Minnesota Football: 2017 game-by-game predictions
By Shane Lunnen
After a humbling loss at home to Middle Tennessee State, the Gophers look to get back on track as Big Ten play opens. Last year Minnesota beat Maryland 31-10 in College Park.
The Terps were a mediocre 6-6 in 2016 under first year head coach D.J. Durkin, but better than the previous year when they were 3-9. Durkin is recruiting at a higher level than the previous coach Randy Edsell, so there is help on the way for the program.
The quarterback situation is still unclear. Now with junior Caleb Henderson injured, it’s a three man race in fall camp between sophomores Tyrrell Pigrome and Max Bortenschlager and the highly-touted freshman Kasim Hill. Whoever is under center, they will have two good running backs to hand the ball to, with Ty Johnson and Lorenzo Harrison returning. The speedy junior D.J. Moore leads a talented group of wide receivers.
The defense has a lot of experience returning, but they must improve on their lackluster performance in 2016. The linebackers are the strength of the Terp defense. Senior Jermaine Carter is a solid middle linebacker who has led the team in tackles the last two years and looks to continue the trend this year. There is a lot of youth in the secondary that will look to make a name for themselves.
Minnesota will be looking to wash the bad taste of defeat from their mouths and they should start strong in this one. An opening drive for a touchdown leads to two more drives that end in field goals to have the Gophers up early by 13.
Maryland bounces back with a touchdown drive of their own, but is immediately matched by the Gophers. In the second half, Maryland inches closer on a couple occasions, but cannot take the lead at any point. The Gophers seal the deal with a final drive, capped by a Rodney Smith touchdown.