Posted: Sept. 25, 2010 3:52 p.m. CT
By Travis Erickson
DATE: September 25, 2010
TIME: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. (CST)
SITE: Minneapolis, Minn.
STADIUM: TCF Bank Stadium
SERIES: Minnesota leads this short series with a 2-0 record. The Golden Gophers won the first matchup of the series 31-20 which was played on Sept. 24, 1988. They earned a narrow 31-27 win over the Huskies in the 2008 season opener.
RECORD: Minnesota (1-2, 0-0 Big Ten), Northern Illinois (1-2, 0-0 MAC)
PREDICTION: Minnesota 27 - 17
KEYS TO THE GAME:
The running game must get back on track for the Golden Gophers. They found little room to run against a physical Trojan defense that held Minnesota to only 83 yards on 37 carries. Due to an ankle injury, Duane Bennett missed the entire second half of last game and only carried the ball seven times for six yards. Bennett should be healthy this week, which should give the backfield a boost. If Bennett isn
