Big Ten Preview: Minnesota
For the next few weeks leading up to the college football season, we’ll be previewing every Big Ten team, starting with my prediction to finish last, to my predicted champ. This way if I don’t get to Ohio State before the season starts, you’ll have a good grasp on all the teams whose analysis isn’t “highest payroll, most talent, probably champs.” 9th place: Minnesota.
This is where the ranking of the Big Ten teams gets a little tough as there were probably three or four candidates for the 9th spot. The Gophers might not be the third worst team in the league, but based on the schedule, this is where I see them finishing.
Minnesota has seen a nice climb under Tim Brewster in both recruiting and on-field results. It wouldn’t be shocking to see the Gophers improve this year with quarterback Adam Weber and star receiver Eric Decker returning. In fact, 17 starters are coming back and the starting defense will include almost all upperclassmen. Weber represents a good but not great–but hey not awful either!–QB that can keep the Gophers in games by getting Decker the ball.
The problem for Minnesota is the running game, which sounds ridiculous given their reputation. The Gophers were last in the Big Ten in rushing last year and without a successful ground attack, Weber and Decker will see some increased focus on the passing game from defenses.
Defensively, the Gophers have been awful against the pass. I don’t have one stat to back this up, it just seems like most of the time when the ball goes up in the air against Minnesota it usually falls in the hands of an opposing player. A pair of BCS school transfers could help with the weaknesses, with Matt Carufel (G-ND) and Kim Royston (S-Wisc.) seeing the field this year.
The Gophers seem like they’ll be pretty decent, so what’s up with the low prediction with teams like Northwestern, Wisconsin and Michigan still out there? Their schedule is awful. Minnesota plays three of the Big Ten’s toughest teams on the road in OSU, PSU, and Iowa, not to mention they’ll also likely be underdogs at their new stadium against Illinois and Michigan State.
But I do love that goofy mascot.
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