Illinois Fighting Illini vs Minnesota Golden Gophers Prediction, 11/4/2023 College Football Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Illinois Fighting Illini vs Minnesota Golden Gophers

Date: Saturday, November 4, 2023

Location: Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN

TV: BTN

Odds/Point Spread: Golden Gophers (-4)

Total/Over-Under: 42.5

The Illinois Fighting Illini (3-5) are headed to Huntington Bank Stadium on Saturday, November 4, 2023 where they will play the Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-3). Illinois opens this game as 4-point dogs from Vegas oddsmakers. The over/under is set at 42.5.

The Illinois Fighting Illini come into this game with a record of 3-5 this season. In their last contest, the Fighting Illini faced the Wisconsin Badgers and walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 25-21. Luke Altmyer finished 13/21 with 100 yards passing and 2 touchdowns. He had a quarterback rate of 133.3 and finished the contest without throwing a pick. Luke Altmyer was the best rusher for the Fighting Illini with 16 attempts for 100 yards (6.3 yards per carry). The Illinois Fighting Illini ran the rock 45 different times and accumulated 223 yds, earning them an average of 5.0 yards per attempt. When all was said and done, they ran 66 plays for 323 yards. Illinois gave up 21 pass completions on 41 attempts for a total of 240 yards, and a completion rate of 51.2%. When it came to the battle of the line of scrimmage, the Fighting Illini gave up 139 yards on 35 tries, which is 4.0 yards per run allowed.

The Fighting Illini have racked up 2,924 yards in total for the season. In terms of notching touchdowns, Illinois has amassed 11 touchdowns via the pass and 9 touchdowns via the ground. They have surrendered the football 14 different times. Illinois has tallied 157 first downs as an offense, and they have committed 54 penalties for 514 yards. As a team they have an average of 139.5 yards rushing which has them sitting 86th in college football. When it comes to getting in the endzone, the Illinois Fighting Illini have an average of 20.4 points per contest.

The Fighting Illini are ranked 83rd in D-1 in terms of team defense, giving up 27.8 PPG. They are allowing teams to run for an average of 4.2 yards per rushing attempt and 161.0 yards on the ground per game this year. In total, they have given up 1,288 yards via the ground game in 8 contests. Regarding passing yards, the Fighting Illini are allowing 1,880 yards which ranks them 78th in college football. They have yielded 235.0 yards per game via the pass as well as allowing a completion percentage of 58.2%. Overall, they have yielded 396.0 yards/contest ranking them 95th in the nation. They have yielded 13 touchdowns via the pass as well as 12 touchdowns on the ground.

The Golden Gophers come into this game with a record of 5-3 this year. For their last game, the Golden Gophers went home victorious with a score of 27-12 against the Michigan State Spartans. Athan Kaliakmanis (1 touchdown) ended the contest with 200 yards on 14/22 passing while his QB rating was 145.9. He threw 1 interception and his Y/A was 9.1. Jordan Nubin carried the football 40 times for 204 yards, ending the contest with 5.1 yds per carry for Minnesota. The Golden Gophers finished the contest with 400 yards while running 72 plays (5.6 yds per play). Minnesota ran the ball for 4.0 yards per tote, finishing with a total of 200 yards on 50 carries. Minnesota gave up 21 rush attempts for 109 yds (5.2 yds per rush). The Golden Gophers pass defense conceded a completion rate of 58.8%, relinquishing 190 yds on 20 for 34 passing.

When looking at their ability to score points, the Golden Gophers are ranked 111th in the nation with an average of 21.1 PPG. The Minnesota Golden Gophers are averaging 314.9 yards per game, which has them sitting 117th in college football. The Minnesota offense has racked up 270 penalty yards on 28 infractions, ranking them 129th in the nation in terms of making mistakes. They have thrown 8 picks while losing 3 fumbles and they have earned 154 1st downs. During the season so far, the Golden Gophers have thrown for 1,123 passing yards as well as holding an average of 140.4 passing yards per outing, giving them a rank of 128th in Division 1. They maintain an average of 174.5 run yards per game and have run for 1,396 yards overall.

The Golden Gophers are conceding 22.8 PPG, which has them sitting 48th in college football. Minnesota has given up a total of 947 yards rushing (118.4 yards/game) in addition to 9 touchdowns on the ground so far this year. This season, they have relinquished 182 points. They have given up 11 touchdowns through the air and 214.8 yards/game, which has them sitting 48th in the country. The Golden Gophers defense has participated in 474 plays, which is good for 9th in Division 1. They have totaled 5 fumbles recovered and 10 picks on the campaign.

Who will win tonight's Fighting Illini/Golden Gophers college football game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Golden Gophers -4

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