BIG TEN FOOTBALL: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2008 Season Predictions

The Minnesota Golden Gophers come into the 2008 season with many of the same issues that faced them in last year's campaign.  Most of those issues are with a defense that ranked last nationally in total defense.  Can new Defensive Coordinator Ted Roof provide some answers?  Things can't get any worse than they were last season, right?

Here are my 2008 season predictions for the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

8/30     NORTHERN ILLINOIS

The Gophers start the season with an easy win.

Prediction:  Win (31-17)

9/06     at BOWLING GREEN

The Gophers get a scare on the road.

Prediction:  Win (31-28)

9/13     MONTANA STATE

Take the wins when you can get them.

Prediction:  Win (34-10)

9/20     FLORIDA ATLANTIC

The Gophers better not look past FAU. 

Prediction:  Loss (24-21)

9/27     at OHIO STATE

The Buckeyes are just too much to handle.

Prediction:  Loss (45-7)

10/04   INDIANA

Kellen Lewis has a field day.

Prediction:  Loss (35-10)

10/11   at ILLINOIS

Juice Williams and Daniel Dufrene run all over the Gophers.

Prediction:  Loss (35-14)

10/25   at PURDUE

Curtis Painter carves up the Gopher defense.

Prediction:  Loss (31-20)

11/01   NORTHWESTERN

The Gophers put their best game together.

Prediction:  Loss (46-45 OT)

11/08   MICHIGAN

The Wolverines defense is too strong for the Gophers.

Prediction:  Loss (38-10)

11/15   at WISCONSIN

The Badgers get a scare... in the first half.

Prediction:  Loss (31-17)

11/22   IOWA

A battle of the Big Ten bottom feeders.

Prediction:  Loss (28-24)

Final Record: 3-9.  Another horrible season looms for the Gophers.  Tim Brewster had better hope that moving into the new TCF Bank stadium in 2009 provides some lift for the program or he may be on the outside looking in.