BleedGopher
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per ESPN:
@NateCahoy: @BennettESPN How do the Gophers reclaim the Axe?
Brian Bennett: The Golden Gophers have suffered through 11 lonely years without getting their hands on Paul Bunyan's Axe. Saturday's home game against Wisconsin might be their best shot to reclaim it in a long time.
Minnesota has played Wisconsin fairly well the past two years, hanging around in a 20-7 loss two years ago and leading at halftime before succumbing 34-24 in Madison last season. As we've seen against Iowa and Northwestern, when they scored a grand total of 13 points, the Badgers struggle to do much of anything offensively against quality opponents. So I think Tracy Claeys' defense should be able to keep this a low-scoring game.
So then it comes down to whether Minnesota can move the ball and get into the end zone against a very good Wisconsin defense. And I think quarterback play is crucial. Look at the passing stats of Gophers quarterbacks in the past two Axe games: 12-for-41, 118 yards, no touchdowns. That's obviously not going to get it done. Mitch Leidner doesn't have to win the game by himself, but the Gophers also can't afford to be one-dimensional against the Badgers defense and expect to be chopping anything after the game.
http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/p...s-the-playoff-scenario-how-do-gophers-get-axe
Go Gophers!!
@NateCahoy: @BennettESPN How do the Gophers reclaim the Axe?
Brian Bennett: The Golden Gophers have suffered through 11 lonely years without getting their hands on Paul Bunyan's Axe. Saturday's home game against Wisconsin might be their best shot to reclaim it in a long time.
Minnesota has played Wisconsin fairly well the past two years, hanging around in a 20-7 loss two years ago and leading at halftime before succumbing 34-24 in Madison last season. As we've seen against Iowa and Northwestern, when they scored a grand total of 13 points, the Badgers struggle to do much of anything offensively against quality opponents. So I think Tracy Claeys' defense should be able to keep this a low-scoring game.
So then it comes down to whether Minnesota can move the ball and get into the end zone against a very good Wisconsin defense. And I think quarterback play is crucial. Look at the passing stats of Gophers quarterbacks in the past two Axe games: 12-for-41, 118 yards, no touchdowns. That's obviously not going to get it done. Mitch Leidner doesn't have to win the game by himself, but the Gophers also can't afford to be one-dimensional against the Badgers defense and expect to be chopping anything after the game.
http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/p...s-the-playoff-scenario-how-do-gophers-get-axe
Go Gophers!!