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ESPN’s FPI predicts outcome of Minnesota’s Pinstripe Bowl appearance
By Paul Harvey
Published:
ESPN’s FPI is predicting the outcome of every game in college football’s bowl season, and that includes Minnesota’s trip to New York for the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.
Thursday’s game against Syracuse will be Minnesota’s fourth bowl game in 6 seasons since PJ Fleck took the reins of the program in 2017. One of the years the Gophers missed a bowl game was the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
Along with their consistency in getting to bowl games, the Gophers have been efficient in the postseason under Fleck. Minnesota has won all three bowl games under Fleck, including an 18-6 Guaranteed Rate Bowl win over West Virginia in 2021.
As a program, the Gophers have won five straight bowl games going back to the 2015 Quick Lane Bowl and will try to keep that winning streak intact on Thursday. It will also be the final game for Mohamed Ibrahim’s illustrious career at Minnesota.
Ibrahim will depart the Gophers as the program’s all-time leader in rushing yards (4,597) and touchdowns (52) and is the program’s all-time leader in touchdowns from scrimmage (52). With 1,594 rushing yards this season, Ibrahim finished fourth in the country and was tied for second in the nation with 19 rushing touchdowns.
Heading into the Pinstripe Bowl, ESPN’s Football Power Index is favoring Minnesota to keep things rolling under Fleck this postseason. The FPI gives the Gophers a 61.7% chance of winning the game and finishing with another 9-win season at 9-4 overall.
Thursday’s kickoff is set for 2 pm ET with coverage on ESPN.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.