How would Gophers lose to Northwestern?

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(1) Stop our own Evan Hull
(2) Contain new QB Sullivan.
(3) Don’t get too predictable on offense.
That should do it.
 

Just get the gophers nervous/ down on themselves. This team has shown some issues there.

Having said that they overcame it vs Nebraska.

But at the same time they got into trouble… vs Nebraska…

Losing to Northwestern is a very real possibility, they bite someone in the ass every year.
 


By scoring fewer points?

Unlikely, but it is college football and shocking things happen sometimes. Northwestern was ahead, and competing with OSU until late in that weird weather game. Anything can happen, although MN seems to be in a different place right now, compared to NW.

I do hope NW, after a dismal season, pulls it all together when they play Illinois though.
 


I'm very confident in this game, but as Schnauzer said in a previous thread when he took for granted a few opponents, we aren't good enough to take anyone for granted. Play our game, focus and we should be fine, but we can't let up at all.
 


How could MN lose?

- Key injuries
- Mistakes in key moments (dropped TDs and 1st down passes, missed chip-shot FGs, missed tackles on D leading to explosive plays, key stupid penalties, overly risky coaching decisions) - the Purdue game in a nutshell.
- Ultra-conservative offense that amplifies those few key moments, then failure to convert.
- Costly turnovers.
 

Mo might be even more sore this week than last.
Inexperienced QB = higher turnover risk
Football Gods and chaos factor
 




Schnauzer said:
By scoring fewer points?

Unlikely, but it is college football and shocking things happen sometimes. Northwestern was ahead, and competing with OSU until late in that weird weather game. Anything can happen, although MN seems to be in a different place right now, compared to NW.

I do hope NW, after a dismal season, pulls it all together when they play Illinois though.
Click to expand...
Love to see NW slap a loss on Bert. NW won’t get out-coached.
 

Panthadad2 said:
How could MN lose?

- Key injuries
- Mistakes in key moments (dropped TDs and 1st down passes, missed chip-shot FGs, missed tackles on D leading to explosive plays, key stupid penalties, overly risky coaching decisions) - the Purdue game in a nutshell.
- Ultra-conservative offense that amplifies those few key moments, then failure to convert.
- Costly turnovers.
Click to expand...
Dropped passes are a big and unpredictable factor this year.
 

Morgan starts. Goes 3-11 for 14 yards and 2 picks (one pick 6) in the first half. Trickett misses from 33 and 36 yards. We are down 10-0 at half. Can’t quite comeback this week and lost 17-14.
 



Lots of ways. And is we know, Minnesota can find them. Let's hope not.
 

Panthadad2 said:
How could MN lose?

- Key injuries
- Mistakes in key moments (dropped TDs and 1st down passes, missed chip-shot FGs, missed tackles on D leading to explosive plays, key stupid penalties, overly risky coaching decisions) - the Purdue game in a nutshell.
- Ultra-conservative offense that amplifies those few key moments, then failure to convert.
- Costly turnovers.
Click to expand...
Running the playclock down to zero even if we have a second half deficit.
 


spermophilus said:
1. Lose TO margin
2. Unidimensional attack
3. Play from behind
4. Special teams gaffes
5. D line gets pushed around
Click to expand...
Agree

Bad special teams
Turnovers
Poor 4th down decisions.

Northwestern is last in the conference against the run. Run to set up the pass. Don't sit at 2 and 10.

Northwestern can pass a bit. Play sound defense.

Their P5 losses are by an average of 16 pts. per game.
 


Indiana beat Illinois earlier this year.

It's sports. wacky things can happen.

The Gophers are not the type of program that can ever assume victory.

we saw what happened vs Purdue when Mo was not playing.
regardless of who plays QB, there is one inescapable fact about the Gophers - if Mo doesn't play, or if the other team can find a way to stop him, the Gophers can lose to anyone. anyone.

and NW has a really good coach.

so heck, yes - the Gophers could lose to Northwestern.
 



NW offense looked better vs Nebraska than we did.

NW defense played Penn State better than we did.

Turnovers, special teams, weather, refs, injuries can all swing games in a way you don't expect.
 

Take them for granted. Use stale predictable offense.
 

The Gophers can lose to any Big Ten team if they don't run the ball efficiently.

Conversely, give the Gophers 5+ YPC and they can beat anyone in the conference.
 

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