Flash News:
Views 2543
2021-12-27 17:12:34
-by Daniel Mogollon, Staff Writer; Image: Minnesota’s 379-pound offensive tackle Daniel Faalele. (Image Source: Getty Images)
Record to Date:
Championship Week: 2-0 (+3 Units); Season: 45-30-1 (+23½ Units)
Sides: 37-21-1 (+20 Units); Game Total: 1-4 (-1½ Units); Team Total: 9-5 (+5 Units)
B1GGEST BETS (2 Units): Championship Week: 1-0; Season: 10-4-1 (+12 Units)
B1GGER BET (1 Unit): Championship Week: 1-0; Season: 23-11 (+12 Units)
B1G BETS (1/2 Unit): Championship Week: 0-0; Season: 14-15 (-0.5 Unit)
Guaranteed Rate Bowl preview:
Minnesota -4.5 West Virginia
Date: Dec. 28; Time: 10:15 p.m. ET; TV: ESPN (Dave Flemming, Rod Gilmore)
Location: Phoenix, AZ; Stadium: Chase Field (38,301)
Minnesota – Coach: PJ Fleck; Record: 8-4 (6-3 B1G); Record vs Bowl Teams: 4-2
Out for Season: RB Mohamed Ibrahim, RB Treyson Potts, RB Bryce Williams
Transfer Portal: QB Zach Annexstad, WR Brady Boyd
CFB Playoffs: NR; AP Top 25: NR (29); Coaches Poll: NR (29); SP+: 20; PFF: 15
West Virginia – Coach: Neal Brown; Record: 6-6 (4-5 B1G); Record vs Bowl Teams: 2-6
CFB Playoffs: NR; AP Top 25: NR; Coaches Poll: NR; SP+: 72; PFF: 54
Out for Season: TE Mike O’Laughlin, CB Nicktroy Fortune, Questionable: LB Lance Dixon, CB Jackie Matthews
Opt-Out NFL Draft: RB Leddie Brown
Transfer Portal: WR Isaiah Esdale, TE TJ Banks, OT Parker Moorer, LB VanDarius Cowan
Common Opponent: WVU Lost @ Maryland 30-24 in W1; UM Won vs. Maryland 34-16 in W8
Total: 45; Money Line: Minnesota -190/West Virginia +170
The Golden Gophers are coming off an excellent season, which included an upset of rival Wisconsin in their season finale to end a long home losing streak to the Badgers. They are riding high heading into the bowl game. Not only did Minnesota go over their season win total of 6.5, but they also played their best football against Power 5 opponents (7-3), while the Mountaineers needed their win over LIU in Week 2 to put them in position to make a bowl after going just 4-5 in conference play (5-6 versus P5 teams). WVU’s 2-6 record against bowl teams is also rather unimpressive, while the Gophers went 4-2 in such games.
As much as any team in the country, the Gophers have an offensive identity. They are going to ground and pound opponents behind a mammoth offensive line that features several NFL prospects. Their 230 combined starts are the most among FBS teams. Senior Conner Olson leads the way with a Big Ten record 57 starts, one of six offensive linemen with 19-plus starts going into the bowl game. Further bolstering their run blocking is tight end Ko Kieft who flirted with Pro Football Focus grades comparable to Kyle Pitts and Georgie Kittle based almost exclusively on his incredible run blocking.
It’s that strength upfront that has allowed Minnesota to not miss a beat despite losing their top two running backs to injuries. Filling in is a pair of diaper dandies in Mar’Keise Irving and Ky Thomas who have combined for six 100-yard games in the second half of the season. WVU’s defense has allowed 3.87 yards per carry which would be ninth in the Big Ten, behind Illinois.
The running game is only part of the reason PJ Fleck’s teams have traveled well. The Gophers were 4-1 on the road this season and are 13-4 (.765) in their last 17 away from home. Their defense is ranked fourth nationally in total defense, while they come to Arizona ranked ninth in passing defense, rushing defense, and scoring defense (18.3 PPG). It’s a unit that has improved as the season has gone along and their current streak of six-straight games of below 300 yards is tops in the country. Ranked 11th by SP+ the Minny D is the best unit on either team.
Nearly matching Minnesota’s edge when WVU has the ball is their special teams which is ranked 41st per SP+ well ahead of the Mountaineers at 100.
Coming off a 3-4 season in 2020, I don’t expect motivation to be an issue and Fleck’s bowl record is nearly perfect (4-1 overall, 2-0 at Minnesota). Motivation is kinda his thing. The Gophers appear to be as intact as they’ve been down the stretch while WVU will be without leading rusher Leddie Brown who opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft.
The only blemish since the end of the regular season has been the parting of ways with offensive coordinator Mike Sanford Jr. (aka he was fired) but even that has a silver lining as it sparked the return of Kirk Ciarrocca. Senior quarterback Tanner Morgan played his best football when Ciarrocca was the OC in 2019 and he returns to Minnesota after serving as an analyst at…yep, West Virginia. Even though he won’t be calling the plays on Tuesday night, expect his impact to be felt.
Bottom line: Minnesota is a damn good football team. They have an outstanding running game behind one of the best offensive lines and one of the most improved defenses in all of college football, while WVU is the lowest-ranked Power 5 team to make a bowl game (excluding Rutgers) per SP+. This might be the biggest mismatch involving a Big Ten team and I’m surprised the line isn’t higher.
Pick: Minnesota -4.5; Confidence Level: B1GGER BET (1 Unit)
28 December, 2021
-by Daniel Mogollon, Staff Writer; Image: Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen. (Image Source: Getty Images) Record to Date: Championship Week: 2-0 (+3 Units); Season: 45-30-1 (+23½......More
27 December, 2021
-by Daniel Mogollon, Staff Writer; Image: Minnesota’s 379-pound offensive tackle Daniel Faalele. (Image Source: Getty Images) Record to Date: Championship Week: 2-0 (+3 Units);......More
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