Big Ten West Division. Why not us?

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Stan

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There isn't a great team in the division. Northwestern has the early edge having beat Penn State on the road and now a nice home win over a good division foe. If we beat them this week we are in the exact spot they are in today, with a road win and a nice home win against a good division foe. So I ask Gopher fans, why not us?
 

No reason. IMHO after this weekend Gophers are the favorites in the West.
 

Stan said:
There isn't a great team in the division. Northwestern has the early edge having beat Penn State on the road and now a nice home win over a good division foe. If we beat them this week we are in the exact spot they are in today, with a road win and a nice home win against a good division foe. So I ask Gopher fans, why not us?
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If we win we are 2-0. Northwestern would be 2-1 and we would be in first place in the division.
 

Mick Turition said:
No reason. IMHO after this weekend Gophers are the favorites in the West.
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I don't agree with that. Northwestern comes in with two impressive wins and will be a tough test. Both teams still need to play Iowa and Nebraska. Truth is, the division winner will not be 8-0. 6-2 will probably be enough and maybe even 5-3 (in a 3 way tie).
 

Sparlimb said:
I don't agree with that. Northwestern comes in with two impressive wins and will be a tough test. Both teams still need to play Iowa and Nebraska. Truth is, the division winner will not be 8-0. 6-2 will probably be enough and maybe even 5-3 (in a 3 way tie).[/B]
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+1. With a win vs NW the Gophs are in good shape, but the four-game stretch to end the year is obviously brutal. Hard to foresee the Gophers pulling off more than two wins even if they are playing really well.
 


Mick Turition said:
No reason. IMHO after this weekend Gophers are the favorites in the West.
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Favorites? I'll have what you're having. It's still Nebraska's division to lose. In my opinion, Nebraska is at the top, and then Wisconsin a step below that, and then Iowa, Minnesota and Northwestern a half step below that.
 

Nebraska's key games: @NW (10/18), @ WIS (11/15), vs. MN (11/22), @ IOWA (11/29).
Wisconsin's key games: vs. NEB (11/15), @ IOWA (11/22), vs. MN (11/29). Also play Maryland and @ Rutgers, which aren't gimmes.
Iowa's key games: @ MN (11/8), vs. WIS (11/22), vs. NEB (11/28). Also play @ Maryland and vs. NW.

I'd say Iowa, Gophers, and especially NW have an early leg up with undefeated Big 10 records, but if I had to take Nebraska/Wisconsin or the field in the West I'd take NEB/Wisconsin.
 

Run the ball well, play solid (sometimes spectacular) defense and win the turnover battle and you can play with any team on any field. Can't wait for Saturday.
 

I'll have the drugs you're taking. You place northwestern below Wisconsin. Northwestern just beat a Wisconsin team that is fatally flawed ( at the moment). Nebraska is beatable. Lets just take one game at a time though. A lot can change by November.
 



afurry91 said:
Favorites? I'll have what you're having. It's still Nebraska's division to lose. In my opinion, Nebraska is at the top, and then Wisconsin a step below that, and then Iowa, Minnesota and Northwestern a half step below that.
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Did you watch the Wisconsin game today? Very unimpressive. I was still buying the Badgers but not any longer. Major issues at QB. Agree that Nebraska the favorite, but bottom line is they're already a game back.
 

The real bottom line is that as of right now, we control our own destiny.
 

Nebraska has to beat Wisconsin and probably will. But there are so many upsets these days, there could be a division tie.
 

It's well down the road, but there's that better than negligible chance that we start the conference season 5-0. While next week is a toss up, we get the Cats at home, before our dumpster fire stretch vs Purdue and Illinois. Iowa is a rivalry game, toss up.

I agree that a 6-2 record may win the division this year ... we could get there with a win over OSU on 11/15 in what would ultimately be the biggest game in TCF history. Here's to hoping the fans do their part over the next couple months.
 



We all have to play each other but it might come down to which team we have to play in the east. We drew a tough one with OSU and Nebraska drew a tough one with MSU on the road.:
MN: @Mich-W / OSU
NW: @PSU-W / Mich
Iowa: IND /@Maryland
Neb: @MSU-L /Rutgers
Wisc: Maryland / @ Rutgers

Let's hope Maryland and Rutgers continue to do well.
 


SelectionSunday said:
Did you watch the Wisconsin game today? Very unimpressive. I was still buying the Badgers but not any longer. Major issues at QB. Agree that Nebraska the favorite, but bottom line is they're already a game back.
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Not really because if they beat everyone in the west they'll have the tie breaker.

So they still control their own destiny.

As far as Wisconsin. 4 turnovers was a fluke.
 

Its no fluke Wisky had 4 pics, they are very weak at QB.
 


I think it is clear the two best teams in the conference this year reside in the east (MSU and OSU). Outside of those two nobody has really stood out as being head and shoulders above their competition. Things will shake out in the next few weeks but given the fact that nobody in the west has looked unbeatable I would think we can certainly be in the mix. Realistically though we need to win these next three to have any shot to be in contention heading into that final 4 game stretch.
 

MNVCGUY said:
I think it is clear the two best teams in the conference this year reside in the east (MSU and OSU). Outside of those two nobody has really stood out as being head and shoulders above their competition. Things will shake out in the next few weeks but given the fact that nobody in the west has looked unbeatable I would think we can certainly be in the mix. Realistically though we need to win these next three to have any shot to be in contention heading into that final 4 game stretch.
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Nebraska showed a lot of toughness last night and nearly came back to beat MSU on the road. I would put NE in that group and say the three are the top teams right now.
 

why not us?

lets take it game by game and see if we can get by Northwestern first?

Penn State couldn't and Wisconsin couldn't.

I hope we are not taking this next game for granted. they will put a hurt on us if we take them lightly
 

DoubleB said:
why not us?

lets take it game by game and see if we can get by Northwestern first?

Penn State couldn't and Wisconsin couldn't.

I hope we are not taking this next game for granted. they will put a hurt on us if we take them lightly
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There is no chance we take NW lightly after these last two weekends.
 

And the minute that the Michigan game was over, Kill and Co. went to work on NW while NW went to work on Wisconsin first. They aren't looking past anybody.
 

This is how I see the remainder of this unfolding:

Really ought to win: Pur, @Ill
Really ought to lose: OSU, @Neb
Probably we lose: @wis
Probably we win: NW
Tossup: Iowa

Really glad we have the virtual tossups NW and Iowa at home this year. Kinnick has been a tough nut for us to crack, despite the fact that Iowa has been only marginally better than us, on average, these past handful of years. We stand a much better chance at home, IMO. And while I realize that NW has the capability to go into a tough environment and dominate (see @PSU), I feel way more comfortable at home. There is a much higher potential for a zero-confidence, turnover prone, "wheels-fall-off" game on the road (see us @TCU).

Of course the flip side of this means road trips to Lincoln and Madison, so.... that turns games against teams we do have a quite decent chance of beating into much more herculean tasks. Whole lot can change though. Look how our season turned on a dime last season vs. the Wildcats. Very important game, IMO.
 

MrGopher said:
This is how I see the remainder of this unfolding:

Really ought to win: Pur, @Ill
Really ought to lose: OSU, @Neb
Probably we lose: @wis
Probably we win: NW
Tossup: Iowa

Really glad we have the virtual tossups NW and Iowa at home this year. Kinnick has been a tough nut for us to crack, despite the fact that Iowa has been only marginally better than us, on average, these past handful of years. We stand a much better chance at home, IMO. And while I realize that NW has the capability to go into a tough environment and dominate (see @PSU), I feel way more comfortable at home. There is a much higher potential for a zero-confidence, turnover prone, "wheels-fall-off" game on the road (see us @TCU).

Of course the flip side of this means road trips to Lincoln and Madison, so.... that turns games against teams we do have a quite decent chance of beating into much more herculean tasks. Whole lot can change though. Look how our season turned on a dime last season vs. the Wildcats. Very important game, IMO.
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Win the the three you listed and the toss up and I'll happily take a 5-3 conference record into bowl season.
 

MrGopher said:
This is how I see the remainder of this unfolding:

Really ought to win: Pur, @Ill
Really ought to lose: OSU, @Neb
Probably we lose: @wis
Probably we win: NW
Tossup: Iowa

Really glad we have the virtual tossups NW and Iowa at home this year. Kinnick has been a tough nut for us to crack, despite the fact that Iowa has been only marginally better than us, on average, these past handful of years. We stand a much better chance at home, IMO. And while I realize that NW has the capability to go into a tough environment and dominate (see @PSU), I feel way more comfortable at home. There is a much higher potential for a zero-confidence, turnover prone, "wheels-fall-off" game on the road (see us @TCU).

Of course the flip side of this means road trips to Lincoln and Madison, so.... that turns games against teams we do have a quite decent chance of beating into much more herculean tasks. Whole lot can change though. Look how our season turned on a dime last season vs. the Wildcats. Very important game, IMO.
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I agree with your assessment. If we are 5-3, that would be progress. I really want the Pig and the Axe.
 

GophersInIowa said:
Nebraska showed a lot of toughness last night and nearly came back to beat MSU on the road. I would put NE in that group and say the three are the top teams right now.
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Agree. I thought that was really impressive on Nebraska's part, how they kept on fighting and came almost all the way back. Down 27-3 in the 4th quarter on the road and in the rain, they could have quite easily just packed it in. And Tommy Armstrong Jr., wow. Let no one ever doubt that kid's toughness, as he got the ever-loving holy hell beat out of himself all game long, but he just kept getting back up. Anyhow, I expect the Huskers to be in the West race right to the very end.

RE: that game though, I thought Sparty's playcalling was kind of questionable once they took the 27-3 lead. Connor Cook's accuracy was off all night, yet they still kept throwing it, and from the point of that largest lead they had three 3 and outs which in total took less than 2:30 off the clock. I thought that was a little strange, as between the Langford/Hill combo, one would think they would certainly be able to and wish to run out the clock before the game ever even got close to slipping away from them like that.
 

Breakin' The Plane said:
Run the ball well, play solid (sometimes spectacular) defense and win the turnover battle and you can play with any team on any field. Can't wait for Saturday.
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That was Northwestern's formula in 1995. Minny has a good shot at the west title. It's going to be a crazy race this year.
 

one game at a time

i agree 5-3 conference record would be something we would all take but lets get the next one first!

I am nervous about NU they seemed like an easy win early but lately they are a different team. Fitz is one of the coaches i respect the most as I beleive they try to win the right way. they are like us with always having to hear about the power schools in our conference and it gets old looking up all the time.
 

Beat Northwestern that is what matters this week!

Win the day Saturday and beat the Wildcats. Each win in the comming weeks means one closer to the goal of a Big 10 West title. Why not the Gophers yes, it can be done, but win this week. This is as important a game especially a home game that we have had in a long time.
Put the jug away, each Victory is important, but last game is in the past. It is time to get serious and beat Northwestern, remember what MaxJR said, Northwestern has not lost in Minnesota in 10 years, so it is a long time comming, and the Gophers are due to kick those guys butts at the bank, and send a message to the rest of the Big 10 that the Gophers are a true threat. Gophers owe Northwestern their best and to put it on those guys.
Go Gophers
 

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