ESPN: Vote: Best Big Ten game setting -- Ohio State vs. Minnesota

per ESPN:

The results are in from the first round. Eight teams remain alive. And our first quarterfinal matchup pits Ohio State, which received a bye to open, and Minnesota. The Gophers pounded Rutgers in a mild upset. The polls close Monday at 4 p.m.

Minnesota: The $303 million horseshoe-style stadium opened in 2009 and is a big upgrade over the last venue. About 20,000 seats have chairbacks, the team store boasts two floors, and the name of every Minnesota county is etched in stone at the stadium. Fans don’t mind braving the cold here -- or eating ice cream while doing it -- and look forward to starting every game with the traditional Battle Hymn of the Republic. They’ll chant one of the oldest fight songs in the Big Ten (Minnesota Rouser), yell “Ski-U-Mah” (Ski is a Sioux battle cry for victory; U-Mah means Minnesota) and then ask beloved mascot Goldy Gopher to spin his head. And, win or lose, fans will incessantly answer the age-old question, “Who hates Iowa?” (“We hate Iowa!”)

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post...-big-ten-game-setting-ohio-state-vs-minnesota

Go Gophers!!

We may have a shiny sparkly horseshoe. It's an awesome venue fore sure but is no match for "Thee Horseshoe" that resides in Columbus, Ohio. #9 is a very low seed IMO. After OSU, Michigan, Penn St, Nebraska, Wisc, and Iowa (I hate to include those last two.), I don't think many people can argue that the U of M shouldn't be close behind them. We might not have as big a fan base as them but we can match the passion fan for fan many of those teams can.

per ESPN:

No. 1 Ohio State def. No. 9 Minnesota

The plucky Golden Gophers put up a good fight, but were no match for the Horseshoe. Minnesota won the loyalty of a few states in its region and the iconoclasts in Vermont -- perhaps bonding thanks to their long, cold winters. The rest of the world (69 percent of total voters) would prefer a trip to Columbus, where the football is the main attraction but there is plenty more to enjoy during a weekend trip.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/117376/vote-best-big-ten-game-day-setting-final-four

Go Gophers!!