Gold Rush
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2008
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This is undoubtedly a big game and just getting tickets right now are pretty tough to come by under 180.00 a seat. Gopher fans all know this will be a tough one against a tough opponent but there is a pretty big difference in this one compared to other recent games in the rivalry - Gopher players and fans are really pumped for this one.
- In his last 7 games as a dog, PJ Fleck's teams are 6-1 straight up and the game they lost at Iowa as 3.5 dogs was by 4 after the kicker missed a FG and extra point and the star receiver dropped an easy pass at the goal line that would have given them the lead. This is an amazing stat. Those are elite, Bill Belichick-type numbers.
- The Gophers have been underrated all year - they are 7-1 against the spread vs Big Ten teams this year. That game vs. Northwestern opened at just 7 points, and went all the way up to 16 by the end. Vegas got beat up pretty bad on that one.
- The Gophers won their 7th Big Ten game last week - the first time in their history. This time - they could actually make it 8 with a win here.
- I don't think the team comes out flat, like they did vs. Iowa. I expect the home town crowd to be jacked on Senior Day that will be an emotional game for the players and fans. The seniors have been a very special group for this team.
- The Gophers are not going to come out HOPING to win, they are going to come out EXPECTING to win and there is a big difference. The confidence comes from how well they have played this year, but also the 37-15 thrashing they gave them in Madison last year. That game wasn't even that close, either - they beat the tar out of that team until they allowed a late TD.
- The Badgers have not been nearly as dominant on the road as they have been at home. Their debacle at Illinois and the sound 38-7 beating OSU game them a few weeks ago both came on the road.
- The Badgers will travel to Minneapolis with thousands of fans, but something is different this time. They gave BACK hundreds of tickets this time - usually they are grabbing every ticket they can get. I guess it's always fun to go on the road to be just about guaranteed to see your team win, but when there is considerable doubt as there is this year - you give the tickets back and watch it on TV. THEY know this isn't going to be easy too.
- I don't see Gopher fans as being overconfident this year, I think most are grounded and know full well Wisconsin could come in and knock off the Gophers as they have done so many times in the past, but this time it's different. They know this team has a much better chance than they have in years past - I would say equal and a coin flip game that could go either way.
- The Badgers might have the edge in their running game, but the Gophers have a decisive edge in the passing game. I do not think Mo Ibrahim will have more rushing yards than Jonathon Taylor as he did last year, but Tanner Morgan probably throws for a lot more than the 124 yards he did vs. the Badgers last year, too!
- Last year, the Badgers turned it over 4 times, and I am also not expecting that as unfortunately their QB Alex Hornibrook has moved on, but Wisconsin has been turning the ball over a lot lately and we could see a couple costly turnovers here too. Hopefully the defense can capitalize on Badger mistakes as they did last year.
This is the big one and it's all on the line. College GameDay, The Ax, The Rose Bowl and the Western Division Championship. It's down to just the two card players and all the chips are in the middle of the table. Let's go and get this one. Row the boat all the way to Pasadena!!
- In his last 7 games as a dog, PJ Fleck's teams are 6-1 straight up and the game they lost at Iowa as 3.5 dogs was by 4 after the kicker missed a FG and extra point and the star receiver dropped an easy pass at the goal line that would have given them the lead. This is an amazing stat. Those are elite, Bill Belichick-type numbers.
- The Gophers have been underrated all year - they are 7-1 against the spread vs Big Ten teams this year. That game vs. Northwestern opened at just 7 points, and went all the way up to 16 by the end. Vegas got beat up pretty bad on that one.
- The Gophers won their 7th Big Ten game last week - the first time in their history. This time - they could actually make it 8 with a win here.
- I don't think the team comes out flat, like they did vs. Iowa. I expect the home town crowd to be jacked on Senior Day that will be an emotional game for the players and fans. The seniors have been a very special group for this team.
- The Gophers are not going to come out HOPING to win, they are going to come out EXPECTING to win and there is a big difference. The confidence comes from how well they have played this year, but also the 37-15 thrashing they gave them in Madison last year. That game wasn't even that close, either - they beat the tar out of that team until they allowed a late TD.
- The Badgers have not been nearly as dominant on the road as they have been at home. Their debacle at Illinois and the sound 38-7 beating OSU game them a few weeks ago both came on the road.
- The Badgers will travel to Minneapolis with thousands of fans, but something is different this time. They gave BACK hundreds of tickets this time - usually they are grabbing every ticket they can get. I guess it's always fun to go on the road to be just about guaranteed to see your team win, but when there is considerable doubt as there is this year - you give the tickets back and watch it on TV. THEY know this isn't going to be easy too.
- I don't see Gopher fans as being overconfident this year, I think most are grounded and know full well Wisconsin could come in and knock off the Gophers as they have done so many times in the past, but this time it's different. They know this team has a much better chance than they have in years past - I would say equal and a coin flip game that could go either way.
- The Badgers might have the edge in their running game, but the Gophers have a decisive edge in the passing game. I do not think Mo Ibrahim will have more rushing yards than Jonathon Taylor as he did last year, but Tanner Morgan probably throws for a lot more than the 124 yards he did vs. the Badgers last year, too!
- Last year, the Badgers turned it over 4 times, and I am also not expecting that as unfortunately their QB Alex Hornibrook has moved on, but Wisconsin has been turning the ball over a lot lately and we could see a couple costly turnovers here too. Hopefully the defense can capitalize on Badger mistakes as they did last year.
This is the big one and it's all on the line. College GameDay, The Ax, The Rose Bowl and the Western Division Championship. It's down to just the two card players and all the chips are in the middle of the table. Let's go and get this one. Row the boat all the way to Pasadena!!
