After yet another crushing defeat last Saturday – this time, at the hands of the No. 6 Michigan Wolverines – Northwestern returns home to Ryan Field to encounter the cauldron-hot Minnesota Golden Gophers on Halloween’s Eve. Will the Wildcats bolster their 3-1 home mark and return to .500, or will Ryan Hilinski continue seeing those pesky ghosts? Below are several reasons why Northwestern will or won’t triumph over its next Big Ten West foe.

Why Northwestern will beat Minnesota

Few Worrisome Offensive Stars

Although the Gophers sit at 5-2 and are tied with Iowa atop the Big Ten West, P.