Today begins our annual Big Ten conference rundown. If past years are any indication, you can take these locks to the bank! Up first is the Golden Gophers of Minnesota:
The Gophers enter the season coming off another losing season that improbably ended on a high note with a home win over Iowa.
Jerry Kill takes over in Minneapolis and will do so with a gaping hole at QB after the graduation of Adam Weber. Highly ranked dual threat recruit Marqueis Gray takes over an offense which figures to be able to move the ball on the ground with DeLeon Eskridge returning.
As usual, the defense looks to be the weakness for Minnesota. Last year the Gophers gave up over 33 points and 400 yards of offense per game and it doesn’t appear that will improve in the new 4-3 system brought by new Defensive Coordinator Tracy Claeys.
Minnesota opens at USC then plays 3 mid-majors (at best) at home. A 3-1 start looks likely however the Gophers last victory of the 2011 season may very well come in September. With no Indiana on the schedule, the best shot for a Gopher conference victory looks to be versus Illinois on the last Saturday of the regular season. Prediction: 3-9 overall, 0-8 in conference.
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