Gophers football vs. USC: Keys to game, how to watch and who has edge

MINNESOTA vs. No. 11 USC

When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Huntington Bank Stadium
TV: Big Ten Network
Radio: KFXN-FM, 100.3
Weather: 71 degrees, mostly cloudy, 14 mph east wind
Betting spread: USC minus-9.5

Records: Both teams lost by the same score, 27-24, to now-No. 10 Michigan in Ann Arbor. Minnesota (2-3, 0-2 Big Ten) did so last week; USC (3-1, 1-1) did it a week prior. The Trojans had an impressive 27-20 win over current No. 13 LSU in season opener and scored 28 unanswered in a 38-21 victory over Wisconsin last week.

History: Minnesota is 1-6-1 all-time against the Trojans, including a 32-21 home loss in 2010 and a 19-17 defeat at the L.A. Coliseum in 2011. This is their first match-up as fellow Big Ten members.

Big question: Can the Gophers put together a complete game? Halftime leads over North Carolina and Iowa were lost, while a second-half comeback was needed against Michigan. All three ended incomplete. And head coach P.J. Fleck’s Big Ten losing streak stretches to six since last October.

Key matchup: USC WRs Zachariah Branch and Ja’Kobi Lane vs. CBs Ethan Robinson and Justin Walley or Za’Quan Bryan. If Walley can return after missing two weeks with a knee injury, Minnesota will be better off with its senior leader. Bryan, a redshirt sophomore, has been mostly up to the task so far, but the test against then Trojans’ athletic freaks will hit different.

Who has the edge?

Gophers offense vs. USC defense: Despite its struggles, Minnesota tried to establish the run against Michigan and failed. They might try to do so again Saturday and wouldn’t be considered stubborn if they do. USC is giving up 5.0 yards per attempt, which ranks 110th in the nation. The U has been at 3.4 per attempt, which is an uncharacteristic 111th in the country. … The biggest example of the shift in the Gophers offensive philosophy…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/gophers-football-vs-usc-keys-124600699.html

Author : Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.

Publish date : 2024-10-04 12:46:00

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