CFB51 College Football Fan Community

The Power Five => Big Ten => Topic started by: Temp430 on October 21, 2020, 08:14:53 AM

Title: #18 Michigan (0-0) at #21 Minnesota (0-0) Game Week
Post by: Temp430 on October 21, 2020, 08:14:53 AM
Kickoff is at 7:30 PM EST on ABC.  Michigan is favored by 3 points.  Michigan fields a new QB and Minnesota a veteran.  No idea on how this will play out.  Michigan's D should be good. I think I saw snow in the forecast for Minneapolis on Saturday night.  That would be a first for an opener.
Title: Re: #18 Michigan (0-0) at #21 Minnesota (0-0) Game Week
Post by: 847badgerfan on October 21, 2020, 08:51:40 AM
Minnesota lost a ton on defense. They have a lot to overcome there.

This is the most interesting game for me this week. It will probably tell us much about the two teams.
Title: Re: #18 Michigan (0-0) at #21 Minnesota (0-0) Game Week
Post by: ELA on October 21, 2020, 09:45:52 AM
The loss of their OC is bigger than any personnel loss for the Gophers
Title: Re: #18 Michigan (0-0) at #21 Minnesota (0-0) Game Week
Post by: Brutus Buckeye on October 21, 2020, 10:02:20 AM
(https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/omsM9RaXGF0pKnIU7AhKivbW8yg=/1400x1400/filters:format(jpeg)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9607761/456229720.jpg)
Title: Re: #18 Michigan (0-0) at #21 Minnesota (0-0) Game Week
Post by: MaximumSam on October 21, 2020, 10:28:18 AM
The Wolverines had the unexpected loss of Ambry Thomas, leaving their corner situation fairly thin.  See if Minny can Rashod Bateman can make some plays.  
Title: Re: #18 Michigan (0-0) at #21 Minnesota (0-0) Game Week
Post by: Mdot21 on October 21, 2020, 10:47:49 AM
The Wolverines had the unexpected loss of Ambry Thomas, leaving their corner situation fairly thin.  See if Minny can Rashod Bateman can make some plays. 
Also lost Nico at WR.

I’m picking Minnesota by 6.
Title: Re: #18 Michigan (0-0) at #21 Minnesota (0-0) Game Week
Post by: GopherRock on October 21, 2020, 12:00:30 PM
I have no idea what to expect for the 98th Little Brown Jug other than cold weather. 

On one hand, PJ's Gopher teams have been notoriously slow starters. They've had trouble putting away bad non-cons and 1-AA tomato cans, and Michigan is a lot better than any of those. Also, a lot of losses on D starting with a safety who is now a starting safety in the NFL as a rookie. On the other hand, all the offensive weapons that had the league's best bowl win are back with a chip on their shoulders. Should be a great ball game.

Also, yours truly was at the Big House for that celebration with the Jug back in 2014. After not seeing a Gopher road win in person in 11 years of trying, I saw two that fall. It was glorious.
Title: Re: #18 Michigan (0-0) at #21 Minnesota (0-0) Game Week
Post by: Mdot21 on October 21, 2020, 12:09:45 PM
isn’t Tyler Johnson gone? He was a pretty big weapon. 

I’m leaning to Minnesota by 6. Harbaugh’s teams perform poorly on the road. Especially in openers vs ranked teams. And he’s breaking in a brand new QB and his top WR in Nico Collins and his top CB in Ambry Thomas both decided to opt out bc of COVID. And both these dudes are some dudes. All-Conference caliber players and surefire NFL draft picks.
Title: Re: #18 Michigan (0-0) at #21 Minnesota (0-0) Game Week
Post by: GopherRock on October 21, 2020, 12:34:51 PM
TJ is gone, but Tanner Morgan, Rashod Bateman, Mo Ibrahim, and Big Dan are back.
Title: Re: #18 Michigan (0-0) at #21 Minnesota (0-0) Game Week
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on October 21, 2020, 12:44:11 PM
Definitely the most interesting game of the weekend from the perspective of our Power Rankings (https://www.cfb51.com/big-ten/b1g-power-rankings-preseason-17631/).  This is #4 at #5 and it just doesn't get much better than that (adjacent teams and the higher ranked one is on the road).  For comparison, the other games are:


In the other six games the teams are separated by at least four spots in our rankings and in four of the other six the higher ranked team is at home.  


This game has the added benefit of being at least potentially important to both divisional races.  If Minnesota can win this then they stand a VERY good chance of sweeping their B1G-E opponents (because the other one is UMD) and that just might be the difference in the B1G-W especially since UW and Iowa have difficult B1G-E games (UW is @M, IA is @PSU).  

This game is important for Michigan in part because their schedule looks brutal.  They have to play the other four of the league's top-5 teams and five of their eight games are against the top-7 teams in the league.  If they win this, that might start to look like an opportunity but if they lose this then that looks like a disaster.  
Title: Re: #18 Michigan (0-0) at #21 Minnesota (0-0) Game Week
Post by: Mdot21 on October 21, 2020, 12:49:28 PM
This game is important for Michigan in part because their schedule looks brutal.  They have to play the other four of the league's top-5 teams and five of their eight games are against the top-7 teams in the league.  If they win this, that might start to look like an opportunity but if they lose this then that looks like a disaster. 
Meh. Win or lose this game, Michigan is still going to get taken to the woodshed by Ohio State. And at this point- Jim has done almost everything but beat Ohio State. I really don't care about anything at this point. I just want a win, any win, vs Ohio State. I'd rather lose every game this year and beat Ohio State than win every game and lose to Ohio State. Literally.
Title: Re: #18 Michigan (0-0) at #21 Minnesota (0-0) Game Week
Post by: medinabuckeye1 on October 22, 2020, 11:27:46 PM
Meh. Win or lose this game, Michigan is still going to get taken to the woodshed by Ohio State. And at this point- Jim has done almost everything but beat Ohio State. I really don't care about anything at this point. I just want a win, any win, vs Ohio State. I'd rather lose every game this year and beat Ohio State than win every game and lose to Ohio State. Literally.
I get it.  When Cooper was in town I felt the same way in reverse.  

It is funny, a rivalry seems to always be more important to the fans of the team that has been losing.  Most of the Michigan fans I know didn't really care much about Michigan's 2001 loss, I think they figured it was bound to happen eventually anyway.  

In 2001 I felt exactly like you do now.  I would have taken 1-11 in an instant if it meant 1-0 against Michigan and 0-11 against teams not named Michigan.  Now that Ohio State has won so many in a row I still want my team to win but if you asked me to choose between 14-1 with a loss to Michigan and an NC or 14-1 with a win over Michigan and no NC, I'd take the NC without hesitation.  Twenty years ago I'd have accepted a 1-11 season for a win over Michigan, now I'd rather have tOSU lose to Michigan and win a CFP game than to have them beat Michigan and lose a CFP game.  
Title: Re: #18 Michigan (0-0) at #21 Minnesota (0-0) Game Week
Post by: 847badgerfan on October 23, 2020, 07:30:23 AM
I'm taking Michigan here. I just have a feeling they will put it together this year, somehow.

It's f'ing 2020. Shit has and is gonna happen.
Title: Re: #18 Michigan (0-0) at #21 Minnesota (0-0) Game Week
Post by: MrNubbz on October 23, 2020, 07:37:48 AM
That's just crazy talk
Title: Re: #18 Michigan (0-0) at #21 Minnesota (0-0) Game Week
Post by: MrNubbz on October 23, 2020, 07:41:22 AM
I get it.  When Cooper was in town I felt the same way in reverse. 

In 2001 I felt exactly like you do now. 
One of my favorite games,some of us had been following Tressel at YSU and knew he could flat out coach.Had about 15 diehards over for that game.Basement and up stairs were ready with TVs,mop and bucket
Title: Re: #18 Michigan (0-0) at #21 Minnesota (0-0) Game Week
Post by: MrNubbz on October 23, 2020, 07:43:35 AM

 I really don't care about anything at this point. I just want a win, any win, vs Ohio State. I'd rather lose every game this year and beat Ohio State than win every game and lose to Ohio State. Literally.
C'mon you realize we're still reeling from that 83-0 drubbing Fielding put on us
Title: Re: #18 Michigan (0-0) at #21 Minnesota (0-0) Game Week
Post by: Temp430 on October 25, 2020, 07:56:30 AM
Pleasantly surprised with Viper Barrett, QB Milton, CB Green, and Michigan’s whole OL.  Surprised with all the freshman on the field for Michigan. I guess they’re getting ready for the contagion.  Along those lines I wish the had put QB McNamara in a little earlier.