Staff Predictions: Michigan football at Minnesota
Michigan is off to Minneapolis with the Little Brown Jug in tow, and contrary to reports, the Wolverines’ staffers do plan to take the fragile trophy off the plane. There had been talk of bringing a replica just for photo ops knowing it was just going back to Ann Arbor anyway, but they decided to throw a few extra styrofoam peanuts in the case and load up the original.
RELATED: Keys to the Game — Michigan vs. Minnesota
RELATED: INSIDE THE FORT, Part I: New Jim Harbaugh contract could now come sooner than later
Okay, we might have made that up. But … yeah, it’s a long shot PJ Fleck and his squad have enough to win the Jug back this year. They run the ball pretty well, but they’re likely to have a tough time moving it on the ground on this Michigan defense. If they can’t, it’s going to be a long, long day for that Gophers offense.
The biggest question, though … will Fleck’s head be in it after interviewing this week and house shopping in East Lansing? Some random message board guy reports Urban Meyer wants him as his co-offensive coordinator with Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman as the D.C., and that “he’s very interested.” He was reportedly spotted test driving a lightly used Slingshot around campus and scouting out potential postgame hotspots … here’s hoping he’s back in time for kickoff Saturday night.
Congratulations to Clayton Sayfie, whose 28-3 Michigan over Nebraska pick was somehow the winner last week (we think). This week’s champion gets Caddyshack gopher golf club head covers and our respect. The picks:
CHRIS BALAS: There’s nothing abut this Minnesota team that really scares a good football team. In the past it was the cut blocking and an elite run game … not anymore. While the Golden Gophers are solid on the ground, it’s not close to enough. Au revoir, Gopher(s). Michigan 34, Minnesota 10
JOHN BORTON: Michigan set the road standard for beginnings at Nebraska. Unfortunately for Minnesota — which survived the ‘Huskers at home, 13-10 — the Wolverines aren’t likely to regress in a second straight road trip. Anything can happen … but the worst anythings probably won’t. Michigan 41, Minnesota 6
CLAYTON SAYFIE: The Minnesota offense doesn’t get much going if it can’t run the ball, and Michigan has been elite at stopping the run this season. The Wolverines will have to be on alert for Minnesota’s good, but short-handed, receiving corps, but it’ll be a tall task for inaccurate quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis to win this game if the offense is one-dimensional. On the other side, the Wolverines should be able to move the ball fairly easily against a Minnesota defense that is quite a bit worse than it was a season ago. Michigan 38, Minnesota 9
ANTHONY BROOME: Michigan heads to Minnesota for a date under the lights just like they did to kick off the 2020 season. While there may not be as much explosion from the Michigan offense as there was in that game, U-M still has a chance for another game that looks a heck of a lot like the first five it has played. The Gophers are physical and want to get you into a rock fight. The Wolverines will be ready to go in this one. Michigan 35, Minnesota 13
DOUG SKENE: Offensive line weather conditions are in the forecast for Saturday night – cold, and maybe some rain. Gotta love it. Jim Harbaugh said MIchigan’s OL would maybe rotate more guys on the field having earned the opportunity. I say bring it on if it cleans up the hits on J.J. and NOBODY touches him from start to finish.
I look for 200 yards of rushing and plenty of points. The Michigan defense should feast on the 101st ranked offense in America. Row the Boat guy doesn’t have that many big oars in the water this year. Michigan 42, Row the Boat 10
