P.J. Fleck has helped Minnesota win nine games in back to back seasons. This team has the potential to be a sneaky team in the Big Ten West. Just when you think they are out, the Golden Gophers have found ways to win football games in the last two seasons. A lot of question marks on offense lead the way for Minnesota this season. Here is the preview for the 2023 Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Offense
This offense is going to look completely different in 2023. Tanner Morgan is gone, but the Golden Gophers have a promising signal caller coming in to step up as the starting quarterback in Athan Kaliakmanis. He appeared in 11 games last season and threw for 946 passing yards to go along with 3 passing touchdowns and 4 interceptions. This team is going through probably the biggest makeover during the Fleck tenure at Minnesota. They do need to replace the program’s all-time leading rusher in Mohamed Ibrahim. Last season, he rushed for 1,665 rushing yards to go along with 5.2 yards per carry and 20 touchdowns.
Minnesota has been a team that has wanted to establish the run in their offensive scheme. The Golden Gophers bring in Sean Tyler from Western Michigan and he seems to be their best option at having a good running game. However, this receiver core is arguably the best that P.J. Fleck has had in his tenure at Minnesota. They bring back their number one receiver last season in Daniel Jackson, who led the team in receiving yards last season. Minnesota also brought in Elijah Spencer (Charlotte) and Corey Crooms Jr (Western Michigan) to help solidify this talented group. They also have a Preseason All-American tight end in Brevyn Spann-Ford that will provide some mismatches from time to time.
With the offense looking like it’ll be a new style, they are losing three interior offensive lineman from last year including John Michael Schmitz who was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy. They didn’t add any in the transfer portal, but they have shuffled some players around. Tyler Cooper goes from being the back-up right guard to be the starting left guard. Quinn Carroll goes from being the back-up right tackle to the starting right guard. Despite these couple changes on the offensive line, P.J. Fleck will do his best to give them the best chance to have an advantage.
Defense
This Minnesota defensive group has to replace a ton of key players from a defense that was fourth in the nation in scoring defense giving up under 14 points per game. The Golden Gophers need to step up in their pass rush which has been poor the last couple of seasons. Minnesota brought in Chris Collins from UNC in the transfer portal to help the edge rush. If the Golden Gophers can get him or the likes of Jah Joyner and Danny Striggow can step up in 2023, they will improve at the pass rush.
In the linebacker group they are led by Cody Lindenberg who was second on the team in tackles in 2022. He is back to replace the production that Mariano Sori-Marin produced at the middle linebacker spot last year. The Golden Gophers brought in Ryan Selig from Western Michigan to be the other linebacker in this 4-2-5 defensive scheme. If they decide to go 4-3, he will be a great fit for the middle or the outside linebacker position. The linebacker group is going to need to replicate how good they were last year.
In the secondary, they have lost the most talent. They do, however, bring back their team leader in interceptions Tyler Nubin. Nubin had 4 interceptions last season and will look to build off of last season’s success. They brought in four transfers in the secondary position and are looking for them to come in and compete. If Minnesota can get a good group of secondary players out there, they will contend in the Big Ten West.
Win Total Bet
The Minnesota win total is set at 7.5 on the FanDuel Sportsbook, with the odds on the over set at +134 and the under is set at -164. The Minnesota Golden Gophers need a lot of things to go right for them to get over this win total mark. They have to replace a lot of production of offense, which I don’t know if they will be able to do in this season alone. I think the Golden Gophers get to six wins, but they don’t go over the 7.5 win mark. Stay away from the Minnesota win total bet.
Schedule Predictions
Loss vs Nebraska (0-1)
Win vs Eastern Michigan (1-1)
Loss at UNC (1-2)
Win at Northwestern (2-2)
Win vs Louisiana Lafayette (3-2)
Loss vs Michigan (3-3)
Win at Iowa (4-3)
Win vs Michigan State (5-3)
Loss vs Illinois (5-4)
Win at Purdue (6-4)
Loss at Ohio State (6-5)
Loss vs Wisconsin (6-6)