Minnesota at Illinois College Football Picks and Predictions 11/3/2018

Saturday, November 3, 2018

Memorial Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

Memorial Stadium is the venue for the game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday, November 3, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Minnesota as 10 point favorites. The Fighting Illini are 3-5-0 against the spread and their over/under mark is 4-4-0. The Golden Gophers are 5-3-0 ATS and their over/under record is 5-3-0.

Valuable Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Trends

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are 5-3-0 against the over/under

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are 5-3-0 against the spread

Important Illinois Fighting Illini Betting Trends

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 4-4-0 against the over/under

The Illinois Fighting Illini are 3-5-0 against the spread

Key Minnesota Golden Gophers Injuries

10/27/18 RB Shannon Brooks Knee injured last game, is questionable
10/26/18 DB Antonio Shenault Head is questionable
10/26/18 RB Mohamed Ibrahim Undisclosed is questionable
10/26/18 DL O.J. Smith Head is questionable
10/26/18 QB Zack Annexstad Undisclosed is questionable
09/24/18 DB Antoine Winfield Jr. Undisclosed is out for season
09/10/18 RB Rodney Smith Leg is out for season

Key Illinois Fighting Illini Injuries

10/21/18 LB Dele Harding Undisclosed is questionable Saturday vs Maryland
10/21/18 RB Mike Epstein Foot is questionable Saturday vs Maryland
10/21/18 DB Tony Adams Hamstring is questionable Saturday vs Maryland
10/16/18 TE Louis Dorsey Left Team is out for season
10/11/18 DB Bennett Williams Dismissed is out for season
09/27/18 DL Jamal Woods Undisclosed is out indefinitely
09/11/18 WR Edwin Carter Knee is out for season
09/07/18 QB Cam Thomas Personal has left team
09/03/18 WR Mike Dudek Knee is out for season

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Minnesota Golden Gophers have run for 1,213 yards as a unit, which ranks 88th in the nation. They've run 315 times, averaging 3.9 yards per rush as a unit. The Golden Gophers have been penalized on offense 35 times for 359 yards so far this year, which has them 119th in the country in penalties. They are 83rd in Division 1 in points scored with 219. They have run 552 plays this year for 3,064 yards, which ranks them 67th in the nation in total offense. The Golden Gophers average 5.6 yards per play, which is 76th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 170 1st downs this season, ranking them 67th overall as an offensive unit. Tanner Morgan has completed 30 throws while attempting 46 passes for a completion percentage of 65.2%. He has passed for 551 yards this year. He averages 10.3 adjusted yards per throw and 12 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating this season is 174.3.

Defensive Statistics

The Golden Gophers rush defense has given up 257 attempts for 1,265 yards this season, putting them in 67th place in the country against the run. They have had 46 penalties for 424 yards on defense this year. That places them 46th in Division 1. Minnesota is 79th in college football in points surrendered on defense with 231. They have given up a total of 3,169 yards on D, which is 74th in the nation. The Golden Gophers are 79th in yards per play allowed with 5.8. Opponent offenses have completed 184 throws on 286 attempts against the Minnesota Golden Gophers defense this season, ranking them 121st and 109th in the country. The Minnesota pass defense has also surrendered a total of 1,904 yards in the air, which is 77th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Minnesota Golden Gophers have tried 12 field goals this year and made 9, which is 63rd in college football. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 75%. Minnesota Golden Gophers kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 24 for 24 this season. Their punters have accumulated 1,534 yards on 37 punts, averaging 42 yards per punt. That ranks them 72nd in the NCAA in punting average. Minnesota is 97th in the country in punt returns with 9. They've totaled 179 punt return yards and average 19.9 yards per return, which is 6th in D-1. They have returned 22 kicks for 483 yards on special teams, which puts them 34th in kick return yardage. The Golden Gophers average 22 yards per kick return and they are 68th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 3,726.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Fighting Illini are 92nd in Division 1 in points scored with 206. They have run 541 plays this season for 3,103 yards, which ranks them 116th in the nation in total offense. The Illinois Fighting Illini average 5.7 yards per play, which is 69th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 153 1st downs this year, placing them 98th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Illinois has run for 1,820 yards as a team, which ranks 24th in the country. They've run 332 times, averaging 5.5 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Fighting Illini have been penalized on offense 49 times for 503 yards so far this season, which has them 74th in the nation in penalties. A.J. Bush has thrown for 708 yards this season. He has completed 53 passes on 100 attempts for a completion percentage of 53%. His quarterback rating this year is 116.4. He averages 7.1 yards per pass attempt and 6.3 adjusted yards per throw.

Defensive Statistics

Illinois is 116th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 301. They have surrendered a total of 4,286 yards on D, which is 125th in Division 1. The Fighting Illini are ranked 123rd in yards per play allowed with 7.1. Opposing offenses have completed 171 passes on 269 attempts against the Illinois defense this season, placing them 103rd and 88th in the country. The Illinois Fighting Illini pass defense has also given up a total of 2,300 yards through the air, which is 117th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has allowed 334 attempts for 1,986 yards this year, putting them in 120th place in D-1 against the run. The Fighting Illini have committed 60 penalties for 576 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 114th in the nation.

Special Teams Stats

Illinois is ranked 56th in the nation in punt returns with 13. They've accumulated 103 punt return yards and average 7.9 yards per return, which is 79th in college football. They have returned 24 kicks for 421 yards on special teams, ranking 46th in kick return yardage. The Illinois Fighting Illini average 18 yards per kick return and they are 78th in the country in all-purpose yards with 3,627. The Fighting Illini have attempted 20 field goals this season and made 15, which is 6th in D-1. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 75%. Illinois kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 23 for 23 this year. Their punters have totaled 2,040 yards on 47 punts, averaging 43 yards per punt. That places them 34th in Division 1 in punting average.

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Golden Gophers -10

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald