Northwestern @ Minnesota preview
Huntington Bank Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 26, 2009 ) Minnesota 35, Northwestern 24
When Northwestern and Minnesota open Big Ten Conference play against each other Saturday in Minneapolis, it will match two programs looking to prove a point.
Unranked Northwestern (4-0) aims to show that its fast start is an indication that it indeed can be a dangerous player in the conference standings. With a favorable schedule – the Wildcats don’t have to play No. 2 Ohio State or Michigan – this could be a dark-horse program.
On the flip side, Minnesota (1-3) hopes to show that despite its woeful non-conference showing, it belongs on the same field in a conference that has five teams ranked nationally. The Gophers have lost three straight at home, including losses to South Dakota and Northern Illinois.
Keep an eye on Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa, a first-year starter who has been terrific so far. Persa leads the nation in completion percentage (85 of 106; 80.1 percent) and has thrown for 1,049 yards and eight touchdowns.
He also can make plays with his feet. Persa is the leading rusher for the Wildcats, who average 30 points per game. Northwestern’s defense, led by tackles Jack DiNardo and Corbin Bryant and linebacker Quentin Davie, is 22nd in the nation in points allowed.
If there’s a sore spot for Northwestern, it may be at the tailback position, which has been in flux so far as coach Pat Fitzgerald keeps looking for someone to stand out. Northwestern has averaged just 3.2 yards per carry.
Minnesota, which plays it Homecoming game Saturday, seems to be headed nowhere. Coach Tim Brewer is firmly on the hot seat. Tony Dungy’s name came up this week as a possible replacement should there be a coaching change.
The Gophers’ problems begin on defense, which allows a conference-worst 188 rushing yards per game, and is 94th in the nation in points allowed (31 per game). Last week, Northern Illinois’ Chad Spann rushed for 223 yards in a 34-23 Gopher loss. Stopping the run in the Big Ten is a must for success.
Minnesota has shown that it can move the ball on offense, averaging 417 yards per game. Quarterback Adam Weber is a four-year starter who has completed 77 of 123 passes for 1,005 yards and seven touchdowns.
Minnesota leads the all-time series 50-30-5, including a 35-24 win at Northwestern last year. Northwestern has won two of the last three meetings.
This is the 16th time the two schools have opened their Big Ten schedules against each other.