Early 5dimes line is Minnesota -15.5
Some points:
1)EIU lost HC Babers, and he took the entire staff with him. New HC Dameron is a former DC, was at LaTech last season.
2) EIU graduated Peyton Award winner QB Garaffolo. New OC for EIU coached at SE Louisiana last year. Up tempo, spread-type scheme is a change from last year's pro style type passing attack. Should be a few growing pains here.
3) 2 guys transferred in at QB, one a mobile guy from Kentucky, and the other a pocket guy from New Mexico St. Both are supposed to play at Minny and are splitting reps.
4) FWIW, EIU is 11th in the coaches and 16th in the media polls. 0-6 all time vs Big Ten.
5) Minny has 8 on O and 7 on D returning from last years squad. QB play was a problem last year with Leidner and Nelson playing musical QB's. Nelson transferred; extra reps should make Leidner that much better.
6)Minn loses DT Hagemann to the draft, but HC Kill likes to shuttle DL's in and out of lineup often.....lots of guys with experience.
Bottom Line:
1) EIU is switching to an entirely different coaching staff, something that will take time to gel; the culture will have to be rebuilt even though they are a winning program at the FCS level. The loss in the playoff game vs Towson showed just how vulnerable the rush D can be for EIU. TB West for Towson shredded them, and Minnesota is more than capable of doing the same.
2) Minnesota has Middle Tennessee on deck, and then @TCU. IMO, Minny will stretch their legs in this first game, and play it conservative against MTSU ( if game conditions permit) in anticipation of a showdown with a 1-0 TCU team coming off of a bye.
3) I would not be shocked if late money came in on EIU expecting a competitive upper echelon FCS team to play a perennial bottom tier Big 10 team.
Pick: This is not the EIU of old, and quite frankly, they were overrated last season. I like the spot for Minnesota at home without a distraction on deck, and a more solid QB situation. Very possible blowout here......
Will hold out for a better number for now, but its Minnesota -15.5, or anything under 17.