New Mexico
Minnesota opens vs. Kill, New Mexico State as heavy favorite
FILE – Then-TCU interim coach Jerry Kill watches from the sideline as TCU performs Kansas throughout the second half of an NCAA faculty soccer recreation Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Fort Value, Texas. Kill, who additionally coached at Minnesota, is now the top coach at New Mexico State. New Mexico State and Minnesota play on Thursday, Sept. 1. (AP Photograph/Ron Jenkins, File)
New Mexico State (0-1) at Minnesota (0-0), 9 p.m. EDT (Massive Ten Community)
Line: Minnesota by 36½, in line with FanDuel Sportsbook.
Sequence file: Minnesota leads 2-1.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Minnesota brings again 4 sixth-year standouts on offense in quarterback Tanner Morgan, operating again Mo Ibrahim, broad receiver Chris Autman-Bell and middle John Michael Schmitz. They’ve nicknamed themselves the ” Encore 4 ” of their quest to win the Massive Ten West Division after a 9-4 end in 2021. Ibrahim tore his Achilles within the opener in opposition to Ohio State final 12 months. New Mexico State’s new coach is none aside from Jerry Kill, who stepped down halfway by his fifth season with the Gophers in 2015 for well being issues associated to his epilepsy. Kill has been vital of Minnesota since he left, upset by the firing of his successor Tracy Claeys and the evaluation of this system by present coach P.J. Fleck upon arrival in 2017. The Aggies, who’re of their fifth straight season as a soccer impartial, will be part of Convention USA subsequent 12 months.
KEY MATCHUP
New Mexico State QBs vs. Minnesota DL. Aggies junior faculty switch Diego Pavia misplaced a fumble and threw three interceptions in a gap 23-12 loss to Nevada on Saturday, when true freshman Gavin Frakes took over within the fourth quarter. Whoever begins and finishes at quarterback will likely be going through a remade Gophers entrance, after shedding three of 4 starters, together with NFL draft picks Boye Mafe and Esezi Otomewo. Defensive sort out Trill Carter is the lone returning starter on the road.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
New Mexico State: WR Kordell David caught seven passes for 56 yards and a rating in opposition to Nevada.
Minnesota: LT Aireontae Ersery replaces NFL draft decide Daniel Faalele because the protector of Morgan’s blind facet. Fleck has known as the 6-foot-6, 325-pound Ersery, a local of Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, the very best offensive lineman prospect he has ever coached.
FACTS & FIGURES
That is the primary time since Michigan’s Fritz Crisler in 1947 {that a} former Minnesota head coach will face the Gophers. … Kill’s file at Minnesota was 29-29 total and 14-21 within the Massive Ten. He was the convention’s coach of the 12 months in 2014. … The Gophers beat the Aggies 48-10 within the 2018 season opener. … New Mexico State has had one successful file within the final 20 years, going 7-6 in 2017 below Doug Martin after beating Utah State within the Arizona Bowl.
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