Illinois vs Minnesota Free Pick
Scott Morris | October 28, 2024
Illinois hosts Minnesota on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 12:00 Noon EST. The spread currently lists Minnesota as a 3 point favorite at top sportsbooks. If this game were played a month ago it would be Illinois who would be favored. Minnesota is on a three-game win streak having defeated USC, UCLA and Maryland in that order. Illinois, on the other hand, is coming off a 38-9 drubbing at the hands of Oregon. Before that they had won six of their first seven games. Their only other loss was a 21-7 loss at Penn State.
Minnesota started the season off looking like the same old Minnesota. They lost the season opener against Mack Brown and his Tarheels of UNC. They then beat two creampuff teams in Rhode Island and Nevada before dropping consecutive games vs. Iowa and at Michigan. This is the same Michigan team Illinois beat solidly 21-7 a few weeks ago mind you.
Head to head the Gophers hold an advantage of 40 games to 33 against Illinois. A year ago Illinois beat Minnesota 27-26 in Minny. Early betting action has about 40% of the tickets on Minnesota but 70% of the action is on the Gophers. So, big money tickets are coming in on the Gophers. Some of these tickets is considered “sharp action”.
Illinois QB Luke Altmeyer is having a good year. He has thrown for 1,667 yards, 15 TD’s and just 3 interceptions. Minnesota QB Max Brosmer has thrown for 1,776 yards with 12 TD’s and 4 interceptions. These quarterbacks are very comparable. Both offenses score about 25 PPG. Both offenses put up about 330 yards per game.
Minnesota allows 19.1 PPG which is ranked #19 in the nation. Illinois allows 23.6 PPG which is ranked #50 in the nation. However, if you throw out the Oregon drubbing last week, Illinois allows just 18 PPG and would be ranked slightly ahead of Minnesota. The Gophers have not faced a team of Oregon’s caliber this season.
Illinois is ranked #24, is at home and going against a team who is almost identical on paper. It is they who should be favored by 3 points. Take Illinois all day in this one. Bet IT NOW Here
