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Minnesota Football: 2017 season preview, predictions

By Connor Muldowney

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 19: Rodney Smith #1 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers carries the ball against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first quarter of the game on November 19, 2016 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 19: Rodney Smith #1 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers carries the ball against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first quarter of the game on November 19, 2016 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 27: Jonathan Celestin #13 and Emmit Carpenter #38 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers hold the championship trophy after defeating the Washington State Cougars 17-12 in the Holiday Bowl at at Qualcomm Stadium on December 27, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 27: Jonathan Celestin #13 and Emmit Carpenter #38 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers hold the championship trophy after defeating the Washington State Cougars 17-12 in the Holiday Bowl at at Qualcomm Stadium on December 27, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

2017 schedule

WEEK DATE OPPONENT LOCATION
1 Aug. 31 vs. Buffalo Minneapolis, Minn.
2 Sept. 9 at Oregon State Corvallis, Ore.
3 Sept. 16 vs. Middle Tennessee Minneapolis, Minn.
4 Sept. 23 BYE WEEK
5 Sept. 30 vs. Maryland Minneapolis, Minn.
6 Oct. 7 at Purdue West Lafayette, Ind.
7 Oct. 14 vs. Michigan State Minneapolis, Minn.
8 Oct. 21 vs. Illinois Minneapolis, Minn.
9 Oct. 28 at Iowa Iowa City, Iowa
10 Nov. 4 at Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich.
11 Nov. 11 vs. Nebraska Minneapolis, Minn.
12 Nov. 18 at Northwestern Evanston, Ill.
13 Nov. 25 vs. Wisconsin Minneapolis, Minn.

Being in the Big Ten West is already an advantage for Minnesota as the Golden Gophers don’t have to play, or contend with, Penn State or Ohio State in 2017. Moreover, the West has been proven to be the weaker of the two divisions as the East is loaded at the top.

The Golden Gophers have a somewhat favorable schedule this season, and anything less than a 5-0 start to the campaign would be a disappointment. They should win each of their three non-conference games, although Middle Tennessee won’t be a pushover and traveling to Oregon State isn’t exactly a walk through the park.

Maryland at home and Purdue on the road should both be victories as well, but that’s where the schedule takes a turn. The Gophers will be tasked with facing off against Big Ten East foes Michigan State and Michigan in the final seven games as well as top West foes Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern and Wisconsin.

Despite a strong start to the year, the Gophers could struggle in the second half.

Next: College Football: Top 50 breakout candidates for 2017

Prediction: 7-5, 4-5 Big Ten

I’m sticking with my prediction of Minnesota beginning the season with a 5-0 record. After that, it will be absolute mayhem for the Golden Gophers. The second half of the season is a gauntlet for the Gophers as they will face off against Michigan State, Nebraska and Wisconsin at home — two of those three will result in losses — and Iowa, Michigan and Northwestern will all be tough road losses. Fortunately, the Gophers can take solace in the fact that they won’t be completely out of any game.

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