Week 5 Media Predictions Thread: Minnesota at Northwestern

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Could see those types of scores, but in either direction. Be ironic if this turned into a 41-37 type game. See how banged up each defense truly is. If there was a week to have our secondary on t injured shelf I think this would be the week.
 

bemidjigopher said:
Could see those types of scores, but in either direction. Be ironic if this turned into a 41-37 type game. See how banged up each defense truly is. If there was a week to have our secondary on t injured shelf I think this would be the week.
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Was having a similar conversation with a co-worker today. It seems like whenever you have two strong defensive teams the game turns into a shootout. May be more perception than reality though. My gut tells me that the 21-17 score is probably along the lines of what will happen on Saturday from a points range with us on the 21 side of course. I will be surprised if either team is able to build up much of a lead at any point during the game.
 

I agree, MNVCGUY, but it all depends on those pesky turnovers. If we can get the young NW QB to turn it over a few times and us not at all, it could be a major win for the good guys. The opposite is true, too, unfortunately. I'm betting on Coach K to have the team totally ready this week.
 

"I'm for wasting sportswriters time, so I'd like to hang around and see if we can give 'em all a nice big sh!tburger to eat!" -Lou Brown
 


Interesting all but one BTN writer picked Iowa to beat Wisconsin at C. Randall. Iowa is overrated (Yes, I am aware they are unranked) and I think they get exposed this week on the road against a good defense. I actually don't think it will even be a close game.
 



Three people weighed in on the "solid verbal" podcast. All three picked the Gophers to win outright.

Dan R even listed it as one of his "locks of the week"

Go figure.
 




Detroit News

Minnesota +6.5 at Northwestern

Charboneau: Minnesota
Chengelis: Northwestern
Niyo: Minnesota
Wojnowski: Northwestern


(Iowa +8 at Wisconsin

Charboneau: Iowa
Chengelis: Iowa
Niyo: Wisconsin
Wojnowski: Iowa )
 


Bleacher Report

Last meeting: Jalen Myrick's 100-yard kickoff return touchdown midway through the fourth quarter gave Minnesota a 24-17 home win over Northwestern last October.


What to watch for

Minnesota (3-1) can at least lay claim to having plenty of experience in close games, having won its past three by three points apiece. The Golden Gophers won at Colorado State in overtime, survived an ugly 10-7 game against Kent State and then downed previously unbeaten Ohio on a TD run with 30 seconds left.

Along with the season-opening 23-17 loss to TCU, Minnesota has rarely had a moment to relax during the first month of the season.

Northwestern (4-0) has allowed 35 points thus far, 19 of those coming last week in a five-point victory over Ball State in which it overcame three turnovers thanks to quarterback Clayton Thorson's first strong passing effort. Thorson had one TD pass in the first three games and then threw three against the Cardinals, with 256 passing yards after going for 327 before that game.

Neither of these teams has many weapons on offense, so it will likely come down to a big play on defense. Northwestern is the only team that's managed to slow down Stanford this year, holding it to six points in Week 1, while Minnesota tempered TCU's explosive attack.



Prediction: Northwestern 20, Minnesota 13
 





College Football News : Minnesota

http://collegefootballnews.com/2015/minnesota-vs-northwestern-game-preview-fearless-prediction

Why You Need To Care

Northwestern has done the exact same thing for four straight games, and it keeps on working. The defense was a brick wall in the stunner against Stanford to start the season, and it hasn’t faltered yet. Justin Jackson and the running game have been great, and the passing game has been … the running game has been great. This is the big test to see just when the Cats are at – if they really are West contenders, they need to rip through the mediocre Gophers without a problem.

The 3-1 start is exactly what the Gophers were supposed to do to start things out – losing to TCU and getting by Colorado State, Kent State and Ohio – but it’s taken way too much work to get there. The running game hasn’t shown up yet like it was supposed to, and quarterback Mitch Leidner has come under fire despite a few key plays to pull games out of the fire. With Purdue up next before hosting Nebraska and Michigan, it’s an interesting stretch now – the Gophers might only be favorites once before late November.

Why Minnesota Will Win

Northwestern won’t be able to throw the ball a lick. Minnesota might be having major problems with the offense, and there might not be any consistency, but the secondary was supposed to be a strength coming into the season and it hasn’t disappointed. It held TCU under wraps, and hasn’t allowed 200 yards in any of the other three games with just four touchdowns and three interceptions. While Clayton Thorson has shown glimpses of potential greatness, he’s not there yet – the Wildcat O needs to run well to win.

Why Northwestern Will Win

Minnesota won’t be able to throw the ball a lick. The Northwestern run defense has been a rock, but the defense has been absolutely dominant against anyone trying to throw. The two passing touchdowns allowed to Ball State last week were the first two given up all year, and giving up over five yards per throw to the Cardinals was a disaster compared to the first three games. Minnesota’s passing game hasn’t been miserable, especially when it’s absolutely had to come through, but it’s about to have a bad day.

Player Who Matters

So why is the Northwestern pass defense working so well? There’s decent pressure up front, and the run defense has been allowing the safeties to hang back a bit, but it’s been the play of Traveon Henry and Godwin Igwebuike that’s been the spark. Henry is second on the team with 24 stops, while Igwebuike has made 18 tackles Matt Harris and his 15 tackles and two picks – with a pick six coming against Eastern Illinois – have been a bit help, too. There’s nowhere to throw against this group.

What’s Going To Happen?

This is when Minnesota shows up again. Northwestern is playing at a high level with the type of physical style the Gophers are known for, but the Minnesota rushing attack started to show up again last week against Ohio. The team is going to pick the right time to plays its best game of the season.

Minnesota vs. Northwestern Prediction
Final Score: Minnesota 23, Northwestern 20, Line: Northwestern -4, o/u: 39.5

 

Weather is the trump card, 19 mph winds predicted game time.

It may wreck havoc on kickers and the passing game.
 

hungan1 said:
Weather is the trump card, 19 mph winds predicted game time.

It may wreck havoc on kickers and the passing game.
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I think that's a good thing. When one of Leidner's wounded ducks goes way off course, the wind's going to blow it right back to the Gopher receivers.
 


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