Predict the Score Thread: Minnesota vs Virginia Tech in Duke’s Mayo Bowl

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Gophers have players opting out or portalling. VA Tech has players opting out or portalling.
which makes this more interesting in terms of predictions. which team does a better job of adjusting to the new reality?

I'll go with:

Gophers 27
VA Tech 23

(rationale - the Gopher opt-outs on defense will - I think - have a bigger impact than the opt-outs on offense)

(p.s. - any chance we can get Cole Kramer's wife to come back and sit in the stands so that the TV crew will have something to talk about?)
 


Is VT's defense that depleted? Pretty heady stuff suggesting Gophers get high 20s and 30s for scoring.
 



With some teams, when adversity hits, the team will arise above and perform even better. Hard to predict this one.

Gophers 38
VT 10
 





1Q: Minnesota 7, VT 0
2Q: Minnesota 17, VT 3
3Q: Minnesota 23, VT 10
FINAL: Minnesota 33, VT 17
 


Hokies 13
Golden Gophers 24

Dance line Natty’s and Bowl W’s that’s what Minnesota does!!!! 〽️
 

I may have to amend my prediction - from the Strib:

Since the season ended, the Hokies have had 21 players enter the transfer portal and five leave early to prepare for the NFL draft or accept Senior Bowl invitations. On offense, Sordelett (local writer covers VA Tech) expects them to be missing leading rusher Bhayshul Tuten (1,159 yards, 15 TDs), two starting linemen and a key reserve, and their second-leading wide receiver. On defense, Virginia Tech will be without two third-team All-America performers in edge rusher Antwaun Powell-Ryland and tackle Aeneas Pebbles, three starters in the secondary and a depth player along the line and at linebacker.

the VA Tech beat writer says he does not expect the #1 QB to start due to injuries, so starter could be a RS FR.

also - VA Tech is 0-5 this season in games decided by 8 points or less. the Coach (Brent Pry) is 1-12 in one-score games in his 3 seasons. This year VA Tech blew leads of 7 pts to Vanderbilt, 10 pts to Miami and 18 pts to Syracuse.

after reading that, I like the Gophers' chances better. (but being a MN fan, I don't want to tempt the Football Gods by getting over-optimistic)
 














Gophers: 24
Va Tech: 17

Fleck stays undefeated in bowl games at MN.

Go Gophers!!
 

Gophers 29
Hokies 19
I think those numbers are possible? TD +1 is 7, TD miss extra point is 13, score another TD, try for 2 and fail and you'd get to 19. Other ways to achieve it as well. Just talkin' to myself.
 

Gophers are currently favored by 9 but ESPN’s FPI predictor gives Va Tech a 51% chance of winning. Someone please explain this to me.
 

beatles said:
Gophers are currently favored by 9 but ESPN’s FPI predictor gives Va Tech a 51% chance of winning. Someone please explain this to me.
Click to expand...
One is for bettors and one is based off stats. Not sure if FPI includes opt outs etc.
 

Word said:
One is for bettors and one is based off stats. Not sure if FPI includes opt outs etc.
Click to expand...
I get that the spread is for betting purposes but it still seems weird that analytics could predict such a far different outcome.
 

Word said:
One is for bettors and one is based off stats. Not sure if FPI includes opt outs etc.
Click to expand...

I don't see how it can. There would be too much subjectivity involved in the adjustments. Plus, not everyone who opts out is known definitively until very close to the game.
 

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