ESPN: Key stretch: Minnesota Golden Gophers (at Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin)

[BleedGopher]

per ESPN:

Key stretch: at Iowa on Nov. 14, Illinois on Nov. 21, Wisconsin on Nov. 28

Breakdown: The winner of the West Division wasn't decided until the end last season, so it's no coincidence that the Gophers' key stretch once again falls on the final three weeks of the conference season.

Coach Jerry Kill constantly finds a way to overachieve -- that has become his trademark -- so it's difficult to count the Gophers out early. Chances are they'll still be in the thick of things late in the season, so those final three games could determine whether Minnesota competes for the division title.

Prediction: 2-1. It'd be a surprise if the Gophers weren't favored in at least two games here. The Badgers are obviously the team to beat, as they've won the last 11 meetings against Minnesota, so it's difficult to pick against them. If Minnesota drops one game during this stretch, chances are it will come against Wisconsin.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/119633/key-stretch-minnesota-golden-gophers

Go Gophers!!

 

[BleedGopher]

Gophers part of Northwestern's "key stretch" per ESPN:

Northwestern will likely be cast as the underdog in all of its October games, but the first three present an intriguing stretch of winnable games against opponents that will be hard to project before the season gets rolling. None of the three has a significant enough gap in raw talent over the Wildcats to play poorly and beat them.

Minnesota remains a fringe contender in the Big Ten West, but a strong performance from sophomore running back Justin Jackson could be enough to upset the Gophers. Jackson ran for 106 yards in their meeting last year, a game that was tied until Minnesota scored on a 100-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/119747/key-stretch-northwestern-wildcats

Go Gophers!!

 

[Dr.Don]

The whole schedule will be like running the gauntlet, starting with TCU, then going to CSU. From there, the schedule gets tough.

GO GOPHERS!!!

 

[BleedGopher]

ESPN on Nebraska's "key stretch"

But Big Red can hardly put all its eggs in the beat-Wisconsin basket. That's because the next week brings a trip to Minnesota, a team that has handled (and in some ways manhandled) Nebraska in each of the past two years. I doubt there are many Huskers fans who could stomach a three-year losing streak to the Gophers, and Jerry Kill will be leading a serious West contender in 2015.

The final game of this stretch isn't as difficult on paper. But while Nebraska easily took care of Northwestern last season in Evanston, there have been some close games between these two in the recent past. And the Huskers could find themselves wheezing after what should be two very physical games against Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Prediction: 2-1. The arrival of a new coaching staff in Lincoln makes just about everything about Nebraska's season difficult to predict. Will Riley's even-keel demeanor keep his team from going through the emotional roller coaster and crash-and-burn games of his predecessors? Will he and new defensive coordinator Mark Banker find a way to counter the smash-mouth running games of Wisconsin and Minnesota that have bedeviled the Huskers of late? It's hard to say for sure. But I have a feeling Nebraska will find a way to beat either the Badgers or Gophers and will turn back Northwestern at home. Such a showing is critical to keep the Huskers in the West Division race and make November meaningful.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/119691/key-stretch-nebraska-cornhuskers

Go Gophers!!

 

[BleedGopher]

ESPN on Ohio State's "key stretch"

Key Stretch: Minnesota on Nov. 7, at Illinois on Nov. 14, Michigan State on Nov. 21, at Michigan on Nov. 28

November starts with a visit from the Gophers, who put up a good fight against the Buckeyes in 2014. Minnesota is built to slow down the pace enough on offense to potentially keep this game interesting.

Prediction: Ohio State wins all four games en route to another Big Ten title. Three of these games should definitely be victories. The major question mark is the Nov. 21 meeting with Michigan State.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/119767/key-stretch-ohio-state-buckeyes

Go Gophers!!

 

[MNVCGUY]

So in Nebraska's writeup we are a "serious contender" and in Northwestern's we are a "fringe contender". I guess it is good that both see us as a contender even if they can't agree on the type

 

[Dr.Don]

So in Nebraska's writeup we are a "serious contender" and in Northwestern's we are a "fringe contender". I guess it is good that both see us as a contender even if they can't agree on the type

Being on the fringe is serious.