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Minnesota Football: Game-By-Game Predictions For 2022 Season

By Micah Cedergren

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Tanner Morgan #2 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers throws a pass during the first half of the Guaranteed Rate Bowl against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Chase Field on December 28, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Tanner Morgan #2 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers throws a pass during the first half of the Guaranteed Rate Bowl against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Chase Field on December 28, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Jerry Kill, the new NMSU football coach, accepts a football helmet as the New Mexico State Aggies face off against the University of New Mexico Lobos at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021.Kill 3
Jerry Kill, the new NMSU football coach, accepts a football helmet as the New Mexico State Aggies face off against the University of New Mexico Lobos at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021.Kill 3 /

Minnesota Gophers begin their season against a familiar face and are looking to capitalize on a soft non-conference schedule.

Week 1 New Mexico State Aggies Sept.1 Minneapolis, MN

The season sets up perfectly for the Gophers to fire up the passing attack and find a rhythm without having to sweat out any nail-biters (although last year proves no team can be taken for granted). Look for Morgan and the passing attack to hit on a few longer plays and the running game to continue to do what the Minnesota football running game is seemingly always capable of.

Week 1 sees the return of former coach Jerry Kill and New Mexico State coming to Minneapolis. There is a bit of animosity between Kill and the school, and Kill has made known how he feels about Fleck’s coaching style, so this could be a fun one to watch, and one that maybe Fleck isn’t going to worry about letting the score get out of hand, let’s call it a 49-10 win for the Gophers.

Prediction: Win (1-0)

Week 2 Western Illinois Leathernecks Sept.10 Minneapolis, MN

Week 2 is another home game against an inferior foe as FCS school Western Illinois heads to MN.  The Leathernecks provide another opportunity for the Gophers to get the passing attack back where it needs to be as the regular season approaches, but this time Fleck will call off the dogs early. Gophers win 38-0.

Prediction: Win (2-0)

Week 3 Colorado Buffaloes Sept. 17 Minneapolis MN

This is a rematch from last season when the Gophers pummeled Colorado in Boulder. Despite having revenge on their mind, the Buffaloes may be even worse this season and will be double-digit underdogs, providing the Gophers a final tune-up in preparation for the Big Ten schedule. Gophers win 31-7.

Prediction: Win (3-0)

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