Media Predictions Thread: Minnesota Vs. Western Illinois

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IceBoxGopher

IceBoxGopher

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College Football News is predicting a 41-10 Minnesota win
The goal here will be to get the Minnesota passing game going fast and get to the twos as soon as humanly possible.

The program has a way of taking it easy here and there against the lightweights, but the defense appears to be looking to make a statement early on – at least it played that was against NMSU.

If it seems like the Minnesota offense is always on the field, it’s because it will be.
 

The Daily Gopher (SB Nation) has Minnesota winning 48-0
The Leathernecks surrendered 42 points and 577 totals yards of offense to the Skyhawks in their season-opening loss, including 317 passing yards and 260 rushing yards.

After Minnesota punter Mark Crawford was forced to wait until the fourth quarter of the Gophers’ season opener to make his first appearance, he may not see the field at all against Western Illinois.

I would not expect Minnesota to stray too far from the offensive game plan that worked so well against New Mexico State, asking quarterback Tanner Morgan to air it out when the occasion calls for it but mostly calling for him to hand the ball off to Mohamed Ibrahim and Trey Potts as the offensive line pushes around the Leathernecks’ defensive front.
 

Sorry IBG. Started a new thread on this by mistake.
 




Sorry IBG. Started a new thread on this by mistake.
Click to expand...
No worries!

At Buckeyes Wire (USA Today), all three writers are picking the Gophers

Picks and Parlays has Minnesota winning and covering ATS 63-7
Minnesota is coming off a big victory over New Mexico State in which the Golden Gophers allowed the Aggies to gain just 91 yards of total offense and easily defeated the Aggies by 38 points.

Western Illinois was defeated by Tennessee-Martin in their opening game of the regular season and will be facing a much more talented opponent in Minnesota on Saturday. The Golden Gophers behind the running of Mohamed Ibrahim will easily cover the number. Final Score Prediction, Minnesota Golden Gophers win and cover ATS 63-7.
 


Com_Cool said:
omg 63-7 :party:
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Did some digging, here's the times Minnesota scored more than 56 points in a game since 1900. It's happened 28 times, last time was in 2006. It's been done six times since 1980.
  • 1902, Win Vs. Grinnell 102-0
  • 1902, Win Vs. Hamline 59-0
  • 1903, Win Vs. Macalester College 112-0
  • 1903, Win Vs. Hamline 65-0
  • 1903, Win Vs. Iowa 75-0 :cool02:
  • 1904, Win Vs. Twin Cities Central High 107-0
  • 1904, Win Vs. South Dakota 77-0
  • 1904, Win Vs. Shattuck-St. Mary’s 75-0
  • 1904, Win Vs. Carleton 65-0
  • 1904, Win Vs. Grinnell College 146-0
  • 1904, Win Vs. Lawrence 69-0
  • 1905, Win Vs. South Dakota 81-0
  • 1916, Win Vs. Iowa 67-0 :cool02:
  • 1916, Win Vs. South Dakota 81-0
  • 1917, Win Vs. South Dakota State 64-0
  • 1918, Win Vs. Carleton-St. Olaf 59-6
  • 1926, Win Vs. Wabash College 67-7
  • 1926, Win Vs. Butler 81-0
  • 1927, Win Vs. North Dakota 57-10
  • 1930, Win Vs. South Dakota 59-0
  • 1937, Win Vs. North Dakota State 69-7
  • 1939, Win Vs. Arizona 62-0
  • 1982, Win Vs. Ohio 57-3
  • 1985, Win Vs. Montana 62-17
  • 1993, Win Vs. Purdue 59-56
  • 2001, Win Vs. Murray State 66-10
  • 2004, Win Vs. Toledo 63-21
  • 2006, Win Vs. Temple 62-0
 

  • 1993, Win Vs. Purdue 59-56
  • What a doozy of a game!!!
 





The Pioneer Press has Minnesota winning 42-3
Gophers offense Vs. Western Illinois defense: Minnesota put up 485 yards against NMSU, while Western Illinois gave up an enormous 577 to UT-Martin…The Gophers’ remade offensive line didn’t give up a sack last week, while the Leathernecks defense didn’t register a sack. Edge: Gophers

Gophers defense vs. Western Illinois offense: Minnesota limited New Mexico State to 33 offensive plays, which broke the program record for fewest in a game by seven snaps. While a lack of quality opponent must be factored in, it showed the U can again have a stifling defense after a top-10 finish a year ago. Edge: Gophers

Prediction: With a rebuilding FCS-level program in town, the Gophers will be competing against their own standard to get to 2-0. Oh, and they also remember the Bowling Green debacle.
 

IceBoxGopher said:
Did some digging, here's the times Minnesota scored more than 56 points in a game since 1900. It's happened 28 times, last time was in 2006. It's been done six times since 1980.
  • 1902, Win Vs. Grinnell 102-0
  • 1902, Win Vs. Hamline 59-0
  • 1903, Win Vs. Macalester College 112-0
  • 1903, Win Vs. Hamline 65-0
  • 1903, Win Vs. Iowa 75-0 :cool02:
  • 1904, Win Vs. Twin Cities Central High 107-0
  • 1904, Win Vs. South Dakota 77-0
  • 1904, Win Vs. Shattuck-St. Mary’s 75-0
  • 1904, Win Vs. Carleton 65-0
  • 1904, Win Vs. Grinnell College 146-0
  • 1904, Win Vs. Lawrence 69-0
  • 1905, Win Vs. South Dakota 81-0
  • 1916, Win Vs. Iowa 67-0 :cool02:
  • 1916, Win Vs. South Dakota 81-0
  • 1917, Win Vs. South Dakota State 64-0
  • 1918, Win Vs. Carleton-St. Olaf 59-6
  • 1926, Win Vs. Wabash College 67-7
  • 1926, Win Vs. Butler 81-0
  • 1927, Win Vs. North Dakota 57-10
  • 1930, Win Vs. South Dakota 59-0
  • 1937, Win Vs. North Dakota State 69-7
  • 1939, Win Vs. Arizona 62-0
  • 1982, Win Vs. Ohio 57-3
  • 1985, Win Vs. Montana 62-17
  • 1993, Win Vs. Purdue 59-56
  • 2001, Win Vs. Murray State 66-10
  • 2004, Win Vs. Toledo 63-21
  • 2006, Win Vs. Temple 62-0
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Suck it Bisons!
 





Gridiron Heroics has Minnesota winning 42-0
I predict a similar outcome to week one for the Gophers. The Gophers should dominate the game in a similar fashion. The Leathernecks should prove a tougher opponent to the Gophers than New Mexico State (but not by much). The Leathernecks offense should move the ball more than the Aggies did, but it won’t be enough. Pair that with the struggles their defense will face, and the Leathernecks will simply be overwhelmed by Minnesota
 

Staff predictions are out at The Daily Gopher (SB Nation)
  • GoAUpher has Minnesota winning 41-3. Western Illinois is bad. Bad bad bad. I should predict a shutout but that seems like a jinx, so I won’t.
  • GopherGuy05 is picking Minnesota, 37-10. This seems like the game the Gophers might have a mental lapse or two and allow a score on a short field. But it still will be ugly, and not close.
  • GopherNation has Minnesota winning 34-7. This should be another easy win. Just want to see this team continue to get better.
  • HipsterGopher is predicting a 29-12 Gopher win. 29-12 is the score from the only other meeting (in 2013) between these two storied programs. The actual score is probably even more lopsided but I have a bit to maintain.
  • Mowe0018 has Minnesota winning 38-0. Week 1 redux. Please, no one get hurt.
  • UStreet has the Gophers winning 42-0. I don’t think Western Illinois scores.
  • White Speed Receiver is taking the Gophers 55-0. Seven possessions in the NMSU game. Let’s say we get one more on a short field and get six CDs and a pair of field goals, and a defensive score.
  • WildCatToo is picking Minnesota, 35-0. This team is bad, and the outcome should be the same as week 1.
  • ZipsOfAkron is predicting a 38-7 Minnesota victory.
 

Gopher Illustrated (247 Sports) has Minnesota winning 42-6
I want to believe that Minnesota records back-to-back shut outs to open their season. That'd be the first time in my lifetime that a Gopher Football team would be able to accomplish such a feat. But I think that comes down to how much Hendrickson wants to show something. We know that if it's Davenport out there, he's going to want to chuck it deep to Brantley among others, but that's going to leave a lot of chances for the Gopher defensive backs to make a play on the ball.

I'll say that one of those connects, enough so that Western Illinois gets on the board with points.
But I don't see how the Leatherneck defense is able to stop the Gophers rushing attack.

Another laugher prior to Mike Sanford's return to Minneapolis.
 

The Star Tribune has Minnesota winning 41-7.
The goal for any FBS team when scheduling an FCS opponent is to administer the beating, avoid tipping your hand for more important games and send the foe on its way with a paycheck for its trouble. That's what should happen Saturday.

While the Leathernecks reside in the conference that includes North Dakota State, winner of nine of the past 11 FCS championships, they're not at that level. Western Illinois, 2-9 last year and 4-25 over the past three seasons, is rebuilding under alum Myers Hendrickson, who succeeded at NAIA level Kansas Wesleyan.

Expect running backs Mohamed Ibrahim and Trey Potts to carry the bulk of the load for the Gophers behind an offensive line that showed much promise in the opener. Offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca might loosen the reins on Morgan a bit, but don't expect 35 passes from the Gophers. On defense, this week's test for Minnesota is tougher because the Leathernecks at the very least will try to pass and showed proficiency in doing so.

My expectation: Lots of body blows from the Gophers running game, an occasional deep throw to keep the Leathernecks defense honest and another strong performance from Rossi's troops.
 

IceBoxGopher said:
Gridiron Heroics has Minnesota winning 42-0
I predict a similar outcome to week one for the Gophers. The Gophers should dominate the game in a similar fashion. The Leathernecks should prove a tougher opponent to the Gophers than New Mexico State (but not by much). The Leathernecks offense should move the ball more than the Aggies did, but it won’t be enough. Pair that with the struggles their defense will face, and the Leathernecks will simply be overwhelmed by Minnesota
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After watching Western Illinois play UT Martin, I don't think they are better than NMSU. Their defense is worse, perhaps much worse.
 

All the writers at Off Tackle Empire (SB Nation) are predicting a Minnesota win.
MaximumSam: Minny 42, Leathernecks 12

Buffkomodo: Minnesota is much better than this team, and though I don’t think they’ll cover I’ll bet they will. 45-3

misdreavus79: Anyone else find it kind of weird that the line against Western Illinois and the line against New Mexico State is the same? Well, likely similar results here too. Minnesota 45, Western Illinois 7

RockyMtnBlue: Minnesota 45, Western Illinois 6

MNW: Because, misdreavus, I think the talent levels in Las Cruces and Macomb are, sadly, about the same.

I spent a few days at Western Illinois back in August 2018 doing some research. I tell you what—I’ve spent time in some depressing, dying Midwestern towns, but Macomb is up there. I take pictures and log beers everywhere I go...I saved no pictures from WIU.

Downtown was a ghost town, and students were even back on campus! It was just so profoundly terrible. These kids have suffered enough, is what I’m saying. Minnesota, 42-0.

Black Shoe Diaries (SB Nation) has the Gophers winning 45-7
Some early lines have this set at 37.5, which is right about what last week’s game against New Mexico State was. That’s all you need to know about this game.

The Omaha World Herald has Minnesota winning 48-10
Sports can make you nostalgic — WIU’s mascot is the Leatherneck, a nickname for a Marine soldier. It will not help them beat the Golden Gophers.
 

IceBoxGopher said:
Did some digging, here's the times Minnesota scored more than 56 points in a game since 1900. It's happened 28 times, last time was in 2006. It's been done six times since 1980.
  • 1902, Win Vs. Grinnell 102-0
  • 1902, Win Vs. Hamline 59-0
  • 1903, Win Vs. Macalester College 112-0
  • 1903, Win Vs. Hamline 65-0
  • 1903, Win Vs. Iowa 75-0 :cool02:
  • 1904, Win Vs. Twin Cities Central High 107-0
  • 1904, Win Vs. South Dakota 77-0
  • 1904, Win Vs. Shattuck-St. Mary’s 75-0
  • 1904, Win Vs. Carleton 65-0
  • 1904, Win Vs. Grinnell College 146-0
  • 1904, Win Vs. Lawrence 69-0
  • 1905, Win Vs. South Dakota 81-0
  • 1916, Win Vs. Iowa 67-0 :cool02:
  • 1916, Win Vs. South Dakota 81-0
  • 1917, Win Vs. South Dakota State 64-0
  • 1918, Win Vs. Carleton-St. Olaf 59-6
  • 1926, Win Vs. Wabash College 67-7
  • 1926, Win Vs. Butler 81-0
  • 1927, Win Vs. North Dakota 57-10
  • 1930, Win Vs. South Dakota 59-0
  • 1937, Win Vs. North Dakota State 69-7
  • 1939, Win Vs. Arizona 62-0
  • 1982, Win Vs. Ohio 57-3
  • 1985, Win Vs. Montana 62-17
  • 1993, Win Vs. Purdue 59-56
  • 2001, Win Vs. Murray State 66-10
  • 2004, Win Vs. Toledo 63-21
  • 2006, Win Vs. Temple 62-0
Click to expand...
MN 63, Indiana 26 in 2006.
 

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