A needed Bye-week was in order for the Fighting Illini, as they stroll out to a 3-5 start overall on the 2023 college football season.
It seems that Illinois is just now starting to play more to their potential, as they snag a much needed win vs Maryland on the road, and lose a heartbreaking, close homecoming game to Wisconsin in Champaign. A game that frankly Illinois should have won. The Illini get that next opportunity for a much needed win on the road vs PJ Fleck, the conference leading Minnesota Golden Gophers.
The Gophers are 5-3 on the season, and 3-2 in conference, and in the mad house that is the Big Ten West, that’s enough to position themselves squarely on top going into the 9th matchup of the season. Illinois has won the last 2 matchups between the Illini and Gophers, but without Chayse Brown in the backfield, this matchup looks much more enticing for The Golden Gophers in 2023.
Illinois and Minnesota will Kickoff in Minneapolis at 2:30 PM, on what is projected to be a cool, but sunny game day away from home for the Fighting Illini.
BREAKDOWN
Johnny Newton will be unavailable in the first half of Saturdays matchup vs the Gophers, after a more than questionable targeting call was given to Newton on a sack vs Wisconsin. Newtons ejection, and the 15 added penalty yards certainly did not help Illinois case in the late game loss to Wisconsin, and will pose as a threat to the Illini defense in the first half of Saturdays matchup.
Which of course, is an issue. The Gophers Offensive Line is big, old, and has a ton of experience.
Fleck’s squad has been very solid in the trenches, and Johnny Newtons absence in the first half is going to pose as a big problem. Though we have seen much improved play from the Illini front 7 as the season has progressed, missing your leader is going to pose issues, if not countered of course. Though there is a good chance the Illini will see Keith Randolph back in the rotation for the Illini vs the Gophers, how much of an impact will really be asked of Keith after coming off of an injury? Keith is a large fella, and the conditioning takes some time. Surely he could be a force vs the Gophers as well, we just wont know how much practice Keith has had t0 get him back to being comfortable on the field.
Illinois is going to rely heavy on Gabe Jacas and Seth Coleman to step up and make big plays in the first half for Illinois. Both have shown flashes of getting good pressure, and getting Jacas’s hand in the dirt will be a good move for him to see more pressures. Getting pressure on Athan Kaliakmanis and forcing him to make bad passes is going to be key to Illinois pulling this victory off on the road.
The Gophers offense relies heavy on their strong rushing attack to keep the offense moving. leading the way in this deep and talented RB room, is Darius Taylor. Taylor Averages 5.7 yards per carry, and has racked up 591 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns on the 2023 season thus far. If the Illini front 7 is not sharp, Taylor is going to be a problem. Especially to an Illini defense that is facing its fare share of questions going into this matchup.
The Golden Gophers also have stellar dept on the other side of the trenches as well, on the Defensive side of the ball.
The Gophers DL has been a force, and dominated the likes of Iowa and Michigan state. Danny Striggow is Minnesota’s sack leader on defense with 4 on the season, as well as a forced fumble. Standing in at 6’5 and 250 lbs, Striggow is a force on the edge for DC Joe Rossi’s defense. Danny will surely be a scouting report highlight for Barry Lunny Jr’s offense, along side players like Kyler Baugh. Baugh weighs in at 6’2 and 300 lbs, with alot of big man speed, and holds 2.5 sacks of his own on the season. Another tough player for Big Ten West OL’s to stop thus far in 2023.
This front 7 for Minnesota, in front of a secondary that consists of players like ball-hawk players like Tyler Nubin is scary. Nubin through 8 games already has 3 takeaways of his own on the season. Illini QB Luke Altmyer will need to be accurate, and make good decisions vs such a tough DB room, with lots of pressure. Luke seems to be getting more comfortable taking control of this Illinois offense, but he will have a big test ahead of him with this Minnesota Defense.
Prediction
Illinois has a great chance to come off of a Bye-week and nail down a big game in the hunt to keep the Illini bowl eligible in 2023. With teams like Indiana, Northwestern, and Offensively struggling Iowa left on the schedule, it seems like this game would be an “All in” kind of scenario to flip the narrative and grind out the lighter end of this schedule. Coming off of a much needed bye-week, Illinois will be healthier with the returns of Keith Randolph and Reggie Love III. The Illini defense is going to have to hold it together without Newton on the field in the first half, and if they can do so, the Illini will be full go in the second half. Illinois is playing better ball, and with health they just got better.
As long as the penalty bug stays away, look for Illinois to pull a close one off on the road,
Illinois 24 – Minnesota 20
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