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INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES | Game 2 | MINNESOTA GOPHERS |
![]() | vs | ![]() |
Date: | September 12, 2015 | Location: | Minneapolis, MN |
Time: | 11:00 AM Central | Stadium: | TCF Bank Stadium |
TV: | ESPN News | Radio: | KFAN 100.3 Gophers Radio Network |
Internet Stream: | IHeartRadio app | Know Thy Foe: | Mountain West Connection |
Weather: | 70 sunny and perfect | ||
Line: | none...FCS |
3 Keys, 2 Players to Watch, 1 Prediction
Clean up Mistakes - The penalties, the targeting, the bad snaps and a fumble...all need to be cleaned up today. A chance to get your offensive execution kinks worked out and start to get everyone on the same page at game speed. We won't be perfect, but we need to be better. I would call this game a huge success if we are able to march down and score a TD on our initial drive, cause that hasn't happened since like the Wacker years* (not an actually factual statement)
Stay Healthy - No starters or key reserves who lose significant time to injury please. I don't want anyone to be hurt, but from a football perspective I'd really like to keep our primary contributors on the field. But even the first few comments I found on a ISU message board were already conceding defeat, looking forward to cashing the check and also just wanting to stay free of injury.
Run the Ball (again) - I'm not at all concerned that this one won't happen. But lets rack up a few hundred yards of rushing. Rodney Smith should have a huge day and we will hopefully get to see some extended action for Coby McCrary. Heck, maybe even some back up QB action, but that doesn't belong under this "key." If we are successfully running the ball, we will have no problem today.
OPPOSING PLAYERS TO WATCH
- #18 - WR - Robert Tonyan Jr - 6'5" senior who had 7 catches last week in their win over Butler. Big kid who began his career as a QB, but should be in the mix for All-MVC this year.
- #3 - DB - Tsali Lough - Senior DB who had a huge game last week with a pick, a forced fumble that he recovered and returned 100 yards for a score, a sack and 8 tackles.
PREDICTION
Indiana State will score some points today. Not a ton, but they have a rotation of running backs and their QB threw for over 300 yards last week (yeah, it was Butler, I know). But they put up 41 points. They'll find the end zone, just not nearly as often as we do. We score a LOT of points, rush for a LOT of yards.
Minnesota - 41
Indiana State - 17