Minnesota Gopher Football 3 Keys to Beating Penn State and How to Watch

On By Littum

Last home game of the season and it’s senior day. Can the Gophers pull off a dramatic win over a talented Penn State team?

That’s how you see

TV: CBS
Time: 2:30
Current: Paramount

3 KEYS

  • Offensive line needs a good game – They need their best game of the season against a very good Nittany Lion front seven. Getting some yards on the ground to loosen up the passing game will be critical, and that starts with the line creating those gaps and then protecting Brosmer.
  • Secondary plays – We might need a turnover or two in this game and I’m looking at the secondary to make that happen. Penn State barely pulled out an overtime win over USC, and that game was close in part because Drew Allar threw three picks.
  • Stop the run – Penn State is averaging 200 yards per carry. ground game, 2nd in Big Ten. You may still have nightmares about what Kaleb Johnson did to us in the 2nd half of the Iowa game. The Nittany Lions have a backfield duo of Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton that will be a problem for this Gopher defense. Can they take better angles, tackle and keep this ground game in check?

OPPOSING PLAYERS MUST WATCH

  • #15 QB – Drew Allar – The junior is completing 72% of his passes and has 16 touchdowns on the season. As mentioned above, we need him to give up a possession or two with a pick.
  • #11 DE – Abdul Carter – A likely top-10 pick in next year’s draft, Carter has 8 sacks on the season with 2 forced fumbles and has knocked down 3 passes. He plays all over the field.

PREDICTION

I’d love to imagine a scenario where Brosmer leads the Gophers on a 4th quarter drive that ends with a Cristian Driver touchdown against his old team to give Minnesota the lead. Then Koi Perich seals the game with an interception for Minnesota’s biggest win since they last beat Penn State at The Bank. But this is not a Disney movie.

Penn State is very good and they need to do more than just win, they need to make a statement in their final two games of the regular season to secure a spot in the 12-team playoff.

I love the fact that Minnesota has had the bye week prior to this game, it seems to matter. Our best chance for a win involves Indiana beating Ohio State in the Big Noon game, giving Penn State hope of passing the Buckeyes in the standings. They begin to assume that their spot in the Big Ten Championship is just a formality, and they overlook the Gophers.

I think it will be closer than Penn State would like it to be, but they will go home coveted The Governor’s Clock.

Minnesota – 16
Penn State – 23