Minnesota Eye Bowl Win Streak, Virginia Tech Face Injury Challenges
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Virginia Tech Hokies: 2023 Duke’s Mayo Bowl Breakdown
The 2023 Duke’s Mayo Bowl features an exciting matchup between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Virginia Tech Hokies. The game is set to take place on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Golden Gophers come into the contest as 9-point favorites with a total game line set at 42.5 points.
Minnesota (7-5) will look to extend its impressive bowl game winning streak, while Virginia Tech (6-6) aims to build on its historic victory in last year’s Military Bowl. With both teams having unique challenges and opportunities, let’s break down the key stats and storylines heading into this intriguing bowl game.
Minnesota Golden Gophers: Defending Bowl Streak and Shaping Up for a Strong Finish
Minnesota enters the Duke’s Mayo Bowl with a 7-game bowl winning streak, the longest active streak in Big Ten history. Head coach P.J. Fleck’s squad has been a fixture in postseason play, appearing in bowls in six of Fleck’s eight seasons at the helm (with the exception of his first year and the COVID-impacted 2020 season). However, the Golden Gophers will face a challenging Virginia Tech squad that has been unpredictable down the stretch.
After dropping two of their last three games, including defeats to Rutgers and Penn State, Minnesota bounced back in their regular-season finale with a solid 24-7 win over Wisconsin, securing their seventh victory of the season. The Golden Gophers finished 5-4 in Big Ten play, marking another competitive season in one of college football’s toughest conferences.
On offense, Minnesota is led by senior quarterback Tanner Morgan (66.8% completion rate, 2,617 passing yards, 17 TDs, 5 INTs). His top receiving threats are Daniel Jackson (75 receptions, 863 yards, 4 TDs) and Elijah Spencer (46 receptions, 603 yards, 4 TDs). Minnesota’s rushing attack is spearheaded by sophomore running back Darius Taylor, who racked up 873 yards and 9 touchdowns this season.
Despite their success, the Golden Gophers have struggled to generate offensive yardage, averaging just 332.3 total yards per game (112th in FBS). However, their defense is where they shine. The Gophers’ defense is one of the best in the nation, allowing only 17.5 points per game (10th overall) and 290.9 total yards per game (5th overall). The defensive line, led by Johnson & Co., has been suffocating against both the run and the pass.
Virginia Tech Hokies: Overcoming Injuries and Inconsistency
Virginia Tech’s path to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl has been rocky. After starting the season strong, the Hokies suffered a disappointing three-game losing streak against Syracuse, Clemson, and Duke. However, they managed to secure their sixth win of the season with a 37-17 victory over Virginia in their regular-season finale.
Head coach Brent Pry, now in his third season, has faced challenges in establishing consistency, though he led Virginia Tech to a victory in the 2022 Military Bowl against Tulane. Despite struggling to find rhythm late in the season, the Hokies will aim to build on that momentum heading into this postseason matchup.
Virginia Tech’s offense has been relatively balanced, averaging 29.7 points per game (53rd in FBS) and 379.8 total yards (80th in FBS). Junior quarterback Kyron Drones (1,562 passing yards, 336 rushing yards, 16 total touchdowns) is expected to miss the game, leaving freshman William Watson III (400 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) as the likely starter. The Hokies will also be without their starting running back, Bhayshul Tuten (1,159 yards, 15 TDs), and backup Malachi Thomas, leaving Jeremiah Coney (169 yards) to take on a heavier load at running back.
Despite the injuries, Virginia Tech’s defense has been solid, allowing 22.8 points per game (42nd in FBS) and 359.7 total yards (51st in FBS). The Hokies have forced 23 turnovers (20th in FBS) and have been adept at generating pressure, recording 78 tackles for loss (41st in FBS). However, they’ll need to improve their red-zone defense, as opponents score 71.1% of the time when in the Hokies’ red zone (5th worst in FBS).
Conclusion
The 2023 Duke’s Mayo Bowl offers an intriguing contrast of styles and strengths, with Minnesota’s impressive defense facing off against Virginia Tech’s potential playmakers. With key players injured for the Hokies, Minnesota’s formula for success—strong defense and efficient offense—should be enough to continue their bowl-game dominance. Fans can expect a hard-fought battle, but Minnesota’s depth and experience should carry them to another bowl victory.
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