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Minnesota Gophers Invade Madison Attempting to Take Paul Bunyan's Axe from the Badgers - OPEN THREAD

TV: ESPNU
Game Time: 11:01 AM
Radio: 100.3 FM, 1130 AM

The Stats

Minnesota Gophers Wisconsin BADgers
Points / Game 24.2 26.0
Pass Yards 209.2 192.9
Rush Yards 165.8 181.1
3rd Down % 41.4% 29.7%
Key Offensive Player to Watch Andre McDonald
Montee Ball and James White
Points Allowed/Game 19.8 18.4
Pass Yards 162.5 209.1
Rush Yards 150.7 116.6
3rd Down % 33.7% 29.1%
Key Defensive Player to Watch Ra'Shede Hageman
LB - Mike Taylor

Three Gopher Questions

  1. Who is going to produce for the Gopher offense? - MarQueis Gray is likely out. Devin Crawford-Tufts is likely out. Ed Olson is likely out. So with Max Shortell under center and making what is yet another difficult road start in the Big Ten (will he ever get a home game?), are we going to be able to generate any offense? Maybe Donnell Kirkwood and Nugget can give us a good rushing attack but I believe if we are going to move the ball and score it will have to be through the air.
  2. Can we catch Wisconsin off guard? - Many believed last week's win over Purdue has nearly solidified a Leaders Division title for the Badgers. Next week they host Michigan State which has become a short-term rivalry. This team has already shown vulnerability this year, is this an opportunity for the Gophers?
  3. Can the Gophers stop (or even slow down) the run? - The numbers in the last two games have been a little deceiving for the Gopher defense. Yes, they have given up a lot of rushing yards. But the vast majority of those were on just a handful of attempts where there were mental breakdowns by the Gophers. Can they eliminate those mistakes and slow down the Badger rushing attack? This is really the one and only question that needs to be answered if the Gophers want to win.