Shortell throws a few highlight-reel completions to get the crowd energized, but Donnell Kirkwood and his fellow tailbacks steal the show by turning the Gophers into a ground powerhouse. The Orange moves the ball, too, mostly through the air, but mistakes make the difference in a shootout.
Before the season started my prediction was that the Gophers would be 3-1 non conference with a loss to WMU and a win over Syracuse. Last week I switched my prediction and said a Gopher win. So I guess I go against my heart and say