These 5 teams could win the Big Ten, but only with a little luck and a lot of help (4. Minnesota)

[BleedGopher]

Per Josh:

4. Minnesota Golden Gophers​

Head Coach: PJ Fleck | Last Season: 8-5 (5-4)

PJ Fleck almost always finds a way to win a game or two that he shouldn’t, but don’t expect those games to come on the road in Columbus or Eugene. The Golden Gophers got a difficult schedule draw with both Oregon and Ohio State on the road, so they may already be out of luck, but Fleck is too good a coach to put Minnesota in the “no chance” tier.

These 5 teams could win the Big Ten, but only with a little luck and a lot of help

Penn State, Oregon, and Ohio State are the front-runners in the Big Ten this season, but these underdogs could shock their way to Indianapolis with a few breaks

victorybellrings.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[WAGopher]

Per Josh:

4. Minnesota Golden Gophers​

Head Coach: PJ Fleck | Last Season: 8-5 (5-4)

PJ Fleck almost always finds a way to win a game or two that he shouldn’t, but don’t expect those games to come on the road in Columbus or Eugene. The Golden Gophers got a difficult schedule draw with both Oregon and Ohio State on the road, so they may already be out of luck, but Fleck is too good a coach to put Minnesota in the “no chance” tier.

These 5 teams could win the Big Ten, but only with a little luck and a lot of help

Penn State, Oregon, and Ohio State are the front-runners in the Big Ten this season, but these underdogs could shock their way to Indianapolis with a few breaks

victorybellrings.com

Go Gophers!!

More talk like this might get the Gophers in the preseason top 25.

 

[FredCoxRocks]

More talk like this might get the Gophers in the preseason top 25.

Now, now...we know those spots are always reserved for Nebraska and Wisconsin.

 

[60's Guy]

More talk like this might get the Gophers in the preseason top 25.

See now, I had a different take...I was pissed he rated us behind Washington, Iowa and Michigan State. Maybe bigger question...did Illinois cancel their season...they will be a tough out.

 

[fmlizard]

There's enough games the Gophers will be favored in (up to 10 of 12) that making the Big Ten title game isn't insane. It would take a lot of luck and consistency to run that part of the table since the Gophers usually don't have a huge margin for bad games against weak B1G teams.

But it's very unlikely to happen without winning one of @ Ohio State or @ Oregon. Then they would probably have to beat a team like that again in Indy.

The "PJ Fleck always finds a way to win a game or two he shouldn't" isn't very accurate to me. He's more notable for consistency against the mid and lower tier than rising up and pulling big upsets.

 

[Spaulding!No!]

dink-o-meter displays no dink found.

 

[TNGophfan]

There's enough games the Gophers will be favored in (up to 10 of 12) that making the Big Ten title game isn't insane. It would take a lot of luck and consistency to run that part of the table since the Gophers usually don't have a huge margin for bad games against weak B1G teams.

But it's very unlikely to happen without winning one of @ Ohio State or @ Oregon. Then they would probably have to beat a team like that again in Indy.

The "PJ Fleck always finds a way to win a game or two he shouldn't" isn't very accurate to me. He's more notable for consistency against the mid and lower tier than rising up and pulling big upsets.

Agree with that. Only exceptions were Penn State and maybe a couple Sconny games.

 

[MNVCGUY]

See now, I had a different take...I was pissed he rated us behind Washington, Iowa and Michigan State. Maybe bigger question...did Illinois cancel their season...they will be a tough out.

Weird article all the way around.....lists Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State as front runners....nothing wrong there.

Then proceeds to list 5 teams that could win the conference but for some reason leaves out the 2 most likely contenders in Illinois and Michigan who both have really nice schedules. I would rank both of those teams ahead of any of the teams he picked in terms of best chances to win the conference this year.