Tuesday’s bowl schedule concludes with the Guaranteed Rate Bowl at Chase Field in Arizona between the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Minnesota Golden Gophers. This is the first all-time meeting between the two schools. The Golden Gophers are currently listed as five-point favorites, with the over/under set at 45 points.
Minnesota finished off the regular season with a win over rival Wisconsin to finish off an 8-4 campaign. However, the Golden Gophers are no doubt regretting disappointing losses to Bowling Green and Illinois that could have put them in a better bowl game. Nevertheless, they can cap the season with their third bowl win under P.J. Fleck in three tries.
As for the Mountaineers, they barely snuck into a bowl game with wins over Texas and Kansas to close out the regular season. Of course, after West Virginia started the season 2-4, the Mountaineers are excited just to be in a bowl game. They now seek a second straight bowl win under Neal Brown.
Hot and Cold
The West Virginia offense endured plenty of highs and lows during the season, averaging just 26.8 points per game but going unbeaten when scoring more than that. Quarterback Jarret Doege finished the season strong but was largely inconsistent, throwing just 19 touchdown passes compared to 11 interceptions. Granted, the Mountaineers had a 1,000-yard rusher in Leddie Brown, although they averaged just 3.6 yards per carry as a team.
Defensively, the Mountaineers had plenty of shortcomings as well but found ways to win some close games. West Virginia’s biggest problem is the defense managed just 12 takeaways all season, and three of them came against lowly Kansas in the season finale. The Mountaineers also had problems containing the run, which often put their defense in a difficult position and was WVU’s downfall in multiple losses.
Gopher in the Way
Unlike West Virginia, the Golden Gophers had an excellent season defensively, giving up just 18.3 points per game. Ironically, Minnesota only tallied 20 sacks and 14 takeaways over 12 games. However, the Gophers held eight of their 12 opponents to 16 points or less, including three bowl teams.
Of course, scoring points was a struggle for the Gophers despite a steady rushing attack. After the injury to Mohamed Ibrahim, three different Minnesota running backs ended up rushing for over 500 yards this year, helping the Gophers average over 190 rushing yards per game. However, quarterback Tanner Morgan threw for less than 2,000 yards and just ten touchdown passes in a disappointing season as a senior.
Ground Battle
Given West Virginia’s occasional troubles stopping the run this season and Minnesota’s propensity for running the ball, the Gophers appear to have an obvious advantage in this game. The Minnesota defense also figures to be in good shape against a West Virginia offense that has average quarterback play and lacks serious game-changers in the passing game.
The five-point spread isn’t that much, even if the Gophers can be one-dimensional and offensively challenged, so bet on Minnesota to win and cover on Tuesday.
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