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Ranking Big Ten Opening Week Games-ELITE Tier

By Taylor Johnson

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2. TCU @ MINNESOTA (Sept. 3, 8 p.m. CT) ESPN

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

In the not-so-distant history, this game would be nothing more than an afterthought that would get lost in the shuffle in the opening week slate of games. But in 2015, it’s one of the more interesting games to watch Labor Day weekend.

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Wisconsin vs. Purdue Prediction, Odds, Trends and Key Players for College Football Week 4
Wisconsin vs. Purdue Prediction, Odds, Trends and Key Players for College Football Week 4 /

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    • TCU comes into the season with not only hopes of making the College Football Playoff, but winning a national championship. The Horned Frogs have the team to do it. Quarterback Trevone Boykin returns for his senior season, coming off last year where he threw for 3,901 yards and 33 touchdowns and also ran for another 707 yards and scoring eight touchdowns. Boykin was TCU’s second leading rusher behind Aaron Green, who also returns for his senior season. Green ran for 922 yards and nine touchdowns while helping the Horned Frogs to a 12-1 record and a blowout victory over Ole Miss in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. But it wasn’t just the high powered offense that made them successful. TCU’s defense was ranked 18th overall in total defense and allowed their opponents to score just 19 points per game. Although the team’s two leading tacklers are no longer with the team, TCU should be just find on the defensive side of the ball.

    Minnesota’s head coach Jerry Kill has arguably his best team he’s ever coached coming up this season. Last season, the Gophers came within a game of winning the Big Ten West division and heading to their first conference championship game. David Cobb left a huge void at running back, but the Gophers do not lack talent or depth at the position. Jeff Jones, Berkley Edwards, Rodney Smith and Rodrick Williams, Jr. are all talented and should be able to fill the shoes nicely. Jones might also get time at receiver, giving Kill another weapon to stretch the field. With more experience under his belt, quarterback Mitch Leidner should improve on his numbers from a year ago. Kill had a young defense last year that really gelled and improved towards the end of the season. This year they are a veteran group that could be one of the best units in the Big Ten.

    TCU blew out the Gophers last season in the third game of the year. Don’t expect that in this year’s matchup. TCU is explosive on both sides of the ball, but Minnesota has a much-improved defense that should slow Boykin and the Horned Frogs offense down a bit. The big question will be if Minnesota has found a playmaker on the outside and if the running back corps can fill the shoes of Cobb.

    Playing at TCF Bank Stadium will also help the Gophers. This should be a really fun game to watch and one I am extremely looking forward to.

    Next: Big Ten vs SEC Clash Inside Jerry's World