Western Illinois Leathernecks vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 9/10/2022

Game time: Noon ET

Venue: Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN

Where to watch: BTN

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FanDuel: Check back later

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Caesars: Check back later

Western Illinois: 0-1

Minnesota: 1-0

Western Illinois: lost 42-25 at UT-Martin

Minnesota: won 38-0 vs. New Mexico State

That was completely expected from the Minnesota Golden Gophers. A dominant effort in Week 1 against the New Mexico State Aggies. How dominant you ask? How about a total yards edge of 485-91? Because that makes total sense to everything that happened.

Minnesota will try to make it two in a row Saturday when it takes on the Western Illinois Leathernecks and try to also improve on its scoreless streak. Western Illinois might not be a pushover like New Mexico State was, and they may have a touchdown or two available in the repertoire, but this should be another instance where Minnesota takes care of business and wins another easy non-conference game this week.

Last week was special in many ways for Minnesota. Not only did they get a nice win for the home crowd, but the return of Mohamed Ibrahim likely lit a spark. After missing all but the first game last year with a torn Achilles, Ibrahim returned to run for 132 yards and two touchdowns to pace the Gophers’ offense.

So if you do the math, that means Ibrahim and the Gophers running attack outgained New Mexico State all by itself last week. Not that it should be an overall shock given that when Ibrahim runs like that, he’s a Heisman-caliber running back. Trey Potts added 89 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries for Minnesota.

“I think it’s beneficial for FCS teams (to schedule against Big Ten teams),” coach P.J. Fleck said. “We’re scheduling games 15 years out right now. I do know the benefits of it, but it’s a game. It counts just as much as a conference game. We know we’re going to get Western Illinois’ best shot.”

Minnesota ran the ball 57 times last week, which is going to be the Gophers’ bread and butter all season so long as Ibrahim is healthy and willing to take on that type of a load. Getting that kind of production this early in the season is going to only help matters for Minnesota going forward.

Western Illinois had a rough go last week in its season opener, dropping it 42-25 to the UT-Martin Skyhawks, arguably the top team in the Ohio Valley Conference. It was a coaching debut for UT-Martin’s Myers Hendrickson. UT-Martin jumped out to a 35-13 lead after three quarters, including its opening drive in just six plays and 57 yards for the game’s first score.

Western Illinois had 405 total yards, but a chunk of them came in garbage time. Nick Davenport threw for 180 yards and three touchdowns, while Henry Ogala threw for 105 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Naseim Brantley dominated the passing game with 171 yards and three touchdowns, clearly the one that Minnesota will need to target on the defensive end.

Minnesota is 4-0 against the spread in its last four after totaling more than 450 yards in the Gophers’ last game, and while there’s no line as of yet, we’re looking at a potential blowout here if Minnesota continues to run the ball like that. Give me the Gophers. Minnesota wins by 31

The under is 9-0 in Western Illinois' last nine.

Western Illinois is 1-6-1 ATS in their last eight on the road.

The under is 5-0 in Minnesota's last five home games.

Passing: Nick Davenport -- 180 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT

Rushing: Nick Davenport -- 62 yards

Receiving: Naseim Brantley -- 171 yards, 3 TD

Passing: Tanner Morgan -- 174 yards

Rushing: Mohamed Ibrahim -- 132 yards, 2 TD

Receiving: Michael Brown-Stephens -- 52 yards