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Gophers Game Preview: Minnesota Hopes to Halt Wildcats' Five-Game Winning Streak
By Grant Erickson and Travis Erickson
http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/857740?referrer_id=331171
Minnesota (5-5 overall, 2-5 B1G) at Northwestern (7-3 overall, 5-2 B1G)
When: Saturday, 11:00 p.m. CT – Evanston, Ill.
Stadium: Ryan Field (47,130)
TV/Radio: BTN, KFAN 100.3 FM
Coach: Pat Fitzgerald (12th season)
Spread: Northwestern -7, o/u: 41
INSIDE THE GAME
Wildcats at a Glance
Northwestern is on a five-game winning streak; including a three-game stretch of overtime victories. NU is the first team in FBS history to win three OT games consecutively.
Running back Justin Jackson is still at Northwestern and he’s still really good. The senior needs 156 yards rushing to become just the second Big Ten player–joining Ron Dayne–to top 1,000 yards in four consecutive season.
NU has the top red zone offense in the B1G. The Wildcats come away with points 93-percent of the time they reach their opponent's 20-yard line. Comparatively, the Gophers rank 10th at only 83-percent.
Paddy Fisher is a name you’ll likely keep hearing for the next few years. The redshirt-freshman linebacker leads all FBS first-year players with 95 tackles and sits atop the Big Ten conference with three forced fumbles. The 6-foot-4, 245 pounder from Katy, Texas drew praise from the Gophers’ head coach during his weekly press conference.
“Paddy, he's one of the guys that's a freshman, but he is everywhere,” said P.J. Fleck. “You talk about a dynamic football player in this league for years to come, he's really special.”
Coach Speak
“They've got an explosive offense. I think they are the hottest team in the Big Ten right now. When you start to look at what they have done, how they have won three overtime victories, five straight. Their quarterback Thorson's playing at an incredibly high level as of late in the last five years games. He's one of the reasons why they continue to win.” – P.J. Fleck on Northwestern
“They ran it really well. I thought Croft played great. They took advantage of some things schematically, got him in some one-on-one situations. He did a great job in the zone-read scheme. Smith is, here we go again, another great back in Big 10 play. No doubt our defense will have their hands full, not only with Smith in the back field but also the 100-yard kick return to start the game off was a big momentum gain for them. Really impressed with the way he is playing, very physical, very sound with what they do. Similar in structures in ways to Iowa, very physical team.” – Pat Fitzgerald on Minnesota
STORYLINE CENTRAL
As the Gophers are on the verge of opening their brand new athletic center, Northwestern is still struggling to catch up to the rest of the Big Ten regarding facilities. Teddy Greenstein with the Chicago Tribune has the latest on Northwestern’s push for facility upgrades.
Steven Richardson had some strong words about being snubbed by the Wildcats after the Gophers’ victory over Northwestern last season. Randy Johnson with the Star Tribune has a nice feature on Richardson’s senior season.
Talia Hendel of Inside NU takes a look at three matchups to watch on Saturday. It’s an interesting look at the two teams, especially with added video analysis.
WHO WINS?
The Gophers Win If…
They can crack Northwestern’s defensive front. The Wildcats have a league-worst pass defense (278 YPG), but their run defense is top-10 nationally giving up just 109 rushing yards a game. The Gophers know they’ll need to find a way to beat Northwestern’s stout defensive line.
“Their front four are very, very stout, very smart, very aggressive, twitch and they make plays,” said Fleck. “Their front four, it's not just like they just take up space so the backer can make the play, these guys are taking out double teams, shedding doubles teams and making the play themselves, taking on a single block, shedding, making the play themselves. So that's what makes them very difficult.”
The Wildcats Win If…
They can continue winning close games. With the Gophers coming in confident off their huge win, the spread is at just -7 in favor of NU. The Wildcats have won five straight, including three overtime victories in their last four games. Quarterback Clayton Thorson has been a big reason for Northwestern’s clutch victories.
“When you start to look at what they have done, how they have won three overtime victories, five straight - their quarterback Thorson's playing at an incredibly high level as of late in the last five games,” said Fleck.
By Grant Erickson and Travis Erickson
http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/857740?referrer_id=331171
Minnesota (5-5 overall, 2-5 B1G) at Northwestern (7-3 overall, 5-2 B1G)
When: Saturday, 11:00 p.m. CT – Evanston, Ill.
Stadium: Ryan Field (47,130)
TV/Radio: BTN, KFAN 100.3 FM
Coach: Pat Fitzgerald (12th season)
Spread: Northwestern -7, o/u: 41
INSIDE THE GAME
Wildcats at a Glance
Northwestern is on a five-game winning streak; including a three-game stretch of overtime victories. NU is the first team in FBS history to win three OT games consecutively.
Running back Justin Jackson is still at Northwestern and he’s still really good. The senior needs 156 yards rushing to become just the second Big Ten player–joining Ron Dayne–to top 1,000 yards in four consecutive season.
NU has the top red zone offense in the B1G. The Wildcats come away with points 93-percent of the time they reach their opponent's 20-yard line. Comparatively, the Gophers rank 10th at only 83-percent.
Paddy Fisher is a name you’ll likely keep hearing for the next few years. The redshirt-freshman linebacker leads all FBS first-year players with 95 tackles and sits atop the Big Ten conference with three forced fumbles. The 6-foot-4, 245 pounder from Katy, Texas drew praise from the Gophers’ head coach during his weekly press conference.
“Paddy, he's one of the guys that's a freshman, but he is everywhere,” said P.J. Fleck. “You talk about a dynamic football player in this league for years to come, he's really special.”
Coach Speak
“They've got an explosive offense. I think they are the hottest team in the Big Ten right now. When you start to look at what they have done, how they have won three overtime victories, five straight. Their quarterback Thorson's playing at an incredibly high level as of late in the last five years games. He's one of the reasons why they continue to win.” – P.J. Fleck on Northwestern
“They ran it really well. I thought Croft played great. They took advantage of some things schematically, got him in some one-on-one situations. He did a great job in the zone-read scheme. Smith is, here we go again, another great back in Big 10 play. No doubt our defense will have their hands full, not only with Smith in the back field but also the 100-yard kick return to start the game off was a big momentum gain for them. Really impressed with the way he is playing, very physical, very sound with what they do. Similar in structures in ways to Iowa, very physical team.” – Pat Fitzgerald on Minnesota
STORYLINE CENTRAL
As the Gophers are on the verge of opening their brand new athletic center, Northwestern is still struggling to catch up to the rest of the Big Ten regarding facilities. Teddy Greenstein with the Chicago Tribune has the latest on Northwestern’s push for facility upgrades.
Steven Richardson had some strong words about being snubbed by the Wildcats after the Gophers’ victory over Northwestern last season. Randy Johnson with the Star Tribune has a nice feature on Richardson’s senior season.
Talia Hendel of Inside NU takes a look at three matchups to watch on Saturday. It’s an interesting look at the two teams, especially with added video analysis.
WHO WINS?
The Gophers Win If…
They can crack Northwestern’s defensive front. The Wildcats have a league-worst pass defense (278 YPG), but their run defense is top-10 nationally giving up just 109 rushing yards a game. The Gophers know they’ll need to find a way to beat Northwestern’s stout defensive line.
“Their front four are very, very stout, very smart, very aggressive, twitch and they make plays,” said Fleck. “Their front four, it's not just like they just take up space so the backer can make the play, these guys are taking out double teams, shedding doubles teams and making the play themselves, taking on a single block, shedding, making the play themselves. So that's what makes them very difficult.”
The Wildcats Win If…
They can continue winning close games. With the Gophers coming in confident off their huge win, the spread is at just -7 in favor of NU. The Wildcats have won five straight, including three overtime victories in their last four games. Quarterback Clayton Thorson has been a big reason for Northwestern’s clutch victories.
“When you start to look at what they have done, how they have won three overtime victories, five straight - their quarterback Thorson's playing at an incredibly high level as of late in the last five games,” said Fleck.