It's weird how much more love they get to win the division over say Minnesota. I understand they are a supposed constant in the west but this looks like their toughest season in awhile all things considered.
They’re simply a better program than Minnesota. They know who they are and it’s easier to project players into roles when that’s the case. Heading into year 3, we don’t know who Minnesota is. It’s a question that I think is holding people back from projecting them as high as they should.
There are multiple Big Ten West teams that if they had this schedule, experience, and returning production they’d be heavily favored to win the division. Minnesota is often being picked fifth or sixth. It’s a huge opportunity for Minnesota to change how they’re perceived.