P.J. Fleck and the Minnesota Gophers look to rebound on Saturday vs Purdue, after suffering their first loss of the season last week against Maryland 31-24. The Gophers are 3-1 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten, and an 0-2 start in conference play would be a big disappointment. The Gophers are rare underdogs against the Boilermakers, although most sportsbooks have the spread for both teams at (-110) for the time being. My Top Sportsbooks does a good job explaining how the spread can move between now and Saturday.
Purdue is coming off a bye and it will be an emotional atmosphere as the program will honor the recent passing of their legendary coach Joe Tiller. The Gophers will also honor Tiller with a logo on their helmet.
Here are 5 Things to Know, per Gopher Sports communications:
1. Minnesota travels to Purdue on Saturday for its first Big Ten road game of the season. The Gophers are 1-0 on the road this year as they posted a 48-14 win at Oregon State on Sept. 9. Minnesota is 37-32-3 all-time against Purdue and has won the last four meetings between the two schools. The four-game win streak for the Gophers is the longest in school history against the Boilermakers (Minnesota has also posted five three-game win streaks against Purdue). The Boilermakers last beat the Gophers in 2011, as they prevailed 45-17 in West Lafayette, Ind.
2. Minnesota has beaten Purdue four straight times, but three of those win came in Minneapolis. The lone road win was a 41-13 triumph in 2015 (Minnesota led 10-6 at the half before outscoring Purdue 31-7 in the final 30 minutes). Minnesota is averaging 42 points per game in its current four-game streak against Purdue, as it scored 44 points 2012, 39 in 2013, 41 in 2015 and 44 in 2016. Despite recent history, Purdue has been one of the more difficult road trips for the Gophers, as Minnesota is just 6-20 all-time in West Lafayette, Ind.
3. The Gophers have allowed only 55 points this year. The 13.8 average ranks Minnesota as the No. 11 scoring defense in the nation (No. 4 in B1G). Minnesota is No. 12 in the nation (No. 4 in the B1G) in total defense, as it allows 283.3 yards per game. The Gophers allowed their first points in the second half this season when Maryland scored with 11:11 left in the fourth quarter. That ended Minnesota’s second-half shutout streak at 108:49. Minnesota is No. 20 in the nation in red zone defense (71.4%), as opponents have scored on five of their seven trips inside the 20. Opponents have entered the red zone only seven times, which ties the Gophers with UTSA, UCF and Washington for the second fewest in the nation (Michigan, Duke have allowed only six red zone visits).
4. Minnesota has scored 15 touchdowns and four of them have covered more than 60 yards (three on offense, one on defense). The last season Minnesota scored three or more offensive touchdowns of 60 yards or more was 2006 when quarterback Bryan Cupito threw touchdown passes of 67, 64 and 64 yards. Minnesota’s fourth 60-plus score this year was a 67-yard interception return by Jacob Huff (10th longest INT return in school history) against Middle Tennessee. The last time Minnesota scored four touchdowns that covered 60 yards or more was also 2006 (Gophers also had a 99-yard kickoff return).
5. P.J. Fleck is 23-4 in his last 27 games as a head coach (only Nick Saban 26-1, Dabo Swinney 25-2 and Rocky Long 24-3 are better, Urban Meyer is also 23-4). Fleck’s 16-game regular-season winning streak ended last Saturday against Maryland. Fleck won his Gopher debut against Buffalo, which made him the first coach to win his debut since John Gutekunst in 1986 (Minnesota’s six most recent coaches all lost their first game). Minnesota’s win at Oregon State made Fleck the first coach to win a road opener since 1954 when Murray Warmath did it. Fleck was also the first coach (without an interim title) since Warmath to start 3-0 at Minnesota.