The Minnesota Golden Gophers head to Las Vegas to face off against the UNLV Rebels in week one action.
The Rebels had a rough go of things in 2011, finishing with a disappointing 2-10 record overall, while going just 1-6 within the Mountain West Conference. The UNLV offense was atrocious last season, as the Rebels finished the year ranked 112th in the nation in scoring offense, averaging just 17.4 points per game. The Rebels do have a solid running game, and look for Tim Cornett, the leading rusher for the Rebels a season ago, to have an even bigger role this year. The quarterback race has been an interesting one to watch, but I look for incumbent Nick Sherry to take over the starting role. Sherry has a lot of upside and is a once Colorado recruit. Defensively, the Rebels return just five starters from a year ago on a defense that ranked 117th in the nation in overall scoring defense, allowing just over 40 points per game.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers will look to start off their 2012 campaign with a road victory over the UNLV Rebels. The Gophers return 12 starters overall from last season (six on offense and six on defense). Minnesota does have a weapon under center in quarterback MarQueis Gray, who led the Gophers in rushing and passing yardage last season. Minnesota, like the Rebels, struggled putting points on the board last season as the Gophers averaged just under 18 points per game, ranking the Golden Gophers 110th in the nation. The defense for Minnesota last season finished the year ranked 89th in the NCAA in points allowed per game with an average of 31.2 allowed per game. Hopefully for Minnesota, the return of some experience, coupled with new faces will bring a spark defensively.
The Rebels have been a tough play, as UNLV is just 1-4 against the spread in their last five games, and the Rebels are just 2-4 overall in their last six games on the road. The Gophers have just five wins overall in their last 23 games, and Minnesota has dropped their last five games on the road.
I am leaning with the Rebels here on opening weekend. The Gophers do not play well on the road, and even though Minnesota is the better team, I just don't see the Gophers putting up many points against UNLV, considering you stop Gray, you stop the Gophers. I like Minnesota to get the win, but I just can't give up this many points on the road.
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