Week 2: Minnesota vs Western Illinois 9/10/22 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds
Western Illinois Leathernecks (0-0) vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers (1-0)
September 10, 2022 12:00 pm EDT
The Line: Minnesota Golden Gophers -37.5 / Western Illinois Leathernecks -37.5 ; Over/Under:
(Get latest betting odds)
The Minnesota Golden Gophers and Western Illinois Leathernecks do battle Saturday in week 2 college football action from TCF Bank Stadium. Western Illinois is coming off an opener matchup versus TN-Martin. The Leathernecks ended up losing by 17 points. As for Minnesota, they played New Mexico State in their first game. In that one, the Gophers bagged a dominant win. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place.
Western Illinois didn’t have a great campaign last year. The Leathernecks struggled at just 2-9 overall and 2-6 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. With that record, Western Illinois finished just two spots out of the basement in the standings.
Back on Thursday versus TN-Martin, Western Illinois was down 21-7 at halftime and limped to a 42-25 loss. QB Nick Davenport managed 180 yards and three scores with a pick, and Naseim Brantley led the receivers on 171 yards and three TDs from six grabs.
Over on the Minnesota side, they did fairly well in a tough Big Ten last year at 9-4 overall and 6-3 in the conference. The Gophers landed in second place in the West Division and earned a spot in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, where they took out West Virginia 18-6.
In their first game versus New Mexico State, the Gophers didn’t have any issues. Minnesota scored 24 points in the first half alone on the way to a 38-0 win. QB Tanner Morgan finished with 174 yards, and Mohamed Ibrahim rushed 21 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns.
PICK: I’m probably staying with Minnesota here. The Gophers posted a dominant effort in their first outing of the season, winning the statistical battle in nearly every category. Minnesota posted 485 total yards, 6.1 yards per play, 31 first downs and an 11-of-14 rate on third-down tries. Defensively, the Gophers were on point as well. They held the Aggies to just 91 total yards, six first downs and 2.8 yards per play. Western Illinois probably won’t fare a whole lot better.
