The Game Vitals
Game Time – 6pm. Alerus Center (Grand Forks, ND)
Opponent – Robert Morris Colonials (Pittsburgh, PA)
Game Notes – UND
TV – Midco Sports Network & Fox College Sports
Online Streaming – Big Sky TV (free)
Spread – North Dakota -9 (favored by 9 points)
Robert Morris Breakdown
— Offense = Pistol, Spread look with 3 receivers, 1 tight end and 1 back.
— Defense = 3-4 defense, similar to UND’s
RMU lost 29-10 to a good Eastern Kentucky team last week. They were gashed on the ground by the Colonels to the tune of 400+ yards, which should have the UND offensive staff salivating. They did cause four turnovers and did not turn it over themselves, but gave up an astounding 624 yards of offense.
We see the RMU offense running the ball at least 50-60% of the time on Saturday. They like to spread you out in 3 receiver sets and use the tight end as a blocker to get their yards on the ground. RB Rameses Owens appears to be their guy as he had 10 carries last week for 38 yards.
QB Luke Brumbaugh was 28-51 for 222 yards last week and shows decent arm strength. Their route combinations do not seem overly complex so it’s up to UND to line up correctly and make a play.
North Dakota – Keys To The Game
Offensively, UND needs to get the running game going early. They committed to it last week, rushing the ball 32 times for 118 yards, and will no doubt be trying to get it going again this week.
The running backs need to hit the hole harder this week. Stop dancing in the box and get through the hole. This offensive line is not going to create dump-truck size hole’s every play so they need to find the crease and go.
Defensively, UND is possibly going to be without a few players that played last week at San Jose State. We are still waiting on the status of safety Cole Reyes, along with safeties Baylee Carr and Joe Montague. If they cannot go that leaves William James and Dillon Olson, both walk-ons and not ideal to say the least. That means the front seven needs to step up even more and shut down the RMU running game that they have hinted they will use more this week. RMU only gained 28 yards on the ground last week and have made it a major emphasis heading in to the UND game.
Pressure. UND created very little pressure last week and that must change on Saturday. The OLB’s need to step up and collapse the pocket off the edges and force Brumbaugh up into the three down lineman.
The Prediction
We are going to come out and say it: UND needs to win this game. There are only so many winnable games for UND and this is one of them. Having said that, RMU is no slouch. They have been through some lean years lately, much like UND, but still have an overall solid program. We think the combination of it being the home opener along with an overall deeper roster will get UND a win on Saturday.
North Dakota 27
Robert Morris 17
