Saint Paul – With two great border rivalry games coming up soon, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle have agreed on a friendly wager over the outcome of Saturday’s game between the Minnesota Gophers and Wisconsin Badgers and the Monday Night Football showdown between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers.

For the college football game, Governor Doyle wagered a selection of Usinger’s famous sausages and Carr Valley specialty cheeses. Governor Pawlenty offered Hormel pork tenderloin and Minnesota wild rice. The game between the Gophers and Badgers at TCF Bank Stadium will be the 118th matchup between the teams, the longest-running rivalry in NCAA Division 1-A football. The game’s winner will take home “Paul Bunyan’s Ax.”

The Monday night bet will highlight a selection of Minnesota beers vs. Wisconsin beers.

“In addition to two Minnesota victories, state officials will be on hand to welcome thousands of Wisconsinites who will likely decide to defect to Minnesota,” Governor Pawlenty said. “Between a Gopher win at the new on-campus stadium and another great performance from Brett Favre, it’s going to be an excellent few days in the land of Purple and Gold.”

“Of course there are many deep, important reasons why Wisconsin will be counting on the Badgers and the Packers to win, but not least among them is that we’re all intrigued by what ‘Minnesota beer’ might be,” Governor Doyle said. “This is a great and exciting rivalry and I’m sure all the Badgers and current Packers will be up to the task.”