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Is Minnesota actually a great team?

In Week 11 of the 2019 college football season, fans will be treated to the ultimate SEC battle of #1 LSU and #2 Alabama, and a matchup between two top-15, undefeated Big 10 teams in Penn State vs Minnesota. While the first matchup is certain to be a contest between two well-matched teams, the latter game is a more confusing situation.

Penn State has clearly been a legit team this year. The defense has stood out, allowing the ninth fewest yards in all of FBS this season and having the second-best scoring defense in the nation. The offense has been able to perform well without Trace McSorely and Miles Sanders, coming in at the twelfth best scoring offense in the nation, only behind Ohio State in the Big 10. Picking up wins over two ranked teams in Iowa and Michigan has shown that this Nittany Lion team can compete with the best.

On the other side of the matchup, the Golden Gophers from Minnesota are respectfully ranked twentieth in scoring defense and fourteenth in scoring offense among FBS teams. Their number thirteen AP poll rank, undefeated record, and good rankings on both side of the ball seem to paint a picture of a great football team. However, looking at their strength of schedule, it becomes clear that their full capability as a team is still very much unknown. Breaking down Minnesota’s schedule, they began their season with games against South Dakota State, Fresno State, and Georgia Southern. SDSU is a perennial contender for the FCS National Championship, Fresno State has been a middling Mountain West team throughout the season, and Georgia Southern has been solid in the Sun Belt this year. As a Power Five team playing in the Big 10, Minnesota should be expected to roll over these teams. In reality, they only beat these three teams by a combined thirteen points, even going into overtime against Fresno State. While the offense put up respectable numbers during these games, the defense gave up over twenty-nine points per game.

Moving into conference play, Minnesota’s defense has seemed to settle down, only giving up an average of just over fourteen points per game. While conference play should provide tough matchups, the Golden Gophers last five opponents are a combined 8-22 in Big 10 play, with the best win coming over 5-4 (3-3 B10) Illinois.

With a big Week 11 showdown against Penn State coming up, just how good is Minnesota? A win over the top-five Nittany Lion team would cement their spot as one of the best teams in college football this season, but only Saturday will show how legit this Golden Gopher team really is. Let me know what you think about Minnesota below. Are they good, bad, mediocre? You be the judge.

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