2010 Minnesota Football Predictions
The Minnesota Golden Gophers finished up the 2009 season at 6-7 after losing to Iowa State in the Insight Bowl. It was the seventh time in the last eight years that the Golden Gophers were asked to play in a bowl game. The Golden Gophers finished in eighth place in the Big Ten last year at 3-5, but did have a couple of nice wins over Northwestern and Michigan State. Here is a look at what the Golden Gophers will bring to the table on both sides of the ball this season, plus my prediction on where they finish the year in the Big Ten.
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Offense: With nine starters back on the offensive side of the ball, the Golden Gophers are hoping this unit can carry them in 2010. Senior Adam Weber enters his fourth season as the starting quarterback for the Golden Gophers, but is coming off a down year by his standards. Weber completed just 52% of his passes for 2,582 yards with just 13 touchdowns to 15 interceptions.
Weber will have to go to work in 2010 without his top two targets from the 2009 season in wide receiver Eric Decker and tight end Nick Tow-Arnett, but there is still plenty of experience at the wide out position. Juniors Da’Jon McKnight and Troy Stoudermire will be joined by fellow junior Brandon Green in the starting lineup in 2010, while junior Eric Lair is expected to step in as the new tight end.
The Golden Gophers struggled to get the ground game going in 2009, as junior to be Duane Bennett led the way with just 376 yards and six touchdowns. Don’t be surprised if true freshman Lamonte Edwards ends up taking over the majority of the carries this season.
One reason you have to think the running game will improve this season is the Golden Gophers return all five starters on the offensive line, and four of the five starters are seniors. This unit will be the key to the Gophers success on offense this season.
Defense: The Golden Gophers figure to see a bit of a drop off in production on the defensive side of the ball in 2010, as they return just two starters to a defense that gave up nearly 24 points a game in 2009.
Up front the Golden Gophers will have to replace all four defensive lineman, and heading into the fall it looks like sophomore DL Wilhite and junior Anthony Jacobs will take over at the two defensive end spots, while juniors Jewhan Edwards and Brandon Kirksey are the projected starters at defensive tackle.
Three more new starters are needed at linebacker this season. Sophomores Spencer Reeves and Keanon Cooper are slated to take over at the two outside spots, while junior Gary Tinsley has the edge to take over the middle linebacker spot.
Seniors Kyle Theret and Kim Royston are the only two starters back on this side of the ball, and will once again hold down the two safety positions. Heading into the season it looks like junior Christyn Lewis and sophomore Micahael Carter will take over at the two vacated corner positions.
Big Ten Prediction – 11th: While I think the offense can put up better numbers in 2010, I don’t think they will be able to score enough points to counter what the defense will allow. I have the Gophers finishing last in the Big Ten this season, thanks to a home schedule that includes Iowa, Ohio State, Penn State, an Northwestern. Not an easy road schedule either as they have to travel to both Wisconsin and Michigan State this season, leaving only road games against Illinois and Purdue as their only legit winnable games this season.
For a complete look at how the conference will play out this season, check out Jimmy Boyd’s 2010 Big Ten Predictions.
If you are interested in betting the college football odds this season, be sure to stop back for Jimmy Boyd’s expert NCAA football picks.
