Who has the edge?
Gophers offense vs. Nebraska defense: Gophers QB Zack Annexstad will have opportunities to throw downfield against a Cornhuskers pass defense that has allowed 268 yards per game, which checks in at 109th in the nation. But if Annexstad can’t cut down on his interceptions — he has multiple picks in three straight games — a big yardage total will go for naught. Nebraska has four interceptions in six games. Gophers are 13th in Big Ten games in passing efficiency (103.7). WR Tyler Johnson is coming off two straight 100-yard receiving games — 107 vs. Iowa, 119 at Ohio State — and a third straight would match Ron Johnson’s run from 2000. RB Mohamed Ibrahim won Big Ten freshman of the week for his 157-yard, two-TD rushing performance in the 30-14 loss to second-ranked Ohio State. The Gophers’ offensive line is dead last in Big Ten with 3.67 sacks allowed per game, but with new right tackle Daniel Faalele, it gave up only two against the Buckeyes. The Cornhuskers are last with 1.25 sacks per Big Ten game. LB Mohamed Barry leads Huskers with 53 tackles and six tackles of lost yards. EDGE: Gophers
Gophers defense vs. Nebraska offense: The Gophers’ pass defense will be stretched thin against a Cornhuskers attack that features dynamic receivers JD Spielman and Stanley Morgan and dual-threat QB Adrian Martinez. Spielman, an Eden Prairie native and son of Vikings GM Rick Spielman, had 209 receiving yards against Wisconsin, which broke his own school record set as a freshman a year ago. Spielman has team highs of 40 receptions, 537 yards and six TDs. Gophers are 14th in Big Ten games in pass defense efficiency (166.2), and would benefit from return of top cornerback Terell Smith (head injury). Martinez is one of two players in the country averaging 225 passing yards and 50 rushing yards per game, joining Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray. Minnesota’s pass defense has allowed 363 yards and 3 1/2 touchdown in past two losses, to No. 19 Iowa and No. 2 Ohio State. The Gophers’ rush defense kept both the Hawkeyes and Buckeyes under 100 yards rushing, but Huskers RB Devine Ozigbo has eclipsed 150 rushing yards in two of the past three games. Nebraska’s 96 penalty yards per game is dead last in the nation (130th); the Cornhuskers have had only one game with fewer than 10 penalties. Gophers DE Carter Coughlin leads the Big Ten in sacks with seven in all games; that is tied for seventh in the nation. EDGE: Nebraska
Special teams: Gophers punt coverage team has allowed 11 return yards all season, ranking 11th in the nation. K Emmit Carpenter was hitting on 88 percent of field goals until two misses against the Buckeyes, from 32 and 49 yards. Nebraska is 111th in kickoff return yards. K Barret Pickering has made only 56 percent of field goals this year. EDGE: Gophers
Prediction: The Gophers are minus-2.6 in turnover margin in three Big Ten games, and the Cornhuskers should be able to pass against a suspect U secondary. Minnesota has had a potential distraction with running back Shannon Brooks’ arrest this week, while Nebraska is desperate for a win, any win. Nebraska, 23-21
https://www.twincities.com/2018/10/19/gophers-football-vs-nebraska-who-has-the-edge/
Gophers offense vs. Nebraska defense: Gophers QB Zack Annexstad will have opportunities to throw downfield against a Cornhuskers pass defense that has allowed 268 yards per game, which checks in at 109th in the nation. But if Annexstad can’t cut down on his interceptions — he has multiple picks in three straight games — a big yardage total will go for naught. Nebraska has four interceptions in six games. Gophers are 13th in Big Ten games in passing efficiency (103.7). WR Tyler Johnson is coming off two straight 100-yard receiving games — 107 vs. Iowa, 119 at Ohio State — and a third straight would match Ron Johnson’s run from 2000. RB Mohamed Ibrahim won Big Ten freshman of the week for his 157-yard, two-TD rushing performance in the 30-14 loss to second-ranked Ohio State. The Gophers’ offensive line is dead last in Big Ten with 3.67 sacks allowed per game, but with new right tackle Daniel Faalele, it gave up only two against the Buckeyes. The Cornhuskers are last with 1.25 sacks per Big Ten game. LB Mohamed Barry leads Huskers with 53 tackles and six tackles of lost yards. EDGE: Gophers
Gophers defense vs. Nebraska offense: The Gophers’ pass defense will be stretched thin against a Cornhuskers attack that features dynamic receivers JD Spielman and Stanley Morgan and dual-threat QB Adrian Martinez. Spielman, an Eden Prairie native and son of Vikings GM Rick Spielman, had 209 receiving yards against Wisconsin, which broke his own school record set as a freshman a year ago. Spielman has team highs of 40 receptions, 537 yards and six TDs. Gophers are 14th in Big Ten games in pass defense efficiency (166.2), and would benefit from return of top cornerback Terell Smith (head injury). Martinez is one of two players in the country averaging 225 passing yards and 50 rushing yards per game, joining Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray. Minnesota’s pass defense has allowed 363 yards and 3 1/2 touchdown in past two losses, to No. 19 Iowa and No. 2 Ohio State. The Gophers’ rush defense kept both the Hawkeyes and Buckeyes under 100 yards rushing, but Huskers RB Devine Ozigbo has eclipsed 150 rushing yards in two of the past three games. Nebraska’s 96 penalty yards per game is dead last in the nation (130th); the Cornhuskers have had only one game with fewer than 10 penalties. Gophers DE Carter Coughlin leads the Big Ten in sacks with seven in all games; that is tied for seventh in the nation. EDGE: Nebraska
Special teams: Gophers punt coverage team has allowed 11 return yards all season, ranking 11th in the nation. K Emmit Carpenter was hitting on 88 percent of field goals until two misses against the Buckeyes, from 32 and 49 yards. Nebraska is 111th in kickoff return yards. K Barret Pickering has made only 56 percent of field goals this year. EDGE: Gophers
Prediction: The Gophers are minus-2.6 in turnover margin in three Big Ten games, and the Cornhuskers should be able to pass against a suspect U secondary. Minnesota has had a potential distraction with running back Shannon Brooks’ arrest this week, while Nebraska is desperate for a win, any win. Nebraska, 23-21
https://www.twincities.com/2018/10/19/gophers-football-vs-nebraska-who-has-the-edge/
