Minnesota vs. Oregon State Preview: The one where we’re too excited to think straight.

OPENING THOUGHTS

The beginning of the college football season (love you Cal/Hawaii, but your game was just weird and I’m not sure it counts) is a truly magical time for me. Even more so when Minnesota’s first game of the season is one I can watch in person. I love the college football season and I love going to Gopher games. Getting the chance to enjoy both at the same time is...well...

They say a picture is worth a thousand words so these GIFs must be worth a million. I think they are just repeating “THIS IS BEST!” over and over. Because that’s how I feel about the college season kicking off with me in TCF Bank Stadium.

GNOME #TAKES

The first of this season’s GNOME #TAKES is brought to you by the OGG (Original Gopher Gnome). He told me that he had carefully considered all of the posts TDG put up this week. He said that the Q&A with Building the Dam was insightful, the historical precedent for a Minnesota win in today’s #TBT was compelling, and that zipsofakron was spot on in his overly optimistic analysis of tonight’s game.

In the end, OGG thinks Oregon State’s football team is like the GIF below. Hungry with big teeth but ultimately too cute to be feared.

WHEN/WHERE

Date: Thursday, September 1st

Kickoff Time: 8pm CT

Where: TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN

WATCH/LISTEN

TV: Big Ten Network

Streaming Video: BTN2Go (or the BTN2Go app for your mobile device)

Radio: KOOL 108 (107.9 in the Twin Cities) and the Gopher Radio Network (Radio Affiliates).

Streaming Audio: Locate KFAN on IHeartRadio (or the IHeartRadio app for your mobile device)

Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 85; Sirius 85; XM 85

ODDS

Spread: Minnesota by 12.5 to 13 (depending on the site)

O/U: 55.5-56

Bill C:

Advanced stats like Minnesota in this one. In fact, they see Minnesota winning pretty handily in the end. Not a bad place to start the year.

WEATHER FORECAST

The weather is going to be perfect today and tonight. No warmer than the mid-70’s, sunny, and the humidity will drop as the day goes on. By far the best weather anyone can remember for a home opener at TCF.

THE ENEMY

Where Are They From? Corvallis, Oregon

All Time Series: MN leads the series 2-1.

Last Game: 1981, when Smokin’ Joe Salem’s Gophers won 42-12.

SB Nation Blog: Building The Dam

Last Season: 2-10 (0-8 Pac-12)

Head Coach: The man with no respect for tradition.

Keys to the Game:

- Establish a run game. It’s time for Bart Miller’s nastier offensive line to show off. Run the ball over, around, and through Oregon State. This is still Minnesota’s identity and while Oregon State is a P5 team they are not a good P5 team. In other words, this is something the Gophers shouldn’t struggle mightily at.

- Stay healthy. Depth is still an issue in a couple key spots. Let’s not test that.

- Don’t give up big plays. While this game likely won’t be a sellout, the atmosphere should still be strong. One easy way to get the crowd out of the game quick is to let the Beavers connect for big offensive plays. Don’t do it.

How Afraid Am I?

On a scale of 1 to 5 "Brewsters on his face" (1 being not a afraid, 5 being very afraid)?

I am only 1 Tim Brewster going down the Giant Slide at the State Fair afraid of Oregon State.

Completely Worthless Prediction:

I’m still not sold that Minnesota is at the point where they blow teams out, but I want a big win and so I’m going to predict a big win.

Minnesota 31, Oregon State 13