Keys to Victory in the Insight Bowl

[Go Gophers Rah]

Running the ball, stopping the run and winning the turnover battle are the absolute keys to victory in this game!

1) Rushing yards allowed by our defense

When we held the opponents offense to 115 yards or less, we were 4-0 and when we held them to under 220 yards we were 6-1​

2) Rushing

In games that we attempted at least 30 runs, we were 7-0
In games where we rushed for at least 100 yards we were 6-0​

3) Turnover Margin

In games that we won the turnover margin, we were 6-0​

I know I should be worried about Kansas’ #8 passing offense, but that really hasn’t been our problem. We gave up 462 passing yards to Illinois in what I consider to be our best game of the year. Plus, consider the passing defenses Kansas has faced… #117 Mizzou, #116 Louisiana Tech, #115 Iowa State, #109 Texas, #105 K-State, #99 Oklahoma and #91 Texas Tech.

 

[NC 2 MN]

Go Gophers Rah
Running the ball, stopping the run and winning the turnover battle are the absolute keys to victory in this game!

Good points GGR - but I would take a slightly different slant. Here are my top keys (in this order):

1) Offensive Line - The OL must allow the Gophers to run the ball at least enough to keep KU defense honest and the OL must give Weber a modicum of time to show how much better he knows the offense than last year.

2) Turnover margin - No way we win without a positive turnover margin.

3)Explosive plays allowed by defense - This combined with turnover margin will just about guarantee a win if the offense returns to the 7-1 form and Tim Davis' changes work.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

I think in order to pull out the victory...

.... the Gophers need to score more points than Kansas. That's right up at the top of my list.

This much I know.

 

[calminnfan]

.... the Gophers need to score more points than Kansas. That's right up at the top of my list.

This much I know.

Bummer, you beat me to it!

 

[Jike Spingleton]

It's finally game week....

I'll be soaking up the sun in Tempe 24 hours from now, so a final post before heading to the Valley of the Sun....

Not to sound cliche, but this comes down to the battle in the trenches. We all know the struggles the Gophers' O-line had this year. If they don't play better, we probably don't win, simple as that. On the other side, Kansas surrendered 23 sacks this year, second-most in the Big 12. It's a prime opportunity for Willie VanDeSteeg to wrap up his Gopher career in a big way.

And of course, turnover margin. Kansas will move the ball, but if we can get back to the bend-don't-break defense of September and October, we'll stay in this thing.

I've been to each of the last four bowl games, and they have all come down to the final minute. I'm hoping that trend continues.

 

[Maximus]

Kansas suspended its starting cornerback for the game....even though he's not 100 percent, hopefully Decker can find some space.