'It's theirs to lose': BTN's J Leman talks Minnesota winning the West

[BleedGopher]

per Dustin:

Minnesota is in the driver’s seat. Or maybe it’s the captain’s seat? Whatever it is, the Golden Gophers are in first place of the B1G West heading into the ninth week of the season.

Big Ten Network analyst J Leman had some thoughts on Minnesota controlling it’s own destiny the rest of the way, and he seems to really like how the team has come along later in the season. While there are still some tough games on the schedule, Minnesota is in great position.

“You’ve got to feel good about Minnesota,” Leman said. “Especially the way they’ve run the ball the last three or four weeks. That changes their game. They can control the ball, they get the play-action going. Minnesota has the West in its grip, it’s theirs to lose.”

https://saturdaytradition.com/minne...tns-j-leman-talks-minnesota-winning-the-west/

Go Gophers!!

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

Tough to argue with this. We've got two games on everyone but Wisconsin, and if they lose to OSU and we beat Maryland, we will be the only team in control of our own destiny.

 

[Schnauzer]

It is kind of interesting the way the B1G crossover games work. Although the Gophers look like they are in the driver's seat and may look even more in control after this weekend assuming a win over Maryland and a Wisconsin loss to OSU, it is set up so that either Iowa or Wisconsin can still easily win the division. All the Gophers have to do is lose a single game and that would likely set up a winner-takes-all matchup with Wisconsin to end the season. And Iowa is dangerous too because a Gopher loss at Iowa would mean the Gophers would have to finish a game ahead them to win it, with that tough season ending game against the Badgers. It is a fun ride, but soooooo many land mines to get around.

After all is said and done, I do think the "experts" are still correct to assume Wisconsin is in the inside track even though they may be two games behind after this weekend. Like everyone, I am anxious to see the Gophers up their game to beat some upgraded opponents remaining on the schedule. But I am not convinced it can happen. Hopeful, but also realistic.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

It is kind of interesting the way the B1G crossover games work. Although the Gophers look like they are in the driver's seat and may look even more in control after this weekend assuming a win over Maryland and a Wisconsin loss to OSU, it is set up so that either Iowa or Wisconsin can still easily win the division. All the Gophers have to do is lose a single game and that would likely set up a winner-takes-all matchup with Wisconsin to end the season. And Iowa is dangerous too because a Gopher loss at Iowa would mean the Gophers would have to finish a game ahead them to win it, with that tough season ending game against the Badgers. It is a fun ride, but soooooo many land mines to get around.

After all is said and done, I do think the "experts" are still correct to assume Wisconsin is in the inside track even though they may be two games behind after this weekend. Like everyone, I am anxious to see the Gophers up their game to beat some upgraded opponents remaining on the schedule. But I am not convinced it can happen. Hopeful, but also realistic.

Being in a spot where we can afford to lose any one game between now and Wisconsin, and at worst be in a position to clinch at home, is almost the definition of the drivers seat.

 

[cemba99]

Tough to argue with this. We've got two games on everyone but Wisconsin, and if they lose to OSU and we beat Maryland, we will be the only team in control of our own destiny.

We are all alone in first place in the west. Aren’t we already in control of our own destiny?

 

[die hard gopher]

We are all alone in first place in the west. Aren’t we already in control of our own destiny?

He said the only team, Wisconsin right now also controls their own destiny.

 

[e.bigelow]

J Leman was difficult to listen to as the color guy on the Rutgers game last week. He was bad. Don't mind him in the studio but in the booth he's awful.

 

[Jeshurun]

J Leman was difficult to listen to as the color guy on the Rutgers game last week. He was bad. Don't mind him in the studio but in the booth he's awful.

Both of the announcers were constantly mispronouncing simple words. Made me wonder if they were a little tipsy. Having to announce a Rutgers game I couldn’t exactly blame them.

 

[BeerFueledFF]

Illinois and Purdue have that team this week - I feel really bad for their fans as they were awful announcers.

 

[everybody knows my name]

Remember, Leman was one of the first Gopher believers. Last year before the season started he predicted the Gophers would contend for the West division, and he got burned. But he recognized progress in the program that hardly anyone did at the time.

As far as his work on the Rutgers game, it didn't bother me one bit. Some people just aren't as glib or smooth as others, but his observations were valid.

 

[MplsGopher]

It is kind of interesting the way the B1G crossover games work. Although the Gophers look like they are in the driver's seat and may look even more in control after this weekend assuming a win over Maryland and a Wisconsin loss to OSU, it is set up so that either Iowa or Wisconsin can still easily win the division. All the Gophers have to do is lose a single game and that would likely set up a winner-takes-all matchup with Wisconsin to end the season. And Iowa is dangerous too because a Gopher loss at Iowa would mean the Gophers would have to finish a game ahead them to win it, with that tough season ending game against the Badgers. It is a fun ride, but soooooo many land mines to get around.

After all is said and done, I do think the "experts" are still correct to assume Wisconsin is in the inside track even though they may be two games behind after this weekend. Like everyone, I am anxious to see the Gophers up their game to beat some upgraded opponents remaining on the schedule. But I am not convinced it can happen. Hopeful, but also realistic.

Iowa is going to lose in Madison. So that's 3 losses, and they're out.

It'll either be Minnesota or Wisconsin winning the West, with probably 2 losses. We will probably lose to Penn St and @Iowa, but then could beat Wisconsin, or Wisconsin will have lost @Illinois and @Ohio St, and then beat us.


Nebraska could also play a nice spoiler role, getting both Wisconsin and Iowa at home in the last three weeks of the regular season.