A couple of teams that prefer to focus on their running games, Coach P.J. Fleck and the Minnesota Golden Gophers (-9.5) are taking the field against their conference foe Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. This afternoon matchup is scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET and fans can catch the action by tuning in to BTN.
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Preview
In this Saturday Big Ten matchup, Minnesota is projected as the heavy favorite and is currently giving up 9.5 points. The Golden Gophers are also receiving -370 moneyline odds while the Fighting Illini are +290. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 61 points, and it appears that this contest might present some live betting possibilities.
The Golden Gophers have recorded 0.2 units so far in 2018 and are 5-3 against the spread (ATS). The team’s recorded an Over-Under mark of 5-3. The Fighting Illini have gained 0.0 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 3-5 ATS and have an even O/U record of 4-4.
The Golden Gophers are 4-4 straight up (SU), including 1-4 SU against conference opponents. The Fighting Illini are 3-5 SU overall and are also 1-4 SU in conference play.
The Golden Gophers enter after a 38-31 win over Indiana last week. Tanner Morgan completed 17-of-24 passes for 302 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Shannon Brooks (154 yards on 22 rush attempts, one TD) led the running attack while Tyler Johnson (five receptions, 102 yards, two TDs) and Rashod Bateman (four catches, 108 yards, one TD) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Illinois just dropped an ugly 63-33 game to Maryland. As a group, the Fighting Illini collectively completed 14-of-32 passes for 261 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. AJ Bush went 11-for-19 for 216 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while M.J. Rivers II was three-of-13 for 45 yards. Reggie Corbin (155 rushing yards on 18 attempts, one TD) spearheaded the running game as Trenard Davis (six receptions, 53 yards) and Dominic Stampley (four catches, 153 yards, two TDs) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Minnesota has run the ball on 57.1 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 54.4 percent across possessions in conference play. Illinois has an overall run percentage of 61.4 percent, and has rushed the ball 59.0 percent of the time when playing Big 10 opponents. The Golden Gophers have produced 151 rush yards/game (including 133 per game against Big Ten opponents) and have 13 scores on the ground this year. The Fighting Illini are averaging 227 rushing yards per game (217 in conference) and have 15 total rush TDs.
The Gophers offense has logged 231 yards/contest through the air overall (254 per game versus conference opposition) and has 13 passing scores so far. The Fighting Illini have recorded 160 pass yards per game (157.4 in the Big 10) and have seven total pass TDs.
Defensively, Minnesota should have the upper hand in both facets. The team has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 158 yards and throw for 238 yards per game. The Illinois defense has given up 287.5 yards per game to opposing passers and 248.1 yards per game to opposing runners. The Gophers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.09 to opponents, while the Fighting Illini have given up a 7.28 ANY/A.
Offensively, Morgan has put up 337 passing yards this year, and has connected on 19-of-30 attempts with three scores through the air and two interceptions. He’s got a pristine 9.65 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 11.66 over the past two outings.
AJ Bush has completed 51-of-92 passes for 698 yards, three TDs and two INTs for Illinois. His ANY/A sits at 5.93 for the season and 4.85 across his past two outings.
These two teams faced off last year with the final outcome being a 24-17 win for Minnesota.
RELATED: Week 10 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Pick: Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
SU Winner – Minnesota, ATS Winner – Minnesota, O/U – Over
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Notes
The Over/Under for Minnesota’s last game was set at 53. The over cashed in the team’s 38-31 triumph over Indiana.
Minnesota has produced 4.4 yards per carry across its last three games and 4.0 over its last two.
Illinois has averaged 5.0 yards per carry over its last three contests and 6.2 over its past two.
The Illinois offense has lost four fumbles this season while Minnesota has let eight get away.
Over its last three matches, Minnesota is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Illinois’ previous match was 56.5. The over cashed in the team’s 63-33 defeat to Maryland.
In its last three games, Illinois is 0-3 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Illinois has dropped six of its last seven games SU, with a 21-point win over Rutgers on October 6th accounting for the one victory over that span.
The Golden Gophers offense has recorded five pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Fighting Illini have put up four such plays.
The Minnesota defense has allowed seven pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Illinois has given up nine such plays.
The Minnesota offense has created seven rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Illinois has created 18 such runs.
The Golden Gophers defense has allowed 17 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Fighting Illini have given up 20 such runs.
The Minnesota defense has sacked opposing QBs 14 times this year. Illinois has recorded 12 sacks.
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