Minnesota Football vs. New Mexico State: Game central, quick preview & prediction

Opening thoughts

Football is back friends! This video clip is me, only I’m dancing to thoughts of football instead of chocolate.

Gnome #TAKES

New Mexico State might be bad. They might not be bad. The one game sample isn’t enough to figure a lot out. To the gnomes though, the Aggies will always be synonymous with one thing and one thing only. AggieVision.

When & Where

Date: Thursday, Aug 30th

Kickoff Time: 6pm CT

Where: TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN

Watch & Listen

TV: Big Ten Network

Streaming Video: Big Ten Network (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:

• Sirius: 119 (Streaming 957)
• XM: Streaming 957
• SiriusXM: Streaming 957
• 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.

Odds

Spread: Minnesota by 18 to 18.5

O/U: 45.5-46

Weather Forecast

Sunny, in the 70’s. Sounds wonderful!

The Enemy

Where Are They From? Las Cruces, MN

All Time Series: 1-1

Last Game: A 44-21 Minnesota win in 2013.

SB Nation Blog: Underdog Dynasty

This Season: 0-1

Keys to the game

• The Aggies can be woeful on offense...take advantage. Wyoming showed that New Mexico State can be smothered by a decent defense. The Gophers need to set the tone early and force New Mexico State to question their QB choices like they did on Saturday (where junior JUCO transfer Matt Romero was pulled for RS frosh Nick Jeanty after struggling for 3 quarters).
• Minimize mistakes to build confidence. Hey did you hear that the Gophers are a young team? I know, that’s a new one (/rolls eyes). Well, one nice thing about playing a softer start to the non-conference schedule is the chance to work out some of the problems that come with playing young guys. A even better thing is when you’re able to do it while minimizing mistakes. So fingers crossed on that.

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 1 Tim Brewster viewed via the magic of AggieVision afraid of New Mexico State. The Gophers might not always play pretty, but I’m really not worried about getting a win.

Prediction

Minnesota, 30 - New Mexico State 14