Minnesota vs. Michigan football preview

Golden Gophers host Wolverines on Saturday

Rarely in the recent history of the Big Ten conference has Minnesota ever looked down at Michigan in the standings.

That would signify how lopsided Michigan’s dominance of Minnesota has been. Michigan has won 69 of the first 96 meetings in the battle for the Little Brown Jug. But when the Wolverines visit Minneapolis Saturday, the game will feature one of the rare times when the Gophers are favored.

That means very little to Minnesota coach Tim Brewster.

“We haven’t won in the Metrodome and won only twice in 30 years,’’ Brewster said. “That’s not very good. For it to be a rivalry, we need to win more football games. We need to compete year in and year out for it to be a rivalry. We’re going to prepare extremely well this week and be ready.’’

It turned out to be a heartbreaking weekend for both teams. Each lost by a touchdown inside the final 30 seconds. Purdue beat Michigan on a lateral pass with 26 seconds to play, 48-42. Northwestern returned an interception for a touchdown with 12 seconds remaining to beat Minnesota, 24-17.

Michigan’s loss officially ended the program’s streak of 33 consecutive seasons of going to a postseason bowl game. The Gophers are still in the hunt for New Year’s Day bowl game but they pretty much have to win out in order to do that. But they are going to a bowl.

The Golden Gopher offense has continued to slow down. The Red Zone offense has been shoddy – 9 of the last 18 opportunities have been converted into touchdowns – and the running game continues to wilt. Again, this group has not scored more than 20 points in any conference game.

Quarterback Adam Weber cannot continue to be the team’s leading rusher as he has been for the last two weeks. Somehow, the coaching staff has to make a commitment to freshman DeLeon Eskridge and let him get into a rhythm.

At least, Weber used nine different receivers last week especially when All American candidate Eric Decker sprained an ankle. Decker is expected to play Saturday.

Michigan’s spread offense just hasn’t clicked the way first-year coach Rich Rodriguez wanted. Rodriguez understood that because past teams worked out of the pro style formation. Michigan’s offense has averaged only 288 yards per game, which is 109 th in the nation.

There’s just not been a go-to back. Sam McGuffie has rushed for only 470 yards. Turnovers have also derailed the season. Michigan is also 103rd in the nation in turnover ratio at -1.0. Michigan is likely going to be without starting quarterback Steven Threet who has not recovered from a concussion he suffered against Purdue last week. Backup Nick Sheridan is expected to get the start.

That should play into the opportunistic Gopher defense’s hands. Minnesota leads the nation with 26 takeaways and is second turnover ratio at +1.67. Again, it all falls back senior defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg. With 40½ tackles for loss, he is 2½ shy of setting the all-time school record.

Minnesota is an odd team to figure. In games it appears they are the underdog, the Gophers emerge victorious like they did at Illinois on October 11. In games where they are the favorite like last week, they stumble. Go figure.

One would figure the Gophers are sound enough to win this because of Michigan’s problems. However, the Gophers know better than to think this is a lock.

“They still have the athletes that Michigan usually gets,’’ Weber said. “It is one of those things where we know we are still playing Michigan and that is how we look at it. We are still playing for the Jug so it is a very important game for us.’’

Prediction: Minnesota 19, Michigan 16

Notable for the Gophers:

• Decker now has the school single-season receptions record with 73. That record should continue to grow.

• This the second-to-last game at the Metrodome. The last game will be Nov. 22 against Iowa. Minnesota moves to TCF Bank Stadium in 2009. The Gophers have played in the dome for the last 27 seasons. Michigan is 11-0 all-time at the dome.

• Gopher wide receiver Ralph Spry had his two-game suspension lifted. However, it is unclear what his role will be Saturday.

• The Gophers are calling for a Gold Out in the Metrodome. Fans are encouraged to wear their gold shirts to the game.

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