Classy Bowl Predictions: Gopher Bandanna Guy

Posted by Gopher Bandanna Guy

This season, the Recession Proof blog sparked our interest to get more integrated with the Gopher community on Gopher Hole, which led to our new friendship with Jon Tortomasi, also known to the Maroon and Gold community as Gopher Bandanna Guy. We invited him to join our weekly prediction segment, and his witty banter, Gopher fandom and close approximation to Section 117 (perched above us in 219) made him a perfect fit with the Classy Gentlemen. Here's his prediction for the Texas Bowl and the other B1G and BCS games. Thanks for joining our wacky fun, GBG!

Gopher Bandanna Guy's Classy Bowl Prediction
Texas Bowl: Minnesota (8-4) vs. Syracuse (6-6)
Dec. 27, 2013 - 5 p.m. - Houston, Texas

Happy Holidaze Gopher Friends and Family!  Here’s to those who wish us well, and those who don’t can go to hell!  Any and all disappointment about being passed over for Nebraska at the Gator Bowl has passed, and this Gopher bandanna-wearing fool is fired up to smack Syracuse in the mouth and run off with the Texas Bowl  title.  Brick by Brick y’all, and this lower-tier bowl is just that.  Another brick in the program to build upon.  Let’s carry some momentum in to the 2014 season! 

When we first drew Syracuse as our opponent, my gut reaction was ‘Gopher domination’ for this game, given our common opponents.  Then over the following days, I tempered that thought as I learned a bit more about Syracuse and heard from some of their more reasoned fans.  But more recently, I’ve reverted back to my original position.  Maybe it’s the Christmas cheer talking,  but we will dominate this game and it will not be pleasant for the Orange.

My reasons for this conclusion are three-fold.  First and foremost, the Gophers have shown they can run the ball effectively against the some of the best defenses in the country (Michigan State, anyone?).  With all cylinders firing, it seems likely that the Gophers will be able to execute their ball control offense against a less impressive defense like Syracuse’s.  Second, the Gopher defense has been absolutely stout in the second half of the season, they tackle as a unit, and don’t take a lot of risks.  Coach Kill and Co. will come up with an effective scheme to stop Orange QB Terrel Hunt and RB Jerome Smith. And third, the Orange are not a very disciplined team, and rack up the yellow flags.  This fact, combined with the Gopher’s excellent punting unit means, lots of long fields for the defense to work with in getting the ball back. 

My only wildcard here is turnovers.  The Gophers keep it to 1 or less, they take this game easily.  They get careless with the ball multiple times, or Nelson’s sporadic inaccuracy rears its ugly head at the wrong time/place, and this game becomes a tight one (but still winnable for the Gophs).  Given the Gophs low turnover totals for 2013 on the whole, I’ll wager we’ll be looking at the former, and minimal turnovers.  A final note that makes me even more confident, is the fact that the Orange’s top defensive back and playmaker, safety Durell Eskeridge will not be playing.

MINNESOTA 31, SYRACUSE 13

Gopher Bandanna Guy's B1G & BCS Bowl Predictions
Texas Bowl - Dec. 27 - Minnesota vs. Syracuse - Winner:  Minnesota
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl - Dec. 28 - Michigan vs. Kansas State - Winner: Kansas State
Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl - Jan. 1 - Nebraska vs. Georgia - Winner: Georgia
Outback Bowl - Jan. 1 - Iowa vs. LSU - Winner: LSU
Capital One Bowl - Jan. 1 - Wisconsin vs. South Carolina - Winner: South Carolina
Rose Bowl - Jan. 1 - Michigan State vs. Stanford - Winner: Michigan State
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl - Jan. 1 - UCF vs. Baylor - Winner:  UCF
Allstate Sugar Bowl - Jan. 2 - Oklahoma vs. Alabama - Winner: Alabama
At&T Cotton Bowl - Jan. 3 - Oklahoma State vs. Missouri - Winner: Missouri
Discover Orange Bowl - Jan. 3 - Clemson vs. Ohio State - Winner: Ohio State
Vizio BCS National Championship - Jan. 6 - Florida State vs. Auburn: Winner: FSU

Use the links below to navigate to any of the already-posted Classy Bowl Predictions, and check back later today and tomorrow for more predictions from your favorite maroon and gold top-hat-and-bow-tie gang. Happy Hollinsdays, Gopher friends!

Magsh - Flony - Higgy - Big Party - Constable & Kellen - Mrs. & Brooks Magsh