Opening thoughts, Brew Scale related

Y’all have spoken. The Brewster scale is back and it will never leave us again. One thing I failed to mention as I described why I was making a change last week is that I sometimes struggle for inspiration for how to keep the scale creative. If you have suggestions about any upcoming opponents, please feel free to share!

Opening thoughts, Oregon State related

Hey so Oregon State might not be very good. As the Buffalo game showed us, the Gophers may not be a ton better (yet? hopefully just yet), but it bears repeating that Oregon State is not looking great. They got smoked by Colorado State (who looked great until they didn’t against Colorado) and then they had to hold on to beat a bad FCS team in Portland State.

Basically this means I’m not scared the Beavers are going to doing anything amazing even as I can’t be sure Minnesota will win. Gotta love YEAR 1. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Gnome #TAKES

Goldy Hat Gnome earned the Week 2 GIF nod. GHG was very dismissive of Oregon State, pointing out that they should have lost to the Portland State Vikings which makes no sense because why the hell is a team from Portland called the Vikings there weren’t any Vikings in Portland they’re on the completely other side of the world from where the Vikings lived geez that’s dumb. At least I think that’s what he said he was gesturing feverishly and it got distracting. Also, this GIF, which GHG says represents the threat OSU poses to Minnesota:

And this one, which GHG thinks will represent how Oregon State will feel all game.

When & Where

Date: Saturday, September 9th

Kickoff Time: 9pm CT

Where: Reser Stadium, Corvallis, Oregon

Watch & Listen

TV: Fox Sports 1 (we’re all so lucky this isn’t on PAC 12 Network)

Streaming Video: FoxSportsGo.com (or the FoxSportsGo app for your mobile device)

Radio: KFAN (100.3 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:

• Sirius: MN broadcast = Internet 966; OSU broadcast = 157 (Internet 959)
• XM: MN broadcast = Internet 966; OSU broadcast = 197 (Internet 959)
• SiriusXM: MN broadcast = Internet 966; OSU broadcast = 197 (Internet 959)
• NOTE: The Sirius/XM website has also started listening what “internet” channel the games are on this year if you choose to listen online vs through a receiver. In the case of MN/OSU, you can find Grimm and the boys but as an internet only stream option.

Odds

Spread: Oregon State by 2 to 2.5 (depending on the site)

O/U: 52

Weather Forecast

The weather could actually make a huge impact on the game. Why? Because of there over a dozen wildfires burning in Oregon right now and it’s causing a huge air quality problem. Like, an “Oregon isn’t practicing in Eugene right now” problem.

The fires are burning closer to Eugene than Corvallis, but as of right now it’s bad in Corvallis too. The weather over the next few days will be critical in determining the air quality for Saturday’s game.

I have no idea what the plan is if it stays this bad, but Oregon State seems confident that it won’t be a problem.

The Enemy

Where Are They From? Corvallis, Oregon

All Time Series: MN leads the series 3-1.

Last Game: Minnesota beat Oregon State last season, 30-23.

SB Nation Blog: Building The Dam

This Season: 1-1

Keys to the game

• Inoffensive line play. The offensive line needs to show a consistent ability to generate push and pass protect. In order to figure out who QB1 is, the staff is going to ask Demry Croft and Conor Rhoda to do more. That’ll be tough if the line isn’t delivering.
• Earlier pass rush pressure. Honestly, I was pretty surprised by how little pressure the Gophers DL and LB were able to generate in the first half last week. If they fix that and start putting pressure on Oregon State early then I’d expect the defense as a whole to look good for a whole game instead of just for a half.
• No one get hurt. Seriously, we’re still way too early in the season for anyone to get dinged up.

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 2 Brewster wildfires afraid of Oregon State. Seriously though, do not mistake this as confidence in a Minnesota win. Oregon State is a “not that scary” team who could totally beat the Gophers if they don’t perform.

Prediction

I don’t expect Minnesota will overcome all the things they need to work on at once, but the optimist in me is looking forward to some minor improvement. It’ll be a close one on the road.

Minnesota, 20 - Oregon State, 17

What’s your prediction?