Fresno State @ Minnesota preview

Minnesota was impressive in a season-opening win and will try to get to 2-0 for the third straight year Saturday night when it hosts Fresno State, an opponent that has some on edge in the Twin Cities. "I think it's a Big Ten opponent," Golden Gophers coach P.J. Fleck told reporters Monday of the Bulldogs. ". ... You can see it all over the field for them. They play with an extreme confidence."

While Minnesota cruised to a 48-10 victory over New Mexico State last weekend, Fresno State produced the highest scoring total in the NCAA with a 79-13 rout of Idaho. Seven of the Bulldogs' 11 touchdowns came on the ground, two on blocked field goals and one on an interception return. Fresno State loaded up on Power Five wins between 2000 and 2012, but it has lost nine straight such contests since a rout of Colorado six years ago. True freshman Zack Annexstad threw for 220 yards and two TDs in the Golden Gophers' win and was supported by a ground game that piled up 295 rushing yards at 6.3 per attempt.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1. LINE: Minnesota -2.5

ABOUT FRESNO STATE (1-0): Fleck also was quick to compliment Bulldogs quarterback Marcus McMaryion, who completed 19-of-26 passes for 207 yards in the opener while backed by a 239-yard ground attack. One aim in practice this week was to figure out a way to get more pressure on Annexstad after Fresno State managed just one sack and three quarterback hurries against an Idaho team that threw the ball 33 times. "We're trying to get our goal every week of a certain number of sacks, and we didn't achieve that goal," defensive end Mykal Walker told the Fresno Bee. "We're going to come back, get in the film room, chop it up, and (defensive line coach Jamar Cain) does a great job of teaching us new things and as long as we trust that we'll do pretty good."

ABOUT MINNESOTA (1-0): Annexstad shook off an early fumble to complete 10-of-16 passes for 162 yards and two scores in the first half alone, giving Fleck confidence that the youngster has the poise to make it. "I looked at him and said, 'We're going to be all right, huh?'" Fleck told reporters of his reaction to Annexstad's calmness following the fumble. "Usually it's me telling them, 'Hey, you're going to be OK.' That's his personality. It's different. And I like it." The top target was Tyler Johnson (100 yards receiving and both TDs) and the team was happy to welcome back defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr., who missed the final eight games of 2017 but returned to take a punt back 76 yards for a TD and make five tackles on defense.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Gophers RB Rodney Smith had 153 rushing yards against New Mexico State and needs 42 more to become the sixth player in program history with 3,000 for a career.

2. McMaryion has zero TD passes in 108 attempts over his last three games.

3. The teams are meeting for the first time. Minnesota is 12-3 against Mountain West Conference opponents.

PREDICTION: Minnesota 28, Fresno State 27