Weekly Devil's Advocate--Minnesota vs. BG

This week, we're switching up roles. I'll be taking the side of the home team, while Harner will argue his case for the visitors. Here goes.....

Chris' take on a BG win:

When you look at the outcome of this game, you have to look further than just what goes down on the field.

Everything surrounding this game makes it winnable for the Falcons. The Doyt is going to be a sellout (or close to it) for the first time since the Northern Illinois game in 2003. If you'll remember, that was the day ESPN College Gameday filmed their show from BG. This contest has a real legit shot to have that kind of atmosphere. And BG won that game decisively, so history bodes well for the Falcons. They'll be ready.

Gregg Brandon and his players also will not let there be a mental letdown after the upset of Pitt. Brandon said multiple times in his presser on Monday that he will not, under any circumstances, let his team suffer a mental lapse in their home opener.

Also, if the win over Pitt did anything, it boosted the confidence of everybody on the team. The Falcons will take the field truly believing they can take on the world tomorrow.

On the field, Brandon's spread offense will again feature so many different packages and looks that I can't see a way for Tim Brewster and his pile of JUCO transfers to truly shut it down. The Gophers missed a lot of tackles in their narrow win over NIU last week, and they can't afford to do that at the Doyt--not when Tyler Sheehan has so many receivers to go to.

Defensively, the group looked the best it has in about five years last week. Against a team with a spread set similar to their own, it will be interesting to see how the Falcons tackle a less conventional offense. My guess is that they'll do just fine. Outside of Eric Decker, Minny QB Adam Weber is kind of low on options. While Weber himself is a dual threat guy, I just don't see them moving the ball well enough to score the amount of points it will take to win.

In the end, this is going to be a close game. BG will take it because in this case they truly seem to be the better team. Again, I reference their near loss to NIU.

Harner's case for Minnesota:

First things first, Minnesota is out for revenge.

After losing to BG in their home opener last season, there would be nothing sweeter for the Gophers than to ruin BG's home opener this year. And it's not like they can't.

The offense is led by second year starting quarterback Adam Weber, who like Sheehan, was in his first game last season when BG pulled the upset. This season, he should be more polished and ready to go. He had a successful week one throwing for 298 yards against NIU. He'll have to find the holes in the BG defense to match those numbers, but he should be able to do enough in the short game to move his team down the field.

The ground game with Duane Bennett and Weber scrambling may also have a good day against the Falcons. While they contained LeSean McCoy last week, BG did allow LeRod Stephens-Howling to run on them. Bill Stull was not a mobile quarterback so that will also be something BG will see for the first time this season.

Both Eric Decker and Jack Simmons are go to guys for Weber to throw too. Last week Decker had 89 yards and Simmons had 77 yards on just three catches. Both of them had touchdowns. If Weber can find these guys in space, they will make the Falcons pay.

On the defensive side of things, the Gophers are looking to improve from last week when they had no interceptions and just one forced fumble. Tim Brewster has talked this week about how his defense needs to improve for this game, and if the team takes the message, Sheehan could be in a for a long day.

Gregg Brandon has pleaded for his team to put the Pitt win and last year's upset behind them, but with all the people in Doyt Perry Stadium because of those two games, there is sure to be some memories rekindled. If the Gophers can jump out and deflate the crowd, they might just pull an upset of their own.