Minnesota Football vs. Nebraska: Staff Predictions

It’s game day! Tonight, the Minnesota Golden Gophers will host Matt Rhule and the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Huntington Bank Stadium at 7 p.m. CT. P.J. Fleck’s squad are winners of four straight against the Huskers, so confidence is high among our staff — with one exception.

This Week’s Thoughts:

Blake: See my opponent preview.

GoAUpher: This will be closer than people will like, though it shouldn’t be. Angst will be felt. I encourage you to enjoy the fact that football is back more than you grumble about something small and annoying you watched on the field.

gopherguy05: It should be a tough game for an opener. Minnesota doesn’t really know what to expect from the Huskers, but Matt Rhule can’t quite overhaul a team that fast. Minnesota still uses their advantages and rides a sold-out home crowd to a nationally-televised victory.

GopherNation: Nebraska’s defense will still be really bad. I like Matt Rhule and they’ll get better, but not Week 1.

HipsterGopher: As the proud owner of a Dinkytown Athletes Athan Kaliakmanis, shirt I have no choice but to predict an immense offensive showing.

mowe0018: Program continuity heading into an opener seems as much of an advantage as anything, no? The Broken Chair remains in the Cities, if not literally, than at least in our hearts for another year.

Ustreet: Thoughts and prayers to all the Nebraska fans too scared to visit a city.

WhiteSpeedReceiver: With Arik Gilbert falling victim to the first real display of teamwork in Lincoln since Frank Solich got fired for that cheerleader incident (seriously, go watch that arrest video), I have to wonder where the Huskers will find any talent up front. Games in the West are won in the trenches, and Nebraska is still as soft as a silent fart.

wildcat00: I don’t particularly like opening the season with a Big Ten game, and especially not against Nebraska. However, while I expect the Huskers to right the ship under Matt Rhule, I’m not sure they are quite there yet, so the good guys will pull out a close one late in the fourth quarter.

zipsofakron: Preseason expectations + beatable opponent + first-game jitters = total pain.

I do truly envy the Pollyannas. It hurts to be broken.

Post your score predictions in the comments!