2011 Minnesota Gophers Football Predictions, Odds, Picks and Schedule – 2011 Minnesota NCAA Football Preview

2011 Minnesota Gophers College Football Expert Predictions, Picks, Vegas Odds and Schedule – Minnesota NCAA Football Preview: For the Minnesota Golden Gophers, consistency has always been the main issue. There have been a few strong years and a few star-caliber players, but the good years have always been followed by mediocre or even down seasons. New coach Jerry Kill hopes to finally stabilize the up-and-down program, bringing the same recruiting connections that allowed him to build Northern Illinois into a dangerous program. Kill won’t be able to turn around the Golden Gophers overnight, especially coming off a 3-9 season. That being said, Minnesota could start to take steps in the right direction in 2011-12.

If Kill is going to help the Golden Gophers improve this season, he will have to start by replacing quarterback Adam Weber. While he didn’t win a ton of games in his time under center, Weber did finish his career as the school’s all-time leader in almost every important statistical category. Converted wide receiver Marqueis Gray is slated to take over the reins of the offense, and while his speed and athleticism will be an asset, he is far from polished as a pocket passer. Gray is going to be a work in progress this season, and as long as he can get better as the year goes on, Minnesota should consider it a success.

Although Gray and the Golden Gopher offense are facing an uphill battle, Kill’s system will take advantage of Gray’s strengths. Kill will employ a run-first attack with most of the snaps coming out of the shotgun. The ball isn’t going to put in the air that often, and Gray, along with running backs Duane Bennett and De’Leon Eskridge, are going to be given as many carries as they can stand. They will be running behind an offensive line that returns three starters from a year ago, but plain and simple, Minnesota is going to have to work hard for its points this season.

The defense returns plenty of starters from last year’s team, but that may not be a good thing. After all, the Golden Gophers ranked dead last in the Big Ten is rush defense. Pressuring the quarterback wasn’t exactly the unit’s strong suit either as Minnesota averaged less than a sack per game. Despite all the starters returning, don’t be surprised if Kill switches things up during the season if the defense continues to play poorly. Look for the Golden Gophers to try to utilize their athletic linebackers in multiple packages this season, including in blitz formations.  

The schedule doesn’t do the Golden Gophers any favors either. Minnesota opens on the road against the USC Trojans before facing three very beatable teams. However, wins will tough to come by once conference play starts. In fact, Kill’s team could end up going winless in the Big Ten. Minnesota faces the top teams in the conference at home and must face the teams they have a chance at beating on the road. The end result will likely be a very long year for the Golden Gophers.

2011 Minnesota Gophers College Football Predictions: 3-9 Record

Preseason 2011 Minnesota Gophers NCAA Football Odds:
Odds to Win 2012 BCS Championship: NA/Off the Board
Odds to Win 2011 Big Ten Champonship: +10000
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2011 Minnesota Gophers College Football Schedule
Sat, Sep 3 at USC 3:30 pm —
Sat, Sep 10 New Mexico State 3:30 pm —
Sat, Sep 17 Miami (OH) 3:30 pm —
Sat, Sep 24 North Dakota State 7:00 pm —
Sat, Oct 1 at Michigan TBA —
Sat, Oct 8 at Purdue TBA —
Sat, Oct 22 Nebraska 3:30 pm —
Sat, Oct 29 Iowa TBA —
Sat, Nov 5 at Michigan State TBA —
Sat, Nov 12 Wisconsin TBA —
Sat, Nov 19 at Northwestern TBA —
Sat, Nov 26 Illinois TBA —

Check out NSAwins.com’s official 2011 Big Ten Football Expert Picks, Odds and Predictions article.

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