Before the first game . . .

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Middle Tennessee State - Gopher Win
South Dakota - Gopher Win
USC - Gopher Loss
Northern Illininois - Gopher Win
Northwestern - Gopher Win
Wisconsin - Gopher Loss
Purdue - Gopher Loss
Penn state - Gopher Loss
Ohio State - Gopher Loss
Michigan State - Gopher Win
Illinois - Gopher Win
Iowa - Gopher Win

I see the Purdue game as a tough road game coming off what could be a devastating loss at Wisconsin. If we beat UW, my prediction is way off and the Gophers could have a fantastic year.
 

Middle Tennessee State - Win
South Dakota - Win
USC - Loss
Northern Illininois - Win
Northwestern - Win
Wisconsin - Loss
Purdue - Win
Penn State - Win
Ohio State - Loss
Michigan State - Loss
Illinois - Win
Iowa - Win

8-4, why not?
 

Middle Tennessee State - Win
South Dakota - Win
USC - Loss
Northern Illininois - Win
Northwestern - Win
Wisconsin - Loss
Purdue - Win
Penn State - Win
Ohio State - Loss
Michigan State - Loss
Illinois - Win
Iowa - Loss

7-5
 

Middle Tennessee State - W No Dasher, no chance.
South Dakota - W No way, no how.
USC - Gopher L We'll hang with them for a while, but I think our youth and inexperience will be our downfall.
Northern Illininois - W It's a MAC team at home albeit a good one, but still a MAC team.
Northwestern - W New QB and no dynamic running back. Plus we've improved at stopping spread teams. They run a lot
Wisconsin - L Just the opposite. They are solid on offense and should be ok on defense.
Purdue - W I'm not convinced. We handled these guys no problem last year.
Penn state - W Again, a new QB and at home. I like our chances.
Ohio State - L We always seem to find a way to lose to these guys even when they're not good. This year they're favored to win it all.
Michigan State - L I like Cousins and they seem to have a lot of solid guys on their squad.
Illinois - Gopher W New QB and an undersized defense.
Iowa - Gopher W REVENGE!
 

Middle Tennessee State - W
South Dakota - W
USC - L
Northern Illinois - W
Northwestern - W
Wisconsin - L
Purdue - W
Penn state -W
Ohio State - L
Michigan State - L
Illinois - W
Iowa -L

I will be at MTSU. For those of you predicting a UofM loss in this game; I say I hope your wrong. It would be the beginning of the end for our coach. He won't let that happen. This will be a resounding win. A 20 point victory.
 


Middle Tennessee State - Gopher Win
South Dakota - Gopher Win
USC - Gopher Loss
Northern Illininois - Gopher Win
Northwestern - Gopher Win
Wisconsin - Gopher Loss
Purdue - Gopher Win
Penn state - Gopher Loss
Ohio State - Gopher Loss
Michigan State - Gopher Loss
Illinois - Gopher Win
Iowa - Gopher Loss

Gophers 6-6
 

MTSU losing Dasher for the first game turns what should have been a surprisingly competitive game into a pretty easy game for the Gophers. Their best chance for the season is to get out of the gates fast and at least have a strong showing against USC that propels them to wins against teams like NIU and Northwestern, but with the turnover at linebacker and in the secondary I'm worried about what spread offenses are going to do to them. I also think they're going to be very vulnerable at the edges. I expect them to look strong early then fade.

Sep 2: @Middle Tennessee (W)
Sep 11: South Dakota (W)
Sep 18: USC (L)
Sep 25: Northern Illinois (L)*
Oct 02: Northwestern (L)*
Oct 09: @Wisconsin (L)
Oct 16: @Purdue (L)*
Oct 23: Penn State (L)
Oct 30: Ohio State (L)
Nov 06: @Michigan State(L)*
Nov 13: @Illinois (L)*
Nov 27: Iowa (L)

2-10. :(

I've asterisked the losses I expect them to be competitive in. If they can grow up in a hurry and the linebackers end up being a lot better than I expect those are the games they have a chance to pull something out in, but I don't feel confident enough to pencil them in as wins yet.
 

Khaliq said:
MTSU losing Dasher for the first game turns what should have been a surprisingly competitive game into a pretty easy game for the Gophers. Their best chance for the season is to get out of the gates fast and at least have a strong showing against USC that propels them to wins against teams like NIU and Northwestern, but with the turnover at linebacker and in the secondary I'm worried about what spread offenses are going to do to them. I also think they're going to be very vulnerable at the edges. I expect them to look strong early then fade.

Sep 2: @Middle Tennessee (W)
Sep 11: South Dakota (W)
Sep 18: USC (L)
Sep 25: Northern Illinois (L)*
Oct 02: Northwestern (L)*
Oct 09: @Wisconsin (L)
Oct 16: @Purdue (L)*
Oct 23: Penn State (L)
Oct 30: Ohio State (L)
Nov 06: @Michigan State(L)*
Nov 13: @Illinois (L)*
Nov 27: Iowa (L)

2-10. :(

I've italicized the losses I expect them to be competitive in. If they can grow up in a hurry and the linebackers end up being a lot better than I expect those are the games they have a chance to pull something out in, but I don't feel confident enough to pencil them in as wins yet.
Click to expand...

None of the losses are italicized...
 

Sorry I meant to say I asterisked, my bad.
 



MTSU- Win
South Dakota- Win
USC- Win
Northern Illinois- Win
Northwestern- Win
Wisconsin- Win
Purdue- Loss
Penn State- Win
Ohio State- Loss
Michigan State- Loss
Illinois- Win
Iowa- Win

9-3. A trip to the Outback Bowl. We beat Auburn.
 

MTSU- Win
South Dakota- Win
USC- Loss
Northern Illinois- Win
Northwestern- Win
Wisconsin- Loss
Purdue- Loss
Penn State- Loss
Ohio State- Loss
Michigan State- Loss
Illinois- Loss
Iowa- Loss

4-8. I can see a fifth, but the sixth is tough to find. :(

I hope we'll be better; it's just easier for me to expect we'll be brutally bad.
 

MTSU- Win
South Dakota- Win
USC- Loss
Northern Illinois- Win
Northwestern- Loss
Wisconsin- Win
Purdue- Win
Penn State- Loss
Ohio State- Loss
Michigan State- Win
Illinois- Win
Iowa- Win

That's right. 8-4 wins over Badgers and hawkeyes!!
 

I love the optimism on this board right now. I also like the fact that multiple well reasoned posters (like Schnoodler) feel better about this team now than they did in the spring.

http://www.forums.gopherhole.com/boards/showthread.php?p=222896#post222896

Earlier this year I predicted 7-5, 4-4 in the Big Ten

I have been impressed with the way the Gophers have developed since last season's end. I like quiet confidence of Brew, the fact that Weber is focused and clear headed (and realizes in the past he spent too much time thinking about how to throw the ball). I'm happy that one of the true frosh RBs has stood out enough to give us hope going into the year, and also impressed that James Manuel has played himself into the discussion so quickly.

So I'm making a slight tweak to my predictions.

MTSU--W
SD-W
USC--L, close game with upset potential

NIU--W, THIS is now our toughest non-USC OOC game.
Northwestern--W, in my opinion the 'Cats are really gonna struggle early in the year due to the new QB, loss of 3 all-conference types in the secondary, and no discernible running game.

Wisconsin--W, see the other thread for my reasoning in this one. Remember, The Gophers have played Wisky tough the last two years. I think our improved size and athleticism up front, coupled with our depth and athleticism at LB puts us over the top here. Also, Bucky doesn't have a viable backup QB

Purdue-W--Boilers are everyone's trendy surprise team pick. I don't agree.

Ohio State--L

Illiinois--W--I expect the Gophers to win big here. Weber, and the team, will symbolically come full circle from his triumph here in '08.

so that's 7-2. The Gophers other 3 games are against Michigan State, Penn State, and Iowa. I expect the Gophers to win 1 out of these 3 games. I'm leaning towards Michigan State here, cause the Gophers have owned Sparty for awhile. However, I could see the Gophers beating either Penn State (because of the potentially poor QB play, or Iowa--who is due for some bad breaks after last year's cinderella/'angels in the outfield' type performance

Gophers 8-4, 5-3 Big Ten, and if the Gophers win 8+ with a bowl win I'm also predicting a top 30 recruiting class out of Brew this year.
 



MTSU- Win
South Dakota- Win
USC- Loss
Northern Illinois- Win
Northwestern- Win
Wisconsin- Win
Purdue- Loss
Penn State- Win
Ohio State- Loss
Michigan State- Loss
Illinois- Loss
Iowa- Loss

6-6 with a win on the road at Madison that saves Brewsters job. Young team fades at the end.
 

Lots of positive hopers in here. I'm going to be more pessimistic and a debbie downer. If we win more than 4 games I'll be surprised.

Adam Weber is QBing, which means we'll rarely score over 17 points in a game. Unless the defense is monstrous, which I believe it will be average Big Ten, then I predict at least one loss between MTSU, SDU, and NIU, and I predict no more than 2 Big Ten victories. Outside of the 3 OOC games, USC and the Big Ten sched. is brutal. So, I predict a 4-win season. I so hope they prove me wrong! I just have zero confidence in a QB to lead a team who can't put it within 5 feet of a receiver 5 yards away.

Sorry. :-(
-cnc
 

i dont care if we go 2-10 as long as the wins are iowa and wisconsin
 

W - MTSU
W - So Dak
L - So Cal
W - N Illinois
W - N'western
W - Wisconsin
L - Purdue
L - Penn St
L - Ohio St
L - Mich St
W - Illinois
L - Iowa

So many games are really a toss up, but we've played wisc tough as of late, and I think we can surprise them. Of course, I think Purdue will knock us back to reality the following week for that reason. -or- maybe we lose the axe, but beat Purdue. Either way, 6-6.
 

I'll go with 6-6

Losses to USC, OSU, PSU, Wisky, Iowa, and MSU.

Just enough for Brew to keep his job another year.
 

Middle Tennessee State - Gopher Win
South Dakota - Gopher Win
USC - Gopher Loss
Northern Illininois - Gopher Win
Northwestern - Gopher Win
Wisconsin - Gopher Loss
Purdue - Gopher Win
Penn state - Gopher Loss
Ohio State - Gopher Loss
Michigan State - Gopher Loss
Illinois - Gopher Win
Iowa - Gopher Loss

6-6
 

MTSU - Win
South Dakota - Win
USC - Loss
Northern Illinois - Win
Northwestern - Win
Wisconsin - Loss
Purdue- Loss
Penn State - Win
Ohio State - Loss
Michigan State - Loss
Illinois - Win
Iowa - Loss


6-6 I guess, but I could easily see 7-5 or 4-8. I'd like to think we can take a couple people by surprise this year. It's just amazing that everyone wrote us off months before the season started. Now is Brew's chance to prove everyone wrong or to watch his back after the season is done.

Coach 'em up Brew.
 

9-4

I'll play along

MTSU- Win
South Dakota- Win
USC- Loss
Northern Illinois- Win
Northwestern- Win
Wisconsin- Loss
Purdue- Win
Penn State- Loss
Ohio State- Loss
Michigan State- Win
Illinois- Win
Iowa- Win

Bowl game-- Win

9-4 (5-3)
 

Key game of the year is against Northwestern. Having not seen the team play against any real opponent yet, I have no idea how good we are. I have also not seen any of our opponents play and therefore have no idea how good they are. The team will be swimming up stream if the NU game at home is lost.

Go Gophers!!
 

I like reading all the optomistic predictions. I have no reason to believe this team is worse than last year and a few reasons to believe it might be better than last year. Therefore my prediction is 6-6 for the second straight year, which I will consider a disappointing season. I think there will be one or two losses that we will consider "bad losses" and one or two wins that we will consider "good wins". I think the closing 3 games after tOSU are interesting: Michigan State, Illinois, Iowa. Brewster has really struggled in November and how the Gophers play after Ohio State will have a huge bearing on the season, I 'd really like to see them finish at least 2-1.
 

Middle Tennessee State - Loss
South Dakota - Win
USC - Loss
Northern Illininois - Win
Northwestern - Win
Wisconsin - Win
Purdue - Win
Penn state - Loss
Ohio State - Win
Michigan State - Win
Illinois - Win
Iowa - Win

9-3 overall. I think we'll get better as the year goes on - for once - as the youngsters on D gain some experience.
 

@MTSU- L 24-17 (Dasher replacement inspires victory, Gopher offense doesn't do enough) 0-1

South Dakota- W 31-13 (Slow start, but we actually establish the run in the 2nd half) 1-1

USC- W 20-18 (Miraculous ricochet-tipped ball falls into Bryant Allen's hands and he scampers 80 yards for TD with a minute left in game) 2-1

Northern Illinois- L 30-27 OT (Natural let down after USC, sloppy turnovers, and poor tackling) 2-2

Northwestern- W 35-21 (Weber has big day) 3-2(1-0)

@Wisconsin- L 34-17 (Can't stop Clay) 3-3 (1-1)

@Purdue- W 37-33 (Gray is instrumental in huge comback win, Gophs trail 24-7 at half) 4-3 (2-1)

Penn State- W 21-14 (Defense comes up with a handful of huge turnovers) 5-3 (3-1)

Ohio State- L 24-20 (After local media stupidly hypes our RoseBowl chances, Gophers play their hearts out for three qtrs against #1 OSU and lead 17-3. Dumb penalties, a special teams blunder, and questionable coaching decisions let the Buckeyes sneak away with comeback win) 5-4 (3-2)

@Michigan State- L 20-13 (Gophers have a chance late, but cannot mount game-tying drive) 5-5 (3-3)

@Illinois- L 28-14 (Close game throughout, but Illini score late to seal victory) 5-6 (3-4)

Iowa- W 24-2 (Aided by horrendous weather, Gophers dominate the 5th ranked Hawkeyes throughout, shut down run, and stifle the Iowa passing game with pressure, INTs and batted balls. Offense gets job done w/o any turnovers. Orseske wisely runs out of the back of his own endzone for a safety after a bad snap on a punt with a couple minutes left) 6-6 (4-4)

vs. Oklahoma State in something called the Dallas Football Classic Bowl (look it up, it's new)
L 45-41 (Gray catches 2 TD passes and throws another late, but not enough to stop Cowboys in a shootout) 6-7 (4-4)

It'll be a fun season, folks....let's enjoy it!
 

My four keys to the season:
Offesive line. There are many questions here. A much improved offensive line with mean a better running attack which will also mean a better passing attack. A little to no improved offensive line and there will be no rushing attack, no passing attack and a slew of injuries to key players. The Gopers must be able to run the ball.

Defensive package. There are too many new faces. A couple key injuries to a linebacker or two could be devistating. If teams like Wisconsin, Iowa, OSU, PSU, MSU, Purdue, NU and Illinois can run well to at will against the defense, this is going to be a very long season. The Gophers must be able to stop the run.

Running game. Two running backs must step up big-time for the Gophers. If not, the quarterback position will be hard to predict. Both from a preformance and passing perspective as well as from a "staying healthy" perspective. That Weber has been able to stay 80% healthy with the pounding he has taken over the years is almost unbelievable. Lose him, and I sadly believe it will be hard to find many students in the student section when the winds blow cold and the rain and sleet ice and glaze the palace we call TCF BANK STADIUM. That would also bode poorly for the Gopher win totals. The Gopher running backs must step up and must rush for 160 to 175 yards per game. Take the heat off the qb and keep the defense off the field for as much as possible. Field position, this team must win the battle for field position against the teams they have a chance to beat.

Much good fortune on the injury/disciplinary action side of the 2010 season. If the Gophers can stay completely healthy and stay away from academic and legal problems, they can stay more competetive than they will if injuries and suspensions occur. With as young a team as some say they have, strength, mental toughness, discipline and staying free from injuries and problems constitute some of my biggest concerns for this years edition of Golden Gopher Football.

Best case. 5-7.

Worst case. 3-9.

Most likely wins. Middle Tennessee, South Dakota, NIU. Quite possibly all three.

Possible wins. USC, NU, Illinois, but not all three.

Not in the cards this year. OSU, PSU, Iowa, Wisconsin, Purdue, MSU.

I sincerely do hope I am totally "out to lunch" with what I see shaping up. I am extremely worried about the offensive line, a few too key injuries and lack of experience on defense.

Hang on to the ball Gopher receivers and running backs and quarterbacks. Hang on to the ball.

I will be there cheering the Gophers on win or lose. Stay healthy Gophers. Stay focused Gophers. One game at a time Gophers. Good luck!
 

Not a "game-by-game" prediction, but...

Will win or I will pull every hair out of my my head
South Dakota

Should win, but will screw one up
MTSU
Northern Illinois
Illinois
Northwestern

Split Decision
Purdue
Michigan State

one beatdown, three hard-fought losses and finally a victory over a rival or ranked team
USC
Wisconsin
Penn State
Ohio State
Iowa

That gets us to 6-6. But we'll be the best 6-6 team that CFB has seen in a long time and will end December with a big bowl victory and tons of optimism for 2011.
 

MTSU- Win
South Dakota- Win
USC- Loss
Northern Illinois- Win
Northwestern- Win
Wisconsin- Loss
Purdue- Win
Penn State- Win
Ohio State- Loss
Michigan State- Loss
Illinois- Win
Iowa- Loss

Bowl game win

8 - 5 plus a happy gopher nation.
 

Outback Bowl

Middle Tennessee State - Gopher Win
South Dakota - Gopher Win
USC - Gopher Win
Northern Illininois - Gopher Win
Northwestern - Gopher Win
Wisconsin - Gopher Win
Purdue - Gopher Win
Penn state - Gopher Win
Ohio State - Gopher Loss
Michigan State - Gopher Loss
Illinois - Gopher Loss
Iowa - Gopher Win

9-3 OUTBACK BOWL
 

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