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Minnesota Football: Gophers Back Home to Play Kent State Golden Flashes - OPEN THREAD

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KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES Game 3 MINNESOTA GOPHERS

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Date: September 19, 2015 Location: Minneapolis, MN
Time: 11:00 AM Central Stadium: TCF Bank Stadium
TV: BTN Radio: KFAN 100.3
Gophers Radio Network

Internet Stream: BTN2Go Know Thy Foe:
Hustle Belt (MAC blog)
Weather: 70 sunny and perfect
Line: Minnesota by -10

3 Keys, 2 Players to Watch, 1 Prediction

Maroon_key_medium Stay Healthy - I don't think the Gophers will win by walking onto the field but if they execute they should come away with a double-digit win. Getting through this game (and the next) without injuries will go a long way towards success in the Big Ten portion of the schedule A couple key injuries have caused us some problems already, hopefully it won't get any worse after today.

Maroon_key_medium

Execute - Still have to do the things necessary to win the game. Making the right reads, keeping the pocket clean, no coverage breakdowns, no drops, etc. Need to execute, no mental mistakes; especially the offense. Last week the Golden Flashes held Deleware State to -33 total yards, mostly due to several sacks. I expect our OL is probably a little better than Delaware State's but lets seem some execution and clean pockets. The end...just execute

Maroon_key_mediumPlay With Some Passion - I want to see them playing with some passion and having some fun. It feels like everything has been a struggle the first couple games. First it was playing against an elite team like TCU, then they had to go on the road against a good team to get their first win Things have felt tight and close-to-the-vest, I want to seem some big plays and lots of smiles on the sideline.

OPPOSING PLAYERS TO WATCH

  • #10 - QB - Collin Reardon - He is of no relation to Jeff, that I'm aware of anyway. Nobody has really stood out on the Kent State offense so I'll go with the QB.
  • #18 - S - Nate Holley - The Gopher offensive line struggled last week against TCU. Foster had a big game in the Ram's opener with 3 of the team's 6 sacks.

PREDICTION(s)

Usually I just make a score/outcome prediction. But I've got more today.

1 - I predict Leidner throws a pick today. After a week of people pointing out that he hasn't thrown one since Ohio State game last year, it is inevitable that he will throw one today.

2 - The Leidner haters will immediately tell us all "SEEE!!!???" His throws look ugly and he turns the ball over too. Remember the point is not that he will never have an interception, just that he typically limits them by making the right reads.

3 - The debate will rage on throughout the week and probably the season but Leidner is our starting QB till injury dictates otherwise.

4 - Rodney Smith has had a couple nice games, today he has a MONSTER game. The game where he racks up yards and touchdowns and comes out with full confidence that he is the main back.

Minnesota - 38
Kent State - 17