Duke's Mayo Bowl Predictions

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Easy Win… Long live one of the greatest bowl win streaks in college football history….
 




Doing the Nebraska, if you flip every one possession game, VT is 11-1 and in the playoffs.

Same metric would have the Gophers at 8-4.
 
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mcrow47 said:
I don't view VT as an easy win as some here are saying. This Gophers team has had some really good wins this year but also some really bad losses. We're in no position to claim any game an easy win. But if the boys play like they can they should win.
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100%

The gopher are not a team that can make assumptions about ANY opponent.

We've seen teams with all the advantages and talent in the world take Ls this year.
 

A_Slab_of_Bacon said:
100%

The gopher are not a team that can make assumptions about ANY opponent.

We've seen teams with all the advantages and talent in the world take Ls this year.
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Anyone just looking at the record is doing VT a disservice. They lost a number of close games against quality opponents.

Definitely a game we can/should win if we play well but they won't be a pushover by any means.
 



It's so hard to predict these bowl games. Who is going play for one thing? I think both teams will be interested in the game. If you know what I mean.
 

GoForGold said:
It's so hard to predict these bowl games. Who is going play for one thing? I think both teams will be interested in the game. If you know what I mean.
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Opt-outs can definitely have a big impact on teams in bowl games these days. Will be interesting to see how each team fares in that department. For the most part our guys seem to play in bowl games but I am sure there will be a handful that skip it.
 

I like the destination and the opponent. On paper, this is a toss-up game for me. Easy win? Remember, the Gophers have two opponents in every game: the other team and ... themselves.

The Gophers dug deep and found a way to lose to UNC; they choked and made huge mistakes in the first half against a then-terrible Michigan team that we should have beaten; and they managed to lose to Rutgers by refusing to play healthy RBs. VT has a quality roster. It was very close to a 10-win season ... closer than the Gophers were.

Assuming both teams will have opt-outs, if the Gophers are healthy, well-prepared, and ready to play a full 60 minutes of good football, I think we win. But pride goeth before the fall. If, come game time, the players' collective mentality is like that of some of the posters here--that VT is a poor opponent, and easy win--the Gophs will suffer an embarrassing, head-scratching, Michigan-like defeat. Respect our opponent, prepare accordingly and execute for 60 minutes = a probable win.
 




MNVCGUY said:
Opt-outs can definitely have a big impact on teams in bowl games these days. Will be interesting to see how each team fares in that department. For the most part our guys seem to play in bowl games but I am sure there will be a handful that skip it.
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I feel like our guys will all play. The NFL level guys are all the types that could benefit from a good performance in a bowl game. I don't think any of them will drafted so high at this point that they could lose out on a ton of money if they got injured.
 

mcrow47 said:
I feel like our guys will all play. The NFL level guys are all the types that could benefit from a good performance in a bowl game. I don't think any of them will drafted so high at this point that they could lose out on a ton of money if they got injured.
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Interesting to see if Ersery plays, given his injury in the WI game. If Brosmer, Jackson and Spencer all play--Jackson is only possible opt-out in the group, I assume--I like our chances on offense. I assume Carroll, Walley, Robinson and Henderson will all play, for the reason you cite. Is Lindenberg coming back next year? Any rumor that he might enter the Draft?
 

mcrow47 said:
I feel like our guys will all play. The NFL level guys are all the types that could benefit from a good performance in a bowl game. I don't think any of them will drafted so high at this point that they could lose out on a ton of money if they got injured.
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I doubt Ersery plays.
 

Gophergrandpa said:
Interesting to see if Ersery plays, given his injury in the WI game. If Brosmer, Jackson and Spencer all play--Jackson is only possible opt-out in the group, I assume--I like our chances on offense. I assume Carroll, Walley, Robinson and Henderson will all play, for the reason you cite. Is Lindenberg coming back next year? Any rumor that he might enter the Draft?
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Ersery I could see as he was injured and there's some talk he could go fairly high. I feel like Jackson is one that could benefit from more good games on tape. Not sure if he will be drafted or not but likely late at this point if he is. I think Jackson is one of those WR that's going to go under the radar in the draft because he's not big, fast, and a super freak athlete but he has great hands, runs great routes, and very good in contested catches. That kind of player will find himself with a solid NFL career when it's all said and done.
 


For bowl games that are not playoffs, i say it doesn’t matter if we win or lose. I see it as we get extra practice as team, play some new guys for next year, and that’s really it. A win is nice but not end all.
 

GopherFanatic19 said:
For bowl games that are not playoffs, i say it doesn’t matter if we win or lose. I see it as we get extra practice as team, play some new guys for next year, and that’s really it. A win is nice but not end all.
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I don't think Bowl games this level matter as much as others do but I think another win always helps for recruiting purposes. Kids want to play for winners, besides NIL money these days. Now, one bowl game probably doesn't turn the tide of a player signing with you but it adds to the mix. If Fleck can still say he's never lost a bowl game, that's a good thing.
 

Taking things in a slightly different direction, I am hopeful that we can win because I think having the Gophers recognized in this region would help with recruiting. That area is a recruiting hotbed.
 

I heard some reporter (can't remember who) say that they asked Jackson about playing in the bowl game, and Jackson wouldn't answer the question - or at least he would not commit to playing in the bowl game.

beyond that - Virginia Tech stats - according to sports reference, Tech's strength of schedule was ranked 12th out of 134 FBS teams. The Gophers were ranked 34th.

Tech: points for 29.7/gm (54th). Points against 22.8 (45th)
MN: points for 26.3 (80th). Points against 17.5 (12th)

OFF:
Tech: 379.8 yds gm (rush 187.1 / pass 192.8)
MN: 332.3 yds/gm (rush 111.3 / pass 221.0)

DEF:
Tech: 359.7 yds/gm (rush 145.4 / pass 214.3)
MN: 290.0 yds/gm (rush 112.6 / pass 178.3)

so numbers indicate Tech better on offense - Gophers better on defense.
 

Fleck does a good job of really getting his teams up for these bowl games regardless of destination or opponent.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
I heard some reporter (can't remember who) say that they asked Jackson about playing in the bowl game, and Jackson wouldn't answer the question - or at least he would not commit to playing in the bowl game.

beyond that - Virginia Tech stats - according to sports reference, Tech's strength of schedule was ranked 12th out of 134 FBS teams. The Gophers were ranked 34th.

Tech: points for 29.7/gm (54th). Points against 22.8 (45th)
MN: points for 26.3 (80th). Points against 17.5 (12th)

OFF:
Tech: 379.8 yds gm (rush 187.1 / pass 192.8)
MN: 332.3 yds/gm (rush 111.3 / pass 221.0)

DEF:
Tech: 359.7 yds/gm (rush 145.4 / pass 214.3)
MN: 290.0 yds/gm (rush 112.6 / pass 178.3)

so numbers indicate Tech better on offense - Gophers better on defense.
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Citing yards is really not a great assessment due to style. We’re better in offensive and defensive efficiency ratings (not by much) and they’re much better in ST efficiency. Overall this should be a close game on paper but massively depends on who plays and is healthy
 


Word said:
I don't think VT on paper looks like that easy of a win. What makes you think so?
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I agree - VT is 6-6 but had close losses to very good opponents. I think the game will be competitive, and in a big downtown stadium, and if it's not raining the temp may be moderate (52 average daytime high, 32 night at this time of year), plus Charlotte has a lot to offer in restaurants, tourist sites.
 

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