Early line: Nebraska -5.5



Sounds about right. If The OH-IO State game provided some preparation fodder for Purdue, then similarly the Purdue game certainly provided more fodder for preparation.
 












Will Nebraska run the ball or will they do what Purdue did and get cute passing it. Raiola will throw a couple balls each game that we need to take.

Raiola and Lindsey have thrown the same number of passes 188. Both are 3-1 TD/Int Ratio.
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Will Nebraska run the ball or will they do what Purdue did and get cute passing it. Raiola will throw a couple balls each game that we need to take.

Raiola and Lindsey have thrown the same number of passes 188. Both are 3-1 TD/Int Ratio.
View attachment 39478
According to these stats Raiola is a much better QB. 7 more TDs, 13% better CMP%, 300+ more YDS, 37 pt better rating. TD-INT ratio doesn't mean a whole lot here.

One thing Raiola has is twice as many sacks. We need to lay on the pressure and force the kid to make mistakes.
 



Will Nebraska run the ball or will they do what Purdue did and get cute passing it. Raiola will throw a couple balls each game that we need to take.

Raiola and Lindsey have thrown the same number of passes 188. Both are 3-1 TD/Int Ratio.
View attachment 39478
I think that is going to be the key to the game. If Nebraska insists on throwing the ball a lot, I think that favors the Gophers.
 


According to these stats Raiola is a much better QB. 7 more TDs, 13% better CMP%, 300+ more YDS, 37 pt better rating. TD-INT ratio doesn't mean a whole lot here.

One thing Raiola has is twice as many sacks. We need to lay on the pressure and force the kid to make mistakes.
Fair comparison with same amount of attempts. I’d guess Dylan is supported by a better running game.
 

I think that is going to be the key to the game. If Nebraska insists on throwing the ball a lot, I think that favors the Gophers.
On paper, the Nebraska point spread seems more than warranted.

Nebraska's running back, Minneapolis's own Emmett Johnson, is one of the more productive backs in the B1G in rushing stats, but Nebraska's got nothing other than Emmett. Nebraska is averaging 140 yards per game rushing (mostly Emmett), one of the lower averages in the B1G. The Gophers, however, are averaging a pretty low 112 yards rushing per game (aided greatly by Northwestern State stats)--but in our four P4 games, the Gophers are averaging a truly putrid 47 yards rushing per game.

Nebraska is averaging 310 yards passing per game versus the Gophers 228. Raiola's stat line in B1G conference play is 66-94 (70.2%) 762 yards, 8 Tis, 5 INTs, 155.8 rating. Raiola stats are better on the road than at home; but he has been sacked a lot. Drake's conference game stats are 67-112 (59.8%), 650 yards, 5 TDs, I Int, 121.5 rating.

Nebraska is scoring at an average of 41 points per game, the Gophers are at 27.3.
Nebraska is allowing 18.7 points per game, the Gophers are at 21.2.
Nebraska's average "spread" between points scored and allowed is 22.3; the Gophers is 6.1.

Digging a bit deeper, Nebraska's pass defense has been stellar, allowing only 118 yards per game; the Gophers have allowed 200.3 yards. Nebraska' weak point, if any, is its run defense, which has allowed 151.3 yards per game against the Gophers' 108 yards per game (though the Gophers just allowed a shocking 253 yards rushing in their latest game versus Purdue, a bad trend line).

On paper, it looks like our relative strength, passing, against Nebraska's defensive strength; and our shocking weakness--the run game--against Nebraska's relative weakness. If the history of each team's early games repeats, this could be a very frustrating game for the Gophers.

BUT, if this is the day the worm turns and the Gophers find a half-decent run game--not a great run game, just an average one--we could certainly make a game of it. Drake doesn't get sacked as often as Raiola; Drake doesn't throw as many interceptions as Raiola. If the Gophers run game could get going Friday night, meaning the Nebraska D would have to respect run fakes, we might see our receivers have a few more opportunities for non-contested catches (we currently suck badly at contested catches).

Despite the stat lines, the path to a victory is there. Huge moment for our OL and RBs. Our D has to win the turnover battle. Go Gophers!
 
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I will be pleasantly surprised if the Gophers win this game against the Huskers.
Lucky for you, you WILL be pleasantly surprised.
Maybe I’ve just seen the mediocre parts of the Huskers, just not sold on the Ruhle, Raiola regime.
 

SI has the Gophers as Nebraska’s 3rd toughest tensing opponent, behind USC and Iowa. SI recognizes Nebraska’s superior (on paper) roster, and superior game day stats., but also notes how much trouble Nebraska has had trying to find a win against the Gophers.

 
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Are we still playing for the chair and raising money for charity thing with Nebraska, Or is that tradition dead? Wasn't our side for the Masonic Children's hospital. We still call this the battle for the chair in our season ticket group.
 


The betting line on the Nebraska Game is moving quickly. Opened on Sunday morning at Nebraska by 5.5. By Tuesday morning, line has moved to Nebraska by 9.5. Lot of money flowing in on Nebraska it seems. The stats of each team, including those reflecting Minnesota's virtually non-existent running game, probably justify the 9.5 point spread. But history points more toward the 5.5 (or less) spread.

If the Gophs open in PJ's typical fashion--oddly unprepared and down by 10 or 14 points by the middle of the second quarter--we're in big trouble against a talented Nebraska team. But if we can keep it close, maybe Drake, Darius and Koi pull out another one for us in crunch time. Best case, of course, is that an over-confident and sloppy Nebraska offense turns the ball over 3 or 4 times, giving the Gophers good field position several times, and the Gophers--having found a half-decent running game-- actually cash in the opportunities.

Go Gophers!
 




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