“Row the Boat!” To illuminate that is the rallying cry of third-year Minnesota head coach PJ Fleck. Fleck has begun to make his mark at Minnesota. Last season the Golden Gophers capped off a winning season with a 34-10 bowl win over Georgia Tech. Equally important was their 37-15 college football betting payout at Wisconsin. It was a long time coming for the Gophers to claim the famed Paul Bunyan’s Axe. With a young roster, Fleck’s program looks to be on the rise. However, they have a potentially tricky 2019 season opener against a top 1-AA team.
South Dakota State Jackrabbits vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers
| Date and Time: | Thursday, August 29, 2019, 9 p.m. ET |
|---|---|
| Location: | TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| SDSU Vs. Minnesota TV Coverage: | FS1 |
A 1-AA Powerhouse
Fashion the success that the Jackrabbits have had as a 1-AA program. John Stiegelmeier begins his 22nd season at SDSU. Under his leadership, South Dakota State has made the 1-AA playoffs in seven consecutive seasons. Further, they have enjoyed college football betting success in the playoffs. SDSU has made the semifinals the past two seasons. Last year the Jackrabbits finished 10-3 and ranked fifth best in FBS for an offense with 43 points per game. Of great concern is the necessity of replacing departed record-setting quarterback Taryn Christion. On the whole, the roster is loaded enough to overcome the challenge.
Row the Boat
At the onset of 2018, Golden Gopher season was online wagering inconsistency. Things came to a head after a horrific 55-31 loss at a bad Illinois team. Fleck changed defensive coordinators and the Gophers went on to win two of their last three. Most important of all the season-ending win at Wisconsin clinched a bowl berth. Of course, Fleck has his share of detractors. His slogans and cliché’s rub many people raw. In sum, he is in the midst of a massive but quick rebuilding project. Minnesota is catching attention as an emerging contender.
Top Players to Watch
Minnesota has nine returning starters to their offense. Namely, Wide Receiver Tyler Johnson Sr. (78 REC, 1169 YDS, 12 TD) is an emerging college football betting asset. RB Mo Ibrahim (202 ATT, 1160 YDS, 9 TD) will keep defenses honest. Extending the Gophers success was quarterback Tanner Morgan (147.6 RTG, 1401 YDS, 9 TD, 6 INT). Morgan took over at the midway point and won four out of six games. Yet another asset is WR Rashod Bateman (51 REC, 704 YDS, 6 TD).
Rossi Firms up Defense
In comparison to before he took over Joe Rossi did great work on the defense. As a matter of fact, the unit improved so rapidly at the end of 2018 that he got the permanent gig. In particular, the way his unit shut down a physical Wisconsin offense proved climatic. Six starters return to Rossi’s unit. Any kind of further improvement on defense could mean big things for Minnesota.
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. The Line
Minnesota is:
4-2 against the spread as a home favorite
2-3 under the total laying points at home
SDSU vs. Minnesota College Football Betting Prediction: South Dakota State
SDSU vs. Minnesota College Football Betting Score Prediction: South Dakota State 27, Minnesota 28
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