Bring on PJ and his Gophers
- Thread starter StateStreet123
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Coming into the season this was a game we probably had a 25% chance of winning. Now I think it is more like 60% (would be > if we had Bentley/Theineman for a full game and Fuller healthy)
In Minnesota, Fleck took over one of very few job openings that was not a rebuild. Scandal aside, they won 9 games last year. Anything less than 8 wins is probably going to disappoint Gopher fans and raise some doubts about Fleck. So far they have beaten 3 teams that might be worse than Mizzou, one of them narrowly. Their team has no clear identity and some real questions on defense. They were content to grind inferior defenses on the ground, but were unable to get the ground game going against Maryland.
Purdue has an extra week off to lick its wounds and scheme for this game. I can see Purdue coming out with statement game on a day charged with emotion.
In Minnesota, Fleck took over one of very few job openings that was not a rebuild. Scandal aside, they won 9 games last year. Anything less than 8 wins is probably going to disappoint Gopher fans and raise some doubts about Fleck. So far they have beaten 3 teams that might be worse than Mizzou, one of them narrowly. Their team has no clear identity and some real questions on defense. They were content to grind inferior defenses on the ground, but were unable to get the ground game going against Maryland.
Purdue has an extra week off to lick its wounds and scheme for this game. I can see Purdue coming out with statement game on a day charged with emotion.
I too thought at the beginning of the season we had a 25% chance in this game. We got to keep Brooks in check, cover their TE's, and have some big plays on O and we should be able to pull this one out. Watched 2 of their games this year and they remind me of the Ohio team we played earlier.
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The Ohio and Mizzou games were as well on ESPN's FPI. It doesn't matter. Purdue will win this game against 'Lil PJ.
They are definitely better than Ohio. I'd say Michigan on offense and UofL on defense.
If Michigan had an average Big Ten defense, we win that game. If UofL had an average Big Ten QB we win that game.
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I think UL on defense is a bit of a stretch, IMO. UL's defense is a bit under rated and I think outside of UM, OSU, Alabama, and maybe PSU...UL will probably win most of its games the rest of the year...maybe 10-2 or 9-3 at worst.
I think the best defenses we'll see the rest of the year will probably be Wisconsin and Iowa. If Purdue takes care of business and plays up to the potential we have seen at times and imposes its' will on Minny, Purdue wins by 10+. If that happens, Purdue may end up being favored in 3 of their final 7 games (Illinois, Rutgers, Indiana).
We should be worried - this is an “elite” team coming into Ross-Ade. They will do “elite” things and eat difficult conversations for breakfast that morning
Don't forget we have the home-stadium, visitor locker room advantage.
UofL has better athletes on defense than Minnesota. But they also gave up 35 to UNC, so I don't think the comparison is overly flattering. Regardless, what I was attempting to do was to use a composite of offensive and defensive units that Purdue has faced in the first 4 games for comparison. Even giving the benefit of the doubt to the Gophers on defense (UofL comparison), Purdue still has the overall edge because their offense is more Michigan than Louisville. Haven't really studied the special teams enough to comment.
The impression I got was the disinterest was mutual. Fleck didn't want a rebuild job and Purdue didn't want a GQ cheerleader.
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Simplify it to Brohm has an exciting brand that is QB friendly. Fleck gets excellent results, just not as QB friendly. If your the AD and knew what brand you wanted to mold and relate to grass roots of the school, then the answer was simple.
