Minnesota Golden Gophers - NCAA Football Odds, Lines & Betting

They might all be new faces to first-year head coach Tim Brewster, but the Golden Gophers benefit this season from the return of 15 old faces. Many still wear embarrassed looks after Glen Mason’s charges blew a 31-point lead against Texas Tech at the Insight Bowl last season, eventually losing 44-41 in double overtime. It was a record collapse by the 6-7 Golden Gophers, which ensures they are the answer to trivia questions for the next while. The returning players must put it behind them and improve a defense that scraped the bottom of the statistical barrel at 113th in the country.

The bulk of the returnees (nine) are on the defensive side of the ball, but there is much work to be done by new coordinator Everett Withers, who worked with the Tennessee Titans from 2001-06. Look for linebackers Deon Hightower and Mike Sherels to contribute as well as free safety Dominique Barber and corner Dominic Jones. The team welcomes back 1,200-yard rusher Amir Pinnix, but the man who was handing off to him last season, quarterback Brian Cupito, is gone. New offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar needs to pick a replacement for Cupito and to also develop some targets beyond Ernie Wheelwright and Eric Decker. Jay Thomas may be one of those new targets. Quarterbacking duties could go to Tony Mortensen, who appeared in three games last season, but barely has numbers to speak of from his time as a backup with the Gophers.

Since arriving in Minneapolis, Brewster has been selling the history of the program to his players in an effort to show them they can compete for a conference title and a shot at the national championship. He recruited his talented QB son Clint to Minnesota to prove he means business. But there is little reason to think a dramatic turnaround can occur this season.

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