ESPN: Best case scenario for MN 10 wins; worse case scenario for MN 5-7

per ESPN:

Best-case scenario: After getting the short end of the scheduling stick a year ago, the scale has balanced itself out this season for the Gophers. None of the Big Three from the East Division are on the slate, and the toughest road game from the other half of the league will be an early visit to Penn State to open conference action. If the Gophers can handle their business at home and generate some momentum heading into November, a 10-win campaign and a potential spot in the Big Ten title game could be within reach for Claeys.

Worst-case scenario: This isn’t the first offseason where the development of Leidner has been under the microscope, and if the Gophers can’t take the next step in the passing game, it might be too much to expect them to contend late in the year in the West. The schedule is favorable enough that Minnesota should be in position to get to another bowl game just by holding serve at TCF Bank Stadium. But if Iowa lives up to the preseason billing or Northwestern’s stout defense produce home losses for the Gophers, the bottom could drop all the way to 5-7 at the end of Claeys’ first full season.

http://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/135644/big-ten-season-preview-minnesota-golden-gophers

Go Gophers!!

A reasonably fair assessment, I would think a wort case of 6-6, not 5-7, but that's in the realm of a gentleman's disagreement, not horribly misguided.

This is a very critical year for our Gophers and especially coach Claeys. We can win 10 games if a few key players really come through and if we stay relatively healthy. Injuries like last year to key players and 6 wins could be lucky. No matter what happens, it will be Claeys' year. 10 wins and no one will complain that they got lucky with the schedule (except Wisky, of course). Win 6 and no one will make excuses for the team.

If we win 10, Claeys gets a nice extension. Win 6 and he's probably through. Not really fair but it's big time, big money football.

Injuries have been so extreme in recent years...it is a discouraging prospect.

All teams have injuries. It is a violent game.
Depth in quality underclassmen and the ability to debelop underclassmen to fill in separates the wheat from the chaff.

Sounds about right. Biggest concern for me is the difficult start to the conference schedule. Gets much easier after @ PSU and Iowa, but starting 0-2 in the league is quite possible.

GoldenRodents said:

Injuries have been so extreme in recent years...it is a discouraging prospect.

Click to expand...

No more or less than any other team.

"Upset special: The turnaround from a program with a coach on the hot seat to West Division champs happened remarkably fast, and Iowa has earned the right to be the odds-on favorite to claim that crown this season. But just as there were doubts about their credentials even during the run a year ago, it’s fair to wonder if the Hawkeyes are capable of surviving another regular season in the increasingly competitive Big Ten without a loss -- particularly when they have to go on the road to defend another trophy. The Gophers have a senior quarterback, a veteran defense and a hungry coaching staff all looking to get their hands on the Floyd of Rosedale again, and if they’re going to be a factor in the West, Oct. 8 could be the date that reveals their potential."

5-7 would be catastrophic with this schedule. I don't think we will be close to that floor. I predict 8-10 wins.