Free NCAA Football Prediction: Minnesota vs. #24 Illinois Odds
Looking for Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Illinois Fighting Illini free picks? College football betting sees the Golden Gophers taking on the Fighting Illini on Saturday, October 15, 2022, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, IL. Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks all NCAA football season long so stay tuned for more FREE college football game predictions like this Gophers Illini free pick.
College Football Handicapping Analysis: Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-1) vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (5-1)
Date: Saturday, October 15, 2022
Time: 12:00 pm EST
Venue: Memorial Stadium
NCAA Football ATS Spread Odds: Minnesota -6.5 / Illinois +6.5(Bet Now!)
NCAA Football Moneyline Odds: Minnesota -250 / Illinois +225
NCAA Betting Total Odds: O/U 39.5
Week 7 college football sees the Golden Gophers and Fighting Illini meeting at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.
The Gophers are favored by -6.5 points in this Big Ten Conference matchup against 24th ranked Illinois at high noon on Saturday.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Gophers are expected to cool off the Illini being favored by nearly a touchdown on the road this weekend in Champaign. PJ Fleck is 3 – 2 against Illinois in his 5 meetings against them since taking over the Gophers program, and we don’t hear as many row-the-boat references lately, do we?
Minnesota was favored by 14 points against the Illini a year ago, so tell me how that went. Last I checked, if you can’t score 14 points, you can’t cover 14 points, as the Illini held Minnesota to a pair of field goals in a 14 – 6 road win.
The Gophers fell flat last weekend against Purdue, eventually losing 20 – 10 after the 4 – 0 start to the season. I think we all questioned that schedule of theirs but the line setters had Minnesota at -9 anyway. The Boilers provided the upset and now the line setters simply expect them to pick up the pieces and be just fine this weekend.
Yeah, no! If it was just as easy to put losses behind you and move on, right? I am not of the mindset that Minnesota is going to walk into Champaign and have it all figured out. Expect a tighter game that will likely come down to the final possession.
Illinois Fighting Illini
That’s a 24 in front of that Illini! I know, right? Raise your hand if you had the Illini at 5 – 1, ranked in the top-25, and on the verge of bowl eligibility against Minnesota when Week 7 got here. Congratulations for making that call, because I think Phil Steele owes Bret Bielema one hell of an apology!
Let’s quote the dude, “It will not be until year 3 that Bielema sees the bowl picture and this is a rebuilding year.”
Yeah, how about no! The Illinois can earn that bowl invitation in week 7, and no, they won’t be in last place in the Big Ten West Division big Phil!
The Illini have not been favored against Minnesota since 2011, and while they have a bye next weekend, Minnesota had theirs last weekend giving them two weeks to prepare for today’s bout in Champaign. It’s Homecoming weekend, and with the expectations as high as they are we expect Memorial Stadium to be full of vigor and excitement.
Let’s go on a limb and say that if Illinois becomes bowl eligible in week 7, the fans will be invading the field when the final whistle blows. That will also mean that Illinois will be 6 – 1 with a bye on deck and not the roughest schedule to finish out the campaign.
Illinois gets Nebraska and Northwestern along with Michigan State and the Wolverines to close out the season after the bye. The battle with Purdue sandwiched in between gives Illinois the potential to be an 8-win program. Right, I said the Illini and 8 wins in the same sentence!
NCAA Football Handicapping Trends
- Fighting Illini are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
- Fighting Illini are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
- Golden Gophers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 meetings in Illinois.
4* Free Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Illinois Fighting Illini NCAA Betting Final Analysis:
Illinois finds the victory, 24 – 21, and I don’t even see why Minnesota is expected win this game. I will call for the upset but you know I love points in my pocket when they leave them dangling in front of me.
4* Free Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Illinois Fighting Illini NCAA Betting Pick: Illini +6.5
If you’re looking for more picks like this Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Illinois Fighting Illini matchup we’ll be providing 4* free College football game predictions on the blog all season long, and check out our Experts for guaranteed premium & free CFB Football picks!
Register here for a FREE NCAA Football Betting Account Now for Daily Free Picks & More Special Offers!