College Football Predictions – Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017 NCAA Football Preview
2016 Recap
2016 Record – 9-4
2016 ATS – 5-7-1
Run silent. Run deep.
The Gophers have quietly reeled off FIVE consecutive 6+ win seasons including last year’s impressive 9-4 mark. They only lost one game all season by double digits (!) and finished up the campaign with a yuuuuge upset of Washington St in the Holiday Bowl. RED HOT HC PJ Fleck comes over from Western Michigan to try and get these WACKY Gophers to the Big 10 Championship game. ROW THAT BOAT, baby.
2017 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
Big 10 – TBD
West Division – TBD
OFFENSE
Oh boy. Can it be another year with no passing game ? The Gophers will have to continue their existence without the ultimate gamer Mitch Leidner at QB. It looks like something called Conor Rhoda or Demry Croft leading the offense this season and new OC Kirk Ciarrocca is going to have to work some magic to get the passing attack working a lot better than it did in 2016. Last season’s #1 WR Drew Wolitarsky is no longer on board and the Gophers are going to need someone to emerge and FAST.
The running game is in excellent shape with the 1-2 combo of Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks returning for duty. Those two RBs tallied over 1,800 (!) yards rushing and 21 TDs in 2016 and will definitely be the focal point of the offense. The offensive line returns 3/5 starters and has excellent size.
DEFENSE
Minnesota was ranked 4th in the Big 10 last season in total defense last season, and even though they only return five starters this year, new DC Robb Smith still has some nice pieces to work with this year. DL Steven Richardson had 7 sacks in 2016 (11 TFL) and LB Jonathan Celestin was 2nd on the team in tackles. And don’t sleep on our boy LB CODY POOCK who was injured last season. The Gophers also bring back a pair of starting safeties. Keep in mind that this defense bagged 37(!) sacks last year and held Washington St to 12 freaking points. Yes, they only have five returning starters, but the potential is compelling.
SPECIAL TEAMS
HELL-O ? The Gophers boast one of the best kickers in college football as Emmit Carpenter nailed 22/24 FGs last season including 10/10 (wut ?) from 40+ yards. That is going to come in very handy this season. They also return P Ryan Santoso and don’t forget that Rodney Smith had a KR TD last year. This feels like a really good group.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot
November 18 – at Northwestern. This will be the Golden Gophers 3rd road date in four weeks after dealing with trips to Iowa and Michigan.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Minnesota has been a member of the Big 10 Conference since its inception in 1896.
The Golden Gophers have winning records against Iowa (.583), Nebraska (.582) and Northwestern (.606). Don’t say we do not deliver useless trivia.
MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 6.0
MEGALOCKS says:
Overall, we give the GOLDEN GOPHERS a 6.0 ATS Value Rating (Above Average) this season.
This should be an interesting season. Wisconsin. Iowa. Nebraska. Northwestern. Now there is Minnesota to worry about as well. MEGALOCKS BIG 10 INSIDERS let us know that there is a legitimate shot for the Gophers to start the season 7-0 or 6-1. It seems to us that it will all come down to the games slated from late-October and beyond.
Amaze your SKANKY MISTRESS with this gem. The Golden Gophers have not had a losing mark against the point spread since the 2009 campaign. DEGENERATE NATION seems to stray away from them but that could change with new HC PJ Fleck who would already be named coach of the year if he was at Michigan. #ESPN. We love the ground attack and the defense. It’s just hard to get completely behind a team with a yuuuuuuuuuuuuge question mark at QB. We are pumped to see another school in the mix in the Big 10.
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