The Nebraska Cornhuskers take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Twenty-nine seniors and Tom Osborne will say goodbye to Nebraska fans for the final time from the big stadium on tenth street in Lincoln. The game is set for a 2:45 p.m. (CST) kickoff and will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
Minnesota is 6-4 on the season, coming off of a 17-3 win last week over Illinois. Second year coach Jerry Kill is starting to make Minnesota a quality football team. The offense is led by quarterback Philip Nelson (6-foot-2, 222 Pounds, Freshman). Nelson was being redshirted until four games ago when Coach Kill decided to put him in to run the offense. As a team, Minnesota averages 166 yards rushing per game and 187 yards through the air. Nelson has completed 50 of 90 passes (55.6 percent) with six touchdowns and two interceptions. He is also a good runner averaging just over 40 yards per game rushing. The true freshman though could make some mistakes against a ranked opponent away from home. Max Shortell (6-6, 237, So.) is his backup and could see some time as well.
The running game has been good for the Gophers. Donnell Kirkwood (5-10, 219, So.) leads the team with 819 yards rushing this season and five touchdowns.Rodrick Williams Jr. (5-11, 228, Fr.) is also a fator in the running game. Minnesota will try to keep control of the ball and keep the Husker offense off the field.
The receivers are led by Marqueis Gray (6-5, 250, Sr.) formerly the quarterback who is a physical presence receiving, running, or passing the football. Minnesota has good size at all the receiver positions, but has really been decimated by injuries at those spots. Nebraska may really be able to make Minnesota a one-dimensional football team.
The offensive line is very young for the Gophers. Two freshmen and three sophomores are set to start for Minnesota. This is a small group as well averaging just over 6-3 and 295 from tackle to tackle. This line is more like what Nebraska saw against Arkansas State and Idaho State than the rest of the Big Ten Conference. The Huskers have a major edge up front against the Gophers.
Defensively, Minnesota has been impressive this season. As a team they are 25th in total defense in the nation and seventh against the pass. Overall they give up 22 points per game and 168 yards rushing and 168 yards passing as well per contest. The defense, like the rest of the team is young, but has played well this season. Four players stand out on defense for Minnesota. D.L. Wilhite (6-3, 244, Sr.) is the team leader with 7.5 sacks in 2012 as a defensive end. Defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman (6-6, 301, Jr.) adds five sacks and is a good inside run stopper. Cornerback Troy Stoudermire (5-10, 195, Sr.) is the team leader in tackles. Middle linebacker Mike Rallis (6-2, 245, Sr.) is the heart and soul of the defense. The secondary as a group may be one of the best units Nebraska has played this season.
Minnesota is not a great team in the kicking game Kicker Jordan Wettstein (5-11, 180, Sr.) is 12 of 20 (60 percent) on field goals with a long of 44 yards. Punter Christian Eldred ( 6-3, 190, So.) averages just over 38 yards per punt. He came to Minnesota last year from Melbourne, Australia. The return game has not done anything of note for the Gophers recently.
The Gophers have great player in receiver A.J. Barker (6-1, 191, Jr.) who leads the team in catches, yards, and touchdowns, but he is likely out for the game which really limits Minnesota in the passing game and on punt returns. His loss is something Minnesota will definitely feel against an improving Husker defense. The tempo of the Nebraska attack will wear down Minnesota in the second half. The Huskers cannot play sloppy football and beat Minnesota. I believe they will play well at home on Saturday in defeating Minnesota by a score of 42-17. Thanks for reading going deep With Doze.
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