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Gophers v. Eastern Michigan: Week 2 Preview
Gophers v. Eastern Michigan: Week 2 Preview - GopherHole.com
–> Follow @Tony Liebert on Twitter Broadcast Info: Date: Sat., Sept. 9 TV channel: BTN Time of kickoff: 6:30 p.m. (CST) Betting line: Minnesota (-19.5) v Eastern Michigan, o/u: (47.5 points) Opponent Information (Eastern Michigan): 2023 record: 1-0 V. Howard (FCS) 33-23 W 2022 record: 9-4...
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Broadcast Info:
- Date: Sat., Sept. 9
- TV channel: BTN
- Time of kickoff: 6:30 p.m. (CST)
- Betting line: Minnesota (-19.5) v Eastern Michigan, o/u: (47.5 points)
Opponent Information (Eastern Michigan):
- 2023 record: 1-0
- V. Howard (FCS) 33-23 W
- 2022 record: 9-4
- (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl): 41-27 W vs. San Jose State
- V. Eastern Kentucky (FCS) 42-34 W
- @ Louisiana 21-49 L
- @ Arizona State 30-21 W
- V. Buffalo 31-50 L
- V. Massachusetts 20-13 W
- V. Western Michigan 45-23 W
- @ Northern Illinois 10-39 L
- V. Ball State 20-16 W
- V. Toledo 24-27 L
- @ Akron 34-28 W
- @ Kent State 31-24 W
- V. Central Michigan 38-19 W
- (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl): 41-27 W vs. San Jose State
- Head Coach: Chris Creighton (10th year)
- Players to watch: Samson Evans (RB), Jaylon Jackson (RB/KR), Joe Sparacio (LB), Austin Smith (QB), Tim Grant-Randall (OLB)
Eastern Michigan Season Storylines:
- Chris Creighton longest tenured HC in the MAC:
- Is Samson Evans the best RB in the MAC?:
- Gophers history vs. the MACtion:
Gophers’ path to victory:
Once again, the No. 1 key for a Gophers’ victory this week will be stopping the run. Last week against Nebraska they struggled mightily with containing QB Jeff Sims on the ground as he ran for 91 yards on 19 carries. As a team, the Cornhuskers had 37 carries for 181 rushing yards. Much like Big Red, Eastern Michigan will be a team that wants to run the football. The Eagles have a dominant RB and a dual-threat QB that will get the bulk of the work.Junior QB Austin Smith made his first career start last week, but he was used in running situations in 2022. His 65 career rushing attempts have resulted in 282 yards and 2 touchdowns. If Minnesota is able to limit Smith’s ability to extend plays along with talented RB Samson Evans’ long runs, I don’t think EMU will have the offensive firepower to keep up with the Gophers.
The No. 2 key for this week will be Special Teams. The Eagles had two kick returns in week one averaging 44.8 yards per return on five different opportunities. Minnesota had its special teams struggles of its own in week one allowing 39.0 yards per return on Nebraska’s two opportunities. Special teams are something that has been an Achilles heel of the Gophers in recent memory, so keeping the Eastern Michigan kick return unit in check should definitely be something worth noting.
Overall, Eastern Michigan allowed Howard, a team that was 5-6 last season playing in the MEAC to score 23 points at home in week one. Therefore I think the Gophers’ offense will have a little easier time moving the football, and if they’re able to limit EMU’s running game and force a QB to throw who had 1 INT last week, they should have no problem in this game. With that being said, with EMU’s special team prowess and running game potential, they do have a path to competing in the ball game. I do think the Gophers will be able to get by Saturday night in a sloppy 24-13 win.