Brian Bennett says its year 4 under Kill, time to handle challenging schedule

[BleedGopher]

in ESPN Q&A:

DJ from Minneapolis writes: To maintain the raised level of fan interest in a crowded sports market, it's important for the Gophers to not take a step back from last season. However, with the schedule set up the way it is, it could be really difficult to match last season's total of eight wins. Knowing it's way early, what's your initial guess as to how many victories the Gophers could get out of this group of games: at TCU, at Michigan, versus Northwestern, versus Iowa, versus Ohio State, at Nebraska and at Wisconsin?

Brian Bennett: DJ, you're right that the schedule does Minnesota no favors, something Jerry Kill has mentioned a few times this offseason. It's not going to be easy. Yet the Gophers showed last year that they could be competitive against everyone and even beat a few teams they traditionally have struggled against, like Nebraska. I think the early game at TCU is huge. It's very important for Minnesota to get off to a good start and bank as many nonconference wins as possible before that rugged league slate kicks in. The Gophers also must play well at home, so those games against Northwestern and Iowa in particular loom large. If Kill's team could beat TCU and even go only 2-4 in that league stretch you mentioned, they'd still be set up well for a return to postseason. I don't like the Ohio State matchup for them, and the road games against Michigan, Nebraska and Wisconsin will be difficult. But it's Year 4 for Kill and his staff, and his team ought to be ready to handle these types of challenges now.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/103042/big-ten-monday-mailbag-42

Go Gophers!!

 

[#2Gopher]

Bring it on...withstanding injuries and if QB and receiver's can connect we should be ok.

 

[Bayfieldgopher]

I don't like the Ohio State matchup for them, and the road games against Michigan, Nebraska and Wisconsin will be difficult. But it's Year 4 for Kill and his staff, and his team ought to be ready to handle these types of challenges now.

Not so fast Bennett. So its year 8 or so for Fitz at NU and how would his team handle the Gopher schedule? Or how would he expect MSU or NE to do in year 4? If we had the Wisky cupcake schedule, other than at LSU and Iowa, I would say Kill would be better able to handle year 4. Three BIG wins maybe the max for this coming season.

My gut tells me that Kills team will be better in 2015.

 

[t-docious]

As the eternal gopher optimist, We will win ten games this year with losses to Ohio State and Wisconsin.

 

[Sparlimb]

As the eternal gopher optimist, We will win ten games this year with losses to Ohio State and Wisconsin.

That would be a hell of a year. Orange Bowl worthy...

 

[Curseislifted33]

We can beat Michigan on the road