Steele has Gophs with easiest sked in West

swingman

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NMSU second worst team in nation...WIU FCS...CO 90th of 107...RU 83, IL 74, NW 71, PU 45, NE 34, MSU 31.

Gophs sked ranked 64, NW at 22nd toughest in nation, IA 28, IL 31, WI 36, PU 39, NE 47.

His power ranking has Gophs at 29...Wi at 12, Ia at 17, PSU at 18 only 3 ranked higher. Gophs have had good luck with Wi and PSU lately.
 

Let's take advantage of it. I think that Colorado will outperform this ranking, however.
 

This reminds me to look the old lying Jerry Kill. ‘ To be perfectly honest with ya……’. ‘You think you can do a better job than me? Welll, then maybe I should resign…’. Another oh crap moment for mn fans.
 


NMSU second worst team in nation...WIU FCS...CO 90th of 107...RU 83, IL 74, NW 71, PU 45, NE 34, MSU 31.

Gophs sked ranked 64, NW at 22nd toughest in nation, IA 28, IL 31, WI 36, PU 39, NE 47.

His power ranking has Gophs at 29...Wi at 12, Ia at 17, PSU at 18 only 3 ranked higher. Gophs have had good luck with Wi and PSU lately.
The difference between the 22nd toughest in the nation and 64th is apparently playing:
Colorado, Northwestern, Michigan state, and Rutgers instead of duke, Maryland, Ohio state, and Minnesota


So what I’m saying is, there is really no difference between teams schedules
 


This reminds me to look the old lying Jerry Kill. ‘ To be perfectly honest with ya……’. ‘You think you can do a better job than me? Welll, then maybe I should resign…’. Another oh crap moment for mn fans.
Yes this will be their Superbowl. I think Fleck knows this. Only thing that makes me a bit nervous is our Gophers have been slow starters. Offense (especially OL) usually takes a bit to gel.

Could be more difficult than advertised.
 

Yes this will be their Superbowl. I think Fleck knows this. Only thing that makes me a bit nervous is our Gophers have been slow starters. Offense (especially OL) usually takes a bit to gel.

Could be more difficult than advertised.
If Jerry Kill makes this game personally about him 50/50 that his team doesn’t care at all about their new coach that they didn’t pick

For instance, when jerry kill led the team against New Mexico State, Michigan, Purdue, and Nebraska in his first year the team just didn’t show up.

I would be more worried if this was his 2nd or 3rd year in the program


Making the game a personal vendetta for the coach is as likely (or more likely) to backfire with the players as it is to motivate since he just started working with them
 

If Jerry Kill makes this game personally about him 50/50 that his team doesn’t care at all about their new coach that they didn’t pick

For instance, when jerry kill led the team against New Mexico State, Michigan, Purdue, and Nebraska in his first year the team just didn’t show up.

I would be more worried if this was his 2nd or 3rd year in the program


Making the game a personal vendetta for the coach is as likely (or more likely) to backfire with the players as it is to motivate since he just started working with them
I don't mind at all if you are 100% correct. You are right about the second year. Our Gophers lead by him should have beat SC in the Coliseum. It was an odd feeling of being very proud yet somewhat disappointed in my Gophers.
 

I don't mind at all if you are 100% correct. You are right about the second year. Our Gophers lead by him should have beat SC in the Coliseum. It was an odd feeling of being very proud yet somewhat disappointed in my Gophers.
I mean based on what I said I am definitely right as I said it’s 50/50 (so I really didn’t say much)
 



I mean based on what I said I am definitely right as I said it’s 50/50 (so I really didn’t say much)
About Jerry not being a threat year 1 and a vendetta backfiring.

No biggie. We both love the Gophers!
 

Illinois maybe can also outperform that.
Sadly, I think Bert was an excellent hire for them, about as good as they could do.

Hopefully he won't have a ton of success there, but I could easily see him pulling that program up at least to what Brohm has done for Purdue (for whatever you think of that).
 

SOS is all well and good - but tell me this:

which team is going to sustain a key injury in week #3 or week #5.

the SOS is an on-paper estimation, based on both rosters at full strength.

But, once the season starts, teams are rarely at full strength.

sure, some games are decided by great plays. but a lot of games are decided by turnovers, penalties and injuries.

when it comes to matchups, an awful lot depends on which team is healthy the week of the game.
 

SOS is all well and good - but tell me this:

which team is going to sustain a key injury in week #3 or week #5.

the SOS is an on-paper estimation, based on both rosters at full strength.

But, once the season starts, teams are rarely at full strength.

sure, some games are decided by great plays. but a lot of games are decided by turnovers, penalties and injuries.

when it comes to matchups, an awful lot depends on which team is healthy the week of the game.
Yeah
The difference between schedules is pretty negligible
 



SOS is all well and good - but tell me this:

which team is going to sustain a key injury in week #3 or week #5.

the SOS is an on-paper estimation, based on both rosters at full strength.

But, once the season starts, teams are rarely at full strength.

sure, some games are decided by great plays. but a lot of games are decided by turnovers, penalties and injuries.

when it comes to matchups, an awful lot depends on which team is healthy the week of the game.
I would also add that SOS is based off the team(s) from last year. How many transfers did these teams bring in along with how many left the program and what holes did they fill, or were created by transfers? How was their recruiting from the previous year? I don't think these questions for the first 3 games are that relevant as the Gophers should roll in those games, but once we get to the conference opponents, I'd say good luck knowing how we stand up. I think we'll have a very good indication by week 5 (after 1 tough away game and 1 tough home game) of season direction and obviously yes, injuries 'could' play a large role as well.

Many people are discounting Illinois, even though they pretty much dominated on both sides of the ball last year against us (debatable to some, but that is what I saw). In theory this should be our least difficult conference road game but based off last year, and the fact BB has NEVER lost to the Gophers...yikes. I don't think our schedule is an easy one by any means and to me, this season, with NIL starting to play a role in roster configuration, will start to reveal how Fleck is attempting to make things work in this new environment.

I have to admit, I'm not as positive as I've been prior to the last 4 seasons. I've let it be known I think recruiting has slipped (others think it's 'changing' rather than sliding) and Fleck is no longer going after the recruits we all thought he would attract (I think everyone on this board thought recruiting got a 'significant' boost by him getting hired) upon his hiring. My guess is it's all due to NIL, but who knows.

Flecks teams have always overachieved (due to practice coaching, though I've never been to 1 practice but the players do get better) in my eyes and I'm very hopeful that will continue. His game day coaching, to me, has also left something to be desired due to what I see as his conservative play and this is an area he might have to change for past season results to be sustained (leaving out the covid year, 2020).

Will be a very telling year in my mind!
 
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Northwestern also gives up a home game to play Nebraska in Ireland to open the season. Prefer to open with a cupcake, like NMSU.

Miami is picked to win the MAC East. Bad draw for Fitz.

Southern Illinois is an FCS team like Western Illinois, but was a playoff team, ranked #17, and 5-3 in conference (WIU was 2-6).

Much rather face Rutgers than Maryland.

Much rather play Penn State than Ohio State.

And, yes playing Minnesota vs playing Northwes
The difference between the 22nd toughest in the nation and 64th is apparently playing:
Colorado, Northwestern, Michigan state, and Rutgers instead of duke, Maryland, Ohio state, and Minnesota


So what I’m saying is, there is really no difference between teams schedules
They play Miami, who may win the MAC, while we play NMSU.

Northwestern also gives up a home game to play Nebraska in Ireland to open the season. Prefer to open with a cupcake, like we do with NMSU.

Southern Illinois is an FCS team like Western Illinois, but was a playoff team, ranked #17, and 5-3 in conference (WIU was 2-6). Another edge for Gophs.

Much rather face Rutgers than Maryland.

Much rather play MSU than Ohio State.

Rather play dumpster fire Buffs than the Blue Devils.

And, yes playing Minnesota vs playing Northwestern is a big swing in sked difficulty.

So, in 6 out of 12 spots MN with better draw, plus NW giving up a home game and opening with a conference game...big difference and advantage here for MN.
 

Northwestern also gives up a home game to play Nebraska in Ireland to open the season. Prefer to open with a cupcake, like NMSU.

Miami is picked to win the MAC East. Bad draw for Fitz.

Southern Illinois is an FCS team like Western Illinois, but was a playoff team, ranked #17, and 5-3 in conference (WIU was 2-6).

Much rather face Rutgers than Maryland.

Much rather play Penn State than Ohio State.

And, yes playing Minnesota vs playing Northwes

They play Miami, who may win the MAC, while we play NMSU.

Northwestern also gives up a home game to play Nebraska in Ireland to open the season. Prefer to open with a cupcake, like we do with NMSU.

Southern Illinois is an FCS team like Western Illinois, but was a playoff team, ranked #17, and 5-3 in conference (WIU was 2-6). Another edge for Gophs.

Much rather face Rutgers than Maryland.

Much rather play MSU than Ohio State.

Rather play dumpster fire Buffs than the Blue Devils.

And, yes playing Minnesota vs playing Northwestern is a big swing in sked difficulty.

So, in 6 out of 12 spots MN with better draw, plus NW giving up a home game and opening with a conference game...big difference and advantage here for MN.
If your lead argument here is that NW plays the Mac favorite…you’ve made my argument for me there isn’t much difference

PS the Mac East champ was 7-7 last year.


As for Maryland or Rutgers. I’d rather play Maryland than Rutgers. Rutgers has a better coach. We won’t know that one until later but they’ll both be in the 5-7 win range

I guess you are right. Northwesterns FCS opponent could beat northwestern LoL
 

If your lead argument here is that NW plays the Mac favorite…you’ve made my argument for me there isn’t much difference

PS the Mac East champ was 7-7 last year.


As for Maryland or Rutgers. I’d rather play Maryland than Rutgers. Rutgers has a better coach. We won’t know that one until later but they’ll both be in the 5-7 win range

I guess you are right. Northwesterns FCS opponent could beat northwestern LoL

I think you drop the Gopher's projected win total down by a full game if they have Northwestern's schedule.

I don't agree on your take on Maryland / Rutgers. Despite recent progress, Maryland is still easily the better team, and Northwestern has to play Maryland on the road whereas Minnesota gets Rutgers at home (which should be a penciled in W).

I also don't agree with your take on Miami of Ohio. They're returning Brett Gabbert (Blaine's brother and the guy that very nearly knocked off the Gophers in his first ever start last year) and figure to be better than anyone on Minnesota's OOC schedule. I would rather play Colorado than Miami of Ohio.

Then you have to account for the fact that Minnesota would be a two touchdown dog to Ohio State (even at home), but should have a fighting chance against Michigan State on the road.

Probably the biggest swing, however, comes from the fact that Minnesota gets to play Northwestern whereas Northwestern has to play Minnesota.
 

I think you drop the Gopher's projected win total down by a full game if they have Northwestern's schedule.

I don't agree on your take on Maryland / Rutgers. Despite recent progress, Maryland is still easily the better team, and Northwestern has to play Maryland on the road whereas Minnesota gets Rutgers at home (which should be a penciled in W).

I also don't agree with your take on Miami of Ohio. They're returning Brett Gabbert (Blaine's brother and the guy that very nearly knocked off the Gophers in his first ever start last year) and figure to be better than anyone on Minnesota's OOC schedule. I would rather play Colorado than Miami of Ohio.

Then you have to account for the fact that Minnesota would be a two touchdown dog to Ohio State (even at home), but should have a fighting chance against Michigan State on the road.

Probably the biggest swing, however, comes from the fact that Minnesota gets to play Northwestern whereas Northwestern has to play Minnesota.
Minnesota is going 13-0 regardless of schedule
Northwestern going 3-9 regardless of schedule
 


I would also add that SOS is based off the team(s) from last year. How many transfers did these teams bring in along with how many left the program and what holes did they fill, or were created by transfers? How was their recruiting from the previous year? I don't think these questions for the first 3 games are that relevant as the Gophers should roll in those games, but once we get to the conference opponents, I'd say good luck knowing how we stand up. I think we'll have a very good indication by week 5 (after 1 tough away game and 1 tough home game) of season direction and obviously yes, injuries 'could' play a large role as well.

Many people are discounting Illinois, even though they pretty much dominated on both sides of the ball last year against us (debatable to some, but that is what I saw). In theory this should be our least difficult conference road game but based off last year, and the fact BB has NEVER lost to the Gophers...yikes. I don't think our schedule is an easy one by any means and to me, this season, with NIL starting to play a role in roster configuration, will start to reveal how Fleck is attempting to make things work in this new environment.

I have to admit, I'm not as positive as I've been prior to the last 4 seasons. I've let it be known I think recruiting has slipped (others think it's 'changing' rather than sliding) and Fleck is no longer going after the recruits we all thought he would attract (I think everyone on this board thought recruiting got a 'significant' boost by him getting hired) upon his hiring. My guess is it's all due to NIL, but who knows.

Flecks teams have always overachieved (due to practice coaching, though I've never been to 1 practice but the players do get better) in my eyes and I'm very hopeful that will continue. His game day coaching, to me, has also left something to be desired due to what I see as his conservative play and this is an area he might have to change for past season results to be sustained (leaving out the covid year, 2020).

Will be a very telling year in my mind!
Bolded: you look at their scores last year ... other than losing 0-24 to Wisconsin, they kept every game close or won it. Lost at Iowa 23-33, not bad. Upset Penn St on the road. Beat us on the road. Only lost at Purdue (huge rivalry for them) 9-13.

Like I said, I'm afraid that BB could pull up Illinois into something like what Brohm has done at Purdue, very quickly.

NW is always sneaky, you never know with Fitz.

Neb ... well.


Lot of good and/or upcoming programs in the West. It's a slog!
 

Schiano was Fleck's mentor. And he (Schiano) has already had a good run at Rutgers before, granted it was in the old Big East.

Having to play Penn St, Ohio St, and Michigan every year doesn't help. But will be interesting to see what he can achieve there in the Big Ten.

Plenty of talent in New Jersey and next door in Penn. If you can get them to pick Rutgers. They're upgrading some facilities now that they're starting to get a real taste of Big Ten money.
 




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