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Iowa Hawkeyes at Minnesota Golden Gophers 12:00 PM ET
Minnesota Golden Gophers –3 –108 (2 Units)
Minnesota is stumbling while Iowa continues to impress but we have a great situation of an unranked home favorite against a ranked opponent. The Hawkeyes have won 5 straight including 2 on the road but those two road wins were against Illinois and Penn St., a combined 1-12 in the Big Ten. The question is whether or not Iowa can beat a really good team away from home. If the Gophers want go to almost any bowl game, they better win this game and wind up with a 7-4 record. The one-sided losses to Michigan State, Indiana and Wisconsin aren't going to help the Gophers' chances when it comes to picking the bowl participants. The Gophers are 5-0 at home winning by a total score of 204-66 playing with more confidence and precision at the Metrodome than they have shown on the road.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz readily admits he is surprised his team is in this position, given all that has gone wrong this season. He knew he could count on his rock-solid defense for some stability, but the injury situation on offense has bordered on the ridiculous. The revolving door at tailback means sophomore Sam Brownlee, a former walk-on who was fifth on the depth chart at the start of the season, will start against the Gophers. The Hawkeyes rank 115th nationally at only 82.4 rushing yards per game and average 2.2 yards per carry. The Hawkeyes have started the same five offensive linemen during their five-game winning streak, but that will likely change this week. Ferentz said center Mike Elgin will not play after suffering an ankle injury Saturday against Purdue and in his place, Ben Cronin will make his first collegiate start. He also said left tackle Lee Gray remained questionable. If he cannot play, Ben Gates likely will take his spot.
Iowa is fourth nationally in rushing defense and 10th in total defense and gave up only 40 points combined in four October games. They have yet to face a rushing attack like the one they will see on Saturday however as the Gophers are 7th in the country in rushing offense. The Hawakeyes have gone against one team ranked higher that 59th in rushing offense and that was Michigan St. who piled up 210 yards on the ground, 142 yards more than Iowa’s season average allowed. There have been rumors about some of the Minnesota players showing displeasure at the coaching staff but that has been downgraded to an isolated comment by one player. Senior captain Darrell Reid questioned the coaching after the Wisconsin game; his remarks had head coach Glen Mason all but steaming at the ears Sunday. "[The coaches] do a great job preparing us and getting us ready to go," Gophers safety John Pawielski said. "We just have to go out and do it. It's really on our shoulders." You’d better believe Mason will have the Gophers ready for this game. Minnesota is ninth in the nation in turnover margin and is even sharper at home. Minnesota’s six turnovers this season leads the Big Ten Conference in fewest turnovers and puts Minnesota in position to break the NCAA record for fewest turnovers in a season. The Golden Gophers will attempt to become the first Minnesota team to finish a season undefeated at home in the Metrodome and the first team to go without a home loss in a season since 1967.
Minnesota Golden Gophers –3 –108 (2 Units)
Minnesota is stumbling while Iowa continues to impress but we have a great situation of an unranked home favorite against a ranked opponent. The Hawkeyes have won 5 straight including 2 on the road but those two road wins were against Illinois and Penn St., a combined 1-12 in the Big Ten. The question is whether or not Iowa can beat a really good team away from home. If the Gophers want go to almost any bowl game, they better win this game and wind up with a 7-4 record. The one-sided losses to Michigan State, Indiana and Wisconsin aren't going to help the Gophers' chances when it comes to picking the bowl participants. The Gophers are 5-0 at home winning by a total score of 204-66 playing with more confidence and precision at the Metrodome than they have shown on the road.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz readily admits he is surprised his team is in this position, given all that has gone wrong this season. He knew he could count on his rock-solid defense for some stability, but the injury situation on offense has bordered on the ridiculous. The revolving door at tailback means sophomore Sam Brownlee, a former walk-on who was fifth on the depth chart at the start of the season, will start against the Gophers. The Hawkeyes rank 115th nationally at only 82.4 rushing yards per game and average 2.2 yards per carry. The Hawkeyes have started the same five offensive linemen during their five-game winning streak, but that will likely change this week. Ferentz said center Mike Elgin will not play after suffering an ankle injury Saturday against Purdue and in his place, Ben Cronin will make his first collegiate start. He also said left tackle Lee Gray remained questionable. If he cannot play, Ben Gates likely will take his spot.
Iowa is fourth nationally in rushing defense and 10th in total defense and gave up only 40 points combined in four October games. They have yet to face a rushing attack like the one they will see on Saturday however as the Gophers are 7th in the country in rushing offense. The Hawakeyes have gone against one team ranked higher that 59th in rushing offense and that was Michigan St. who piled up 210 yards on the ground, 142 yards more than Iowa’s season average allowed. There have been rumors about some of the Minnesota players showing displeasure at the coaching staff but that has been downgraded to an isolated comment by one player. Senior captain Darrell Reid questioned the coaching after the Wisconsin game; his remarks had head coach Glen Mason all but steaming at the ears Sunday. "[The coaches] do a great job preparing us and getting us ready to go," Gophers safety John Pawielski said. "We just have to go out and do it. It's really on our shoulders." You’d better believe Mason will have the Gophers ready for this game. Minnesota is ninth in the nation in turnover margin and is even sharper at home. Minnesota’s six turnovers this season leads the Big Ten Conference in fewest turnovers and puts Minnesota in position to break the NCAA record for fewest turnovers in a season. The Golden Gophers will attempt to become the first Minnesota team to finish a season undefeated at home in the Metrodome and the first team to go without a home loss in a season since 1967.