10* - Texas Tech Red Raiders (-8)
Only four Division I-A teams allowed more than the 254 passing yards per game that the Gophers gave up this season. Down the stretch, Minnesota allowed 1,040 through the air over its final three games and that was against Indiana, Michigan State and Iowa (321, 330 & 354 yards respectively) who all passed for season highs in those games. For those of you that have been living under a rock, Texas Tech really likes to throw the ball and has the nation?s 3rd ranked passing offense. Sometimes these types of comparisons are taken with a grain of salt because we are dealing with statistics but the truth in this case is that the Gophers are really bad at defending the pass and have made their opponents look really good all year.
Minnesota?s Div I-A opponents combined passing average for the season was 217 yards but against the Gophers they averaged 254 yards per game and eight yards per attempt. These same opponents ended the season with an average national pass offense ranking of 48th so it is not like Minny's schedule was full of pass oriented teams. In fact, they faced only two teams which finished in the Top 25 passing offenses and lost to both while failing to cover the spread in either game. Tech?s veteran offensive line will give QB Harrell all the time he needs as they have allowed just 17 sacks all season while the Gophers have logged only 23 themselves.
On offense, Minnesota will be playing without TE Matt Spaeth who was the team?s second leading receiver this year but is recovering from shoulder surgery. While Brian Cupito is a capable quarterback, the Gophers' only real hope is to grind it out on the ground with RB Pinnix. The Raiders have a decent run defense and if they can keep the Gopher running game in check, this one could be over early. If Minny is somehow still in the game at halftime, Tech HC Leach is a genius at making the necessary adjustments to put it away in the second period.
None of Minnesota?s six wins have come against a Div 1-A team with a winning record and they were able to squeak by North Dakota State by a single point. Don?t even blink with this one.
Only four Division I-A teams allowed more than the 254 passing yards per game that the Gophers gave up this season. Down the stretch, Minnesota allowed 1,040 through the air over its final three games and that was against Indiana, Michigan State and Iowa (321, 330 & 354 yards respectively) who all passed for season highs in those games. For those of you that have been living under a rock, Texas Tech really likes to throw the ball and has the nation?s 3rd ranked passing offense. Sometimes these types of comparisons are taken with a grain of salt because we are dealing with statistics but the truth in this case is that the Gophers are really bad at defending the pass and have made their opponents look really good all year.
Minnesota?s Div I-A opponents combined passing average for the season was 217 yards but against the Gophers they averaged 254 yards per game and eight yards per attempt. These same opponents ended the season with an average national pass offense ranking of 48th so it is not like Minny's schedule was full of pass oriented teams. In fact, they faced only two teams which finished in the Top 25 passing offenses and lost to both while failing to cover the spread in either game. Tech?s veteran offensive line will give QB Harrell all the time he needs as they have allowed just 17 sacks all season while the Gophers have logged only 23 themselves.
On offense, Minnesota will be playing without TE Matt Spaeth who was the team?s second leading receiver this year but is recovering from shoulder surgery. While Brian Cupito is a capable quarterback, the Gophers' only real hope is to grind it out on the ground with RB Pinnix. The Raiders have a decent run defense and if they can keep the Gopher running game in check, this one could be over early. If Minny is somehow still in the game at halftime, Tech HC Leach is a genius at making the necessary adjustments to put it away in the second period.
None of Minnesota?s six wins have come against a Div 1-A team with a winning record and they were able to squeak by North Dakota State by a single point. Don?t even blink with this one.
