on strong again and that is bad news for the fading Gophers. Look for the Badgers to continue their dominance on the ground and grab the victory in front of their home fans this weekend.

Facts & Stats:

Site: Camp Randall Stadium (76,634) -- Madison, Wis.

Television: ABC

Home Record: Minnesota 4-2, Wisconsin 3-2

Away Record: Minnesota 3-1, Wisconsin 2-3

Neutral Record: Minnesota 0-0, Wisconsin 0-0

Conference Record: Minnesota 3-3, Wisconsin 2-5

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Wisconsin 27, Minnesota 17

Paul Bunyan Axe History

• The UW-UM rivalry is the nation's oldest and has been played continuously since 1907. It all started Nov. 15, 1890, when the two schools met on the gridiron in Minneapolis. The Gophers won the inaugural battle 63-0.
• So when did the ax come into play? In 1948, when the Wisconsin letterman's group, the National "W" Club, presented Minnesota with an axe wielded by Paul Bunyan, the mythical giant of Midwestern lumber groups. Each year since, the winner of the annual battle between the Big Ten rivals is given the axe, complete with scores inscribed on the handle.
• Before Paul Bunyan's Axe, the Slab of Bacon trophy was the prize in the Wisconsin-Minnesota football series.
• Apparently that tradition died out in the 1940s, and the trophy was found in a storage room at the UW Department of Athletics in 1994. Former Wisconsin football coach Barry Alvarez once said, "We took home the bacon and kept it."
• The Badgers have taken six straight home games from their border rivals. Wisconsin also won six straight in the series between 1978-1983.
• One of the most notable games between the two teams was in 1993. Fifth-ranked Wisconsin lost 28-21 to the Gophers at the Metrodome, costing the Badgers an undefeated season.
• The loss may have cost Wisconsin the national championship. Wisconsin had a school-record 423 passing yards from Darrell Bevell, but also had six turnovers.
• In 2007, the Badgers beat the Gophers 41 to 34 to keep the axe for a fourth straight year.
• Series Record: Minnesota leads, 59-50-8.