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Well then. First, let's look at this:
Completely Worthless Prediction:
I still think this will be closer. For all the stats nonsense, I do think Northwestern's D is capable of doing so really good things and even with the improvements in the passing game, the Gophers are still capable of going on offensive droughts. The Gopher defense forces a pair of turnovers, Mitch limits the mistakes to one INT, and the Gopher run game gets it done. Minnesota 24 - Northwestern 17.
Quick Thoughts
On Northwestern...
- For all my snark on the Twitters today, I did think Northwestern's run defense did a pretty decent job as the game wore on. Are they as great as NU fans think? Probably not. But I wouldn't trade them away if I was NU.
- Trevor Siemian finished the game very strong. Some great passes into some tight spots on the big drive in the 4th.
On Refs...
- The PI call and the roughing call on that drive were bad. The roughing call was HORRIBLE. How bad?
Unless there was contact to the head, which I didn't see on the very brief replay, that roughing looked like a terrible call.
— Jon Davis (@NUHighlights) October 11, 2014
I mean...
GIF: "roughing" the passer call on Minnesota http://t.co/sPZOby7FBC
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) October 11, 2014
And The Gophers...
- Good work by the Gopher defense to hold NU without points after the Mitch INT. That was the the sort of TO I thought might cost the Gophers the game. Instead? Nope.
- Overall I was pretty please with the playcalling on offense. PA was used effectively.
- Hats off to Mitch. That was a bad INT, but he shook it off and converted some big PA passes for first downs on the following drive (even though it stalled).
- David Cobb is a Mac Truck and I love it. That 3 yard gain where he SMASHED 3 tacklers off him? /swoon
- Field position game is still on point. Peter Mortell is a rockstar.
- Love this helmet uniform combo. Would rec again.
- Welcome to the forever highlight reel of my football watching days Jalen Myrick.