The Call: Gophers vs. Oregon State

September 1, 2016 at 12:07PM

GOPHERS OFFENSE VS. BEAVERS DEFENSE

Gary Andersen has a defensive background and incorporated his 3-4 system last year. The Beavers struggled, and there are eight new starters, many of them young, including Elu Aydon, a 327-pound redshirt freshman run-stuffer from American Samoa. Advantage: Gophers

SPECIAL TEAMS

Victor Bolden Jr. returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown last year against Oregon. Ryan Santoso has moved to punter for Minnesota, with unproven Emmit Carpenter taking over kicking duties. Advantage: Beavers

PLAYER TO WATCH

Oregon State wide receiver Jordan Villamin during an NCAA football game in Corvallis, Ore., on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015. ORG XMIT: OTKTG127
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The 6-5, 220-pound Jordan Villamin is a big receiving target, who had seven catches for 138 yards and a touchdown last year against Stanford. Bolden and converted quarterback Seth Collins are dangerous receivers, too.

THE OPPONENT

Oregon State went 2-10 last year in Gary Andersen's first season, ranking 111th nationally in scoring offense and 114th in scoring defense. The Beavers should be better on both sides of the ball, but expectations are not high in Corvallis, knowing the former Wisconsin coach took on a rebuilding project.

GOPHERS DEFENSE VS. BEAVERS OFFENSE

Utah State transfer Darell Garretson should stabilize this offense, which rotated through three ineffective quarterbacks last season. The Beavers will test Minnesota's young secondary. Ryan Nall, a 6-2, 234-pound sophomore, rushed for 174 yards on 19 carries vs. Oregon last year. Advantage: Gophers

INTANGIBLES

TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Josh Doctson is tackled by Minnesota Gophers defensive back Eric Murray as he carried the ball in the second quarter as the Gophers took on TCU at TCF Stadium, Thursday, September 3, 2015 in Minneapolis, MN. ] (ELIZABETH FLORES/STAR TRIBUNE) ELIZABETH FLORES • eflores@startribune.com
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Gophers have played well in these Thursday night home openers, even in last year's 23-17 loss to No. 2 TCU. Advantage: Gophers

JOE'S PREDICTION

GOPHERS 31

OSU 23

Oregon State has enough talent to pull an upset, but the Gophers answer with a rebuilt O-line and strength up the middle on defense.

about the writer

about the writer

Joe Christensen

Sports team leader

Joe Christensen, a Minnesota Star Tribune sports team leader, graduated from the University of Minnesota and spent 15 years covering Major League Baseball, including stops at the Riverside Press-Enterprise and Baltimore Sun. He joined the Minnesota Star Tribune in 2005 and spent four years covering Gophers football.

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