BleedGopher
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Hammer & Nails first out of the gate with a very early game prediction:
Game Outlook
To be honest, the only team that seems like more of a mess than Minnesota is Illinois. Neither team really has a quarterback, but at least the Gophers have Brooks and Johnson as weapons. The Illini have… not much. Defensively the Gophers should be respectable, but with a passing game that does little to nothing each game they are in the unenviable position of having to be perfect in order to win.
It certainly looks like a building year for Fleck. He is used to this. His first team at Western Michigan was 1-11, then he suffered the indignity of losing to a Darrell Hazell coached team. He still turned that group around to go 8-5, and he was 29-10 over the next 39 games after losing to Hazell. Coaching in the Big Ten West is a difference animal than the MAC West, but it was still a solid turnaround.
We should expect another youth movement at key spots because the Gophers don’t really have a choice. The schedule is manageable with home games against New Mexico State, Fresno State, and Miami (OH) to start. If they get those can they win three conference games for a bowl? Illinois, Nebraska, Indiana, Maryland, and even Purdue give them a chance.
Way-too-Early Prediction
Last year’s game came down to the wire, as Purdue took a two-point lead before a weather delay, gave up a lengthy field goal drive, then recovered to scored and pick-six Rhoda to seal a 14-point win. The Boilers scored 15 points in the final two minutes to steal the win, and it made a huge difference on the season. This year I think the Boilers can keep moving forward. I think we finally get a win at TCF Bank. Purdue 34, Minnesota 20
https://www.hammerandrails.com/2018/7/19/17590362/2018-minnesota-golden-gophers-football-preview
Go Gophers!!
Game Outlook
To be honest, the only team that seems like more of a mess than Minnesota is Illinois. Neither team really has a quarterback, but at least the Gophers have Brooks and Johnson as weapons. The Illini have… not much. Defensively the Gophers should be respectable, but with a passing game that does little to nothing each game they are in the unenviable position of having to be perfect in order to win.
It certainly looks like a building year for Fleck. He is used to this. His first team at Western Michigan was 1-11, then he suffered the indignity of losing to a Darrell Hazell coached team. He still turned that group around to go 8-5, and he was 29-10 over the next 39 games after losing to Hazell. Coaching in the Big Ten West is a difference animal than the MAC West, but it was still a solid turnaround.
We should expect another youth movement at key spots because the Gophers don’t really have a choice. The schedule is manageable with home games against New Mexico State, Fresno State, and Miami (OH) to start. If they get those can they win three conference games for a bowl? Illinois, Nebraska, Indiana, Maryland, and even Purdue give them a chance.
Way-too-Early Prediction
Last year’s game came down to the wire, as Purdue took a two-point lead before a weather delay, gave up a lengthy field goal drive, then recovered to scored and pick-six Rhoda to seal a 14-point win. The Boilers scored 15 points in the final two minutes to steal the win, and it made a huge difference on the season. This year I think the Boilers can keep moving forward. I think we finally get a win at TCF Bank. Purdue 34, Minnesota 20
https://www.hammerandrails.com/2018/7/19/17590362/2018-minnesota-golden-gophers-football-preview
Go Gophers!!