ESPN's FPI predicts outcome of Minnesota's Guaranteed Rate Bowl appearance
PJ Fleck has produced a remarkable season after watching Minnesota’s running back room get decimated by injuries. Now, he has a chance to guide the Gophers to a 9-win season and another bowl win.
Minnesota did not appear in a bowl game during 2020 after going 3-4 in the shortened campaign. However, a win would give Minnesota 3 bowl wins in the past 4 seasons and 5 bowl wins in the past 7 seasons.
The Gophers are currently riding a 4-game bowl winning streak, including back-to-back bowl victories under Fleck. That includes a win in the Outback Bowl that gave Minnesota a top-10 finish on the AP Poll after the 2019 season.
Now, the Gophers will be heading to the Guaranteed Rate Bowl for a matchup vs. West Virginia in Phoenix. ESPN’s Football Power Index is also favoring Minnesota for that matchup.
According to the FPI, Minnesota has a 61.3% chance of coming away with the bowl win. Can Fleck guide the Gophers to one more memorable performance in 2021?