BilldGopher
Section 211
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2008
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CFN is up:
Here's the link: http://cfn.scout.com/2/1013670.html
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Penn State (3-3) at Minnesota (1-6) Oct. 23, 12:00, ESPNU
Here’s The Deal … In 1999, Minnesota strolled into Happy Valley to face an unbeaten Penn State team that appeared destined to play for the national title. With a miracle finish and a last-second kick for a 24-23 win, the Gophers went on to win the rest of their games to earn a berth in the Sun Bowl. The repeated the feat in 2000 with a 25-16 win over the Nittany Lions, and they won in 2003 and 2004. Those were the good old days. Now the program is canning Tim Brewster, who lost 20-0 to Penn State last year in his only shot against Joe Paterno, and that started a run of 11 losses to FBS teams in 13 games. This year, after beating Middle Tennessee in the opener, the Gophers can’t buy a break on a six-game losing streak that will only get uglier with Ohio State, at Michigan State, at Illinois, and Iowa to close out the Brewster era. But first, they get to take their shots at a Penn State team that isn’t exactly setting the world on fire.
Why Penn State Might Win: Finally, FINALLY, Penn State should be able to run the ball. There’s way too much talent in the Nittany Lion backfield, particularly Evan Royster, to not be able to pound away a bit, and there shouldn’t be any problem against the Gopher run defense that’s getting gashed in chunks. Minnesota is 118th in the nation in pass efficiency defense, but the bigger problem is the miserable play from the line that’s last in the nation in sacks and is giving up 201 rushing yards per game. South Dakota ran for 92 yards, but scored three times. Everyone else has been able to rumble at will as USC, Northern Illinois, Wisconsin, and Purdue have all rolled for 200 yards or more. Penn State hasn’t been able to run because everyone is daring Robert Bolden to throw. Minnesota can’t allow the Nittany Lions to do either one. But …
Why Minnesota Might Win: Penn State’s offense just isn’t scoring. It doesn’t matter if it’s Kent State, Temple, or Iowa; the offense doesn’t put points on the board. Penn State is currently 108th in the nation in scoring offense, but that includes the 44 points scored against Youngstown State. Take out that layup against an FCSer, and Penn State is averaging 13 points per game – only four teams are averaging fewer. Now the pressure is off Minnesota. Brewster is done, the season is done, and there’s no need to fight for the coach. The team can just let it fly and see what happens.
What To Watch Out For: After spending last year as a reserve, Penn State senior Chris Colasanti has stepped to become the team’s top tackler. The 6-2, 238-pounder is a big hitter and a tough tackler against the run, but he has limited range … it doesn’t matter. He's a central casting middle linebacker with no neck and a thick body, but he's hardly a prototypical jock with the smarts to be in the hunt for Academic All-America honors. The Big Ten’s leading tackler with 59, including a whopping 18 against Illinois two weeks ago, he’s the rock in the middle of a decent, but not great run defense.
What Will Happen: With two weeks off to sit and stew on a two-game losing streak, getting outscored by Iowa and Illinois by a combined score of 57 to 16, Penn State will come up with one of its best games in weeks … and so will Minnesota. The Gopher offense will work just well enough to keep it interesting, but Penn State will come up with a key special teams play and will benefit from the typical Gopher second half breakdown to come away with the win.
CFN Prediction: Penn State 24 … Minnesota 16 … Line: Penn State -9.5
Must See Rating: Due Date – 5 … Tracy Morgan: Black and Blue -1 … 2
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Go Gophers! Beat the Lions!
Here's the link: http://cfn.scout.com/2/1013670.html
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Penn State (3-3) at Minnesota (1-6) Oct. 23, 12:00, ESPNU
Here’s The Deal … In 1999, Minnesota strolled into Happy Valley to face an unbeaten Penn State team that appeared destined to play for the national title. With a miracle finish and a last-second kick for a 24-23 win, the Gophers went on to win the rest of their games to earn a berth in the Sun Bowl. The repeated the feat in 2000 with a 25-16 win over the Nittany Lions, and they won in 2003 and 2004. Those were the good old days. Now the program is canning Tim Brewster, who lost 20-0 to Penn State last year in his only shot against Joe Paterno, and that started a run of 11 losses to FBS teams in 13 games. This year, after beating Middle Tennessee in the opener, the Gophers can’t buy a break on a six-game losing streak that will only get uglier with Ohio State, at Michigan State, at Illinois, and Iowa to close out the Brewster era. But first, they get to take their shots at a Penn State team that isn’t exactly setting the world on fire.
Why Penn State Might Win: Finally, FINALLY, Penn State should be able to run the ball. There’s way too much talent in the Nittany Lion backfield, particularly Evan Royster, to not be able to pound away a bit, and there shouldn’t be any problem against the Gopher run defense that’s getting gashed in chunks. Minnesota is 118th in the nation in pass efficiency defense, but the bigger problem is the miserable play from the line that’s last in the nation in sacks and is giving up 201 rushing yards per game. South Dakota ran for 92 yards, but scored three times. Everyone else has been able to rumble at will as USC, Northern Illinois, Wisconsin, and Purdue have all rolled for 200 yards or more. Penn State hasn’t been able to run because everyone is daring Robert Bolden to throw. Minnesota can’t allow the Nittany Lions to do either one. But …
Why Minnesota Might Win: Penn State’s offense just isn’t scoring. It doesn’t matter if it’s Kent State, Temple, or Iowa; the offense doesn’t put points on the board. Penn State is currently 108th in the nation in scoring offense, but that includes the 44 points scored against Youngstown State. Take out that layup against an FCSer, and Penn State is averaging 13 points per game – only four teams are averaging fewer. Now the pressure is off Minnesota. Brewster is done, the season is done, and there’s no need to fight for the coach. The team can just let it fly and see what happens.
What To Watch Out For: After spending last year as a reserve, Penn State senior Chris Colasanti has stepped to become the team’s top tackler. The 6-2, 238-pounder is a big hitter and a tough tackler against the run, but he has limited range … it doesn’t matter. He's a central casting middle linebacker with no neck and a thick body, but he's hardly a prototypical jock with the smarts to be in the hunt for Academic All-America honors. The Big Ten’s leading tackler with 59, including a whopping 18 against Illinois two weeks ago, he’s the rock in the middle of a decent, but not great run defense.
What Will Happen: With two weeks off to sit and stew on a two-game losing streak, getting outscored by Iowa and Illinois by a combined score of 57 to 16, Penn State will come up with one of its best games in weeks … and so will Minnesota. The Gopher offense will work just well enough to keep it interesting, but Penn State will come up with a key special teams play and will benefit from the typical Gopher second half breakdown to come away with the win.
CFN Prediction: Penn State 24 … Minnesota 16 … Line: Penn State -9.5
Must See Rating: Due Date – 5 … Tracy Morgan: Black and Blue -1 … 2
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Go Gophers! Beat the Lions!
