Boat Inspection: Minnesota Gophers football after Week 9
RELATED ARTICLES: W9 RECAP, G5 TOP 4, CFP TEAMS, W10 PREVIEW
STATUS: Not bad, but definitely not good.
LAST WEEK: L 17-10 at Iowa
Yawn. A low scoring game was almost unbearable to watch at times, but we have to keep in mind that it's a year for development. Even after Demry Croft finished 9-for-29, we have to think positively towards the future.
And I won't bash Iowa, they were clearly the better team even though the score was close. The Hawkeyes improved to 5-3 while the Gophers fell to 4-4, but both appear to be youthful teams preparing for next season. Minnesota certainly is.
UP NEXT: at Michigan
Minnesota needs to steal a game in order to make a bowl. They should be favored at home against Nebraska, but will be the underdogs in the other three. First up is Michigan and, while the Wolverines had high hopes coming into this season, they've gone through more quarterback than the Gophers.
A win isn't out of the realm of possibility, but it will definitely be earned. Michigan is favored by 15.5 points going into Saturday, but anything can happen in a rivalry game. No one is expecting Minnesota to win this game, not even many of their own fans. But this is a great opportunity to shock a conference foe to build momentum towards a bowl game.
Even with how the season has gone, I feel positive about the Gophers chances in the next four games. I won't say they're going to win these games, but I think there is a good chance that they show us what 2018's potential will be. Depth continues to be a concern, but the youthful backups continue to receive valuable experience. That might not pay off in the next month, but the results will show next year.
