STrib: One ranking has the Gophers' 2020 schedule as the third-easiest in the Big Ten

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BleedGopher

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per Megan:

The Gophers have the third-easiest schedule in the Big Ten conference, per SportBettingDime.com. Nationally, they are 30th of 130 FBS teams.

The rankings — found with a formula that accounts for "opponents’ efficiency ratings from last season minus the production lost from the 2019 team; recruiting rankings from the past four years; major transfers added and lost," and adjustments for home and road games, per a release — found six of the 10 hardest schedules come from the Big Ten conference. Purdue, the Gophers' Nov. 7 opponent at TCF Bank Stadium, has the toughest 2020 in store.

One ranking has the Gophers' 2020 schedule as the third-easiest in the Big Ten

But the Gophers' Nov. 7 opponent Purdue has the country's toughest slate.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

Go Gophers!!
 

Third easiest....but still 30th....


So easier, but not easy.
 

A_Slab_of_Bacon said:
Third easiest....but still 30th....


So easier, but not easy.
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Yeah exactly.
Honestly of course they are going to have one of the easier schedules. They avoid Ohio state and penn state...the likely 1-2 in the east,

they avoid playing Indiana who is probably picked 4th in the East,
They avoid Minnesota who is likely picked 2nd or third in the west...
 

Some guy said:
Yeah exactly.
Honestly of course they are going to have one of the easier schedules. They avoid Ohio state and penn state...the likely 1-2 in the east,

they avoid playing Indiana who is probably picked 4th in the East,
They avoid Minnesota who is likely picked 2nd or third in the west...
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I wished we played both OSU and PSU.
 



A_Slab_of_Bacon said:
Third easiest....but still 30th....


So easier, but not easy.
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We play in the Big Ten. The third easiest is significantly more impactful to predicted outcome than 30th in country which is just perspective.
All of it is for entertainment only as teams have proven year after year: “You don’t play the games on paper.”
 

60's Guy said:
We play in the Big Ten. The third easiest is significantly more impactful to predicted outcome than 30th in country which is just perspective.
All of it is for entertainment only as teams have proven year after year: “You don’t play the games on paper.”
Click to expand...
I think the point more is from a national ratings perspective.

like last year the gophers had an “Easy” schedule that people use to discredit their #10 ranking.


but if the gophers win 11 games against the 30th toughest schedule in the country they’ll deserve to be top 15 again.
 

It’s a good schedule. Tough enough to get respect but plenty of good win chances and no lost causes.

Let’s not pretend that one great year means having a murderers row is suddenly a good thing.
 

Cedar Rapids Gopher said:
They're not on the schedule because they're scared. Okay just kidding
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tenor.gif
 



Some guy said:
I think the point more is from a national ratings perspective.

like last year the gophers had an “Easy” schedule that people use to discredit their #10 ranking.


but if the gophers win 11 games against the 30th toughest schedule in the country they’ll deserve to be top 15 again.
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I read that as the 30th easiest schedule.
 



Some guy said:
I think the point more is from a national ratings perspective.

like last year the gophers had an “Easy” schedule that people use to discredit their #10 ranking.


but if the gophers win 11 games against the 30th toughest schedule in the country they’ll deserve to be top 15 again.
Click to expand...

Gophs ended up at #27 SOS at end of regular season last year. Moved up to #22 after bowl win. To me, this 2020 schedule is just slightly tougher than 2019 because of five B1G road games.

NCAA College Football Strength of Schedule Rankings & Ratings

NCAA College Football Strength of Schedule Rankings & Ratings from TeamRankings.com, your source for NCAAF computer power rankings.
www.teamrankings.com www.teamrankings.com
 



PMWinSTP said:
Gophs ended up at #27 SOS at end of regular season last year. Moved up to #22 after bowl win. To me, this 2020 schedule is just slightly tougher than 2019 because of five B1G road games.

NCAA College Football Strength of Schedule Rankings & Ratings

NCAA College Football Strength of Schedule Rankings & Ratings from TeamRankings.com, your source for NCAAF computer power rankings.
www.teamrankings.com www.teamrankings.com
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Yeah. The 27th toughest schedule is extremely tough. But somehow many detractors would say “SOS” as an insult.

clemson played an easier schedule
Utah played an easier schedule
Baylor played an easier schedule
Virginia played an easier schedule
 


The nice part about our schedule this year is that it is front loaded with BYU, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. We won't hear the SOS argument from the pundits this year if the Gophers do well in that stretch. Last year, we heard the argument through week 8-10 even though we knew it would be respectable by the end of the year. And we don't have to be worried about them only being ranked 17 if they do well out of the gate like last year.
 

matt said:
The nice part about our schedule this year is that it is front loaded with BYU, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. We won't hear the SOS argument from the pundits this year if the Gophers do well in that stretch. Last year, we heard the argument through week 8-10 even though we knew it would be respectable by the end of the year. And we don't have to be worried about them only being ranked 17 if they do well out of the gate like last year.
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Not arguing that one is better than the other, but it was "nice" last year getting to go 8-0, ranked #17, heading into the Penn St game. Helping to boost our confidence that we "belonged" there on the same field and could take down an elite program like that. And it was the best moment for Gopher football in quite some time.

Next year could end up being 10-2 again in the regular season, with a huge win over Michigan at TCF. But would feel vastly different with a 4-2 record and outside the top 25, heading into that game.
 

matt said:
The nice part about our schedule this year is that it is front loaded with BYU, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. We won't hear the SOS argument from the pundits this year if the Gophers do well in that stretch. Last year, we heard the argument through week 8-10 even though we knew it would be respectable by the end of the year. And we don't have to be worried about them only being ranked 17 if they do well out of the gate like last year.
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Man I kinda like it back loaded.... like maybe this is the year things change but ever since the post Mason era... the Gophers have started slow every year it seemed.

We don't even regularly pound the non-conference cupcakes like we did in the Mason years...
 

A_Slab_of_Bacon said:
Man I kinda like it back loaded.... like maybe this is the year things change but ever since the post Mason era... the Gophers have started slow every year it seemed.

We don't even regularly pound the non-conference cupcakes like we did in the Mason years...
Click to expand...

I tend to agree, with the 2008 Tim Brewster season seeming to be the one notable exception. Started off 7-1, ranked #25. Went on to lose all 5 of their remaining games. That was very early in my personal Gopher fandom, and was pretty jarring.
 

A_Slab_of_Bacon said:
Man I kinda like it back loaded.... like maybe this is the year things change but ever since the post Mason era... the Gophers have started slow every year it seemed.

We don't even regularly pound the non-conference cupcakes like we did in the Mason years...
Click to expand...
Maybe. But the Gophers have the opportunity to be ranked in the top 10 after week 3 or 4 this year.
 

matt said:
Maybe. But the Gophers have the opportunity to be ranked in the top 10 after week 3 or 4 this year.
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Might be useful if the season ends those weeks .... if there's a year to cram in those games I guess this is it!
 


PMWinSTP said:
I mean, definitely top 10 going into the Mich home game...
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Meaning, beat both Iowa and Wisconsin in the same season, and beat Wisconsin in Madison.

That automatically makes it a great year!

When is the last time that the Gophers have won the Pig, Axe, and Jug in the same year??
 

MinneStoa said:
I tend to agree, with the 2008 Tim Brewster season seeming to be the one notable exception. Started off 7-1, ranked #25. Went on to lose all 5 of their remaining games. That was very early in my personal Gopher fandom, and was pretty jarring.
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Glad to hear that you stuck it out (as painful as it may have been at times)!
 

Bruno22 said:
Glad to hear that you stuck it out (as painful as it may have been at times)!
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To be fair, my first year at the U was 2007's 1-11 season. So I probably should have seen the collapse coming.
 

A_Slab_of_Bacon said:
Man I kinda like it back loaded.... like maybe this is the year things change but ever since the post Mason era... the Gophers have started slow every year it seemed.

We don't even regularly pound the non-conference cupcakes like we did in the Mason years...
Click to expand...
Maybe but we are currently on the nations longest out of conference win streak.
the mean margin of victory in PJ Flecks 9 regular season non conference games is 17
 

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