Geez, Minnesota...

[BUGS]

JUST SHOT UP TO 15.5 IN THE LAST HOUR! GLAD I GOT IT AT 14 LAST NIGHT!

[Homer]

I wouldn't be surprised if that line ended up around 16 or 16 1/2

They will kill them tomorrow

[BUGS]

HOMER...

WOULD YOU STILL TAKE IT AT 16-17?

[wallstreet]

I am not biting on Minny. I know that on here and other sites people are all over them.

I watched last weeks game and a few others this year and they have not convinced me they are worth being a 2+ TD favorite. I hope they win for everyone, cause it is us against the book, but I cannot play this game.

GL

[GoldVike]

OK OK....I am a HUGE MINNESOTA FAN! My take is this:

ONE THING NO HAS ACCOUNTED FOR IS THE WEATHER!

It seems everyone is laying monster money on the fact the ILLIINOIS QB situation is a mess (it is) however, my beloved Gophs RUN the ball to set up the pass....if it is cold---windy---and wet from left over rain....turnovers become an issue.

Minnesota should be close to undefeated but incredibly their DEFENSE has looked DOWNRIGHT AWFUL in stretchs of many games this year BUT is only noticed during the ZERO for MICHIGAN losing streak.

Laying that many points IN ANY BIG TEN GAME is usually financial suicide......NOW HAVING SAID THAT.....

Minnesota should run and score and do it early and often.....but I expect ILLINOIS ONLY SHOT is ball control to eat clock to keep the Gophs offense on the bench.

If this were the Pros I would take Minny in a heartbeat....but kids emotions play bigger than money in college games (unless you're from OHIO ST OR MICH ) THEN THE NFL IS A PAY CUT!! :D

I'm playing the Gophs in my Wacko 4 team teaser as a PK!

GOOOOOOOOO!!! GOLDEN GOPHERS!!!!

JUST MY HUMBLE OPINION AND BEST OF LUCK TO EVERYONE ON MINNESOTA (they should win by a couple of TD's---to close for me to take with the uncertain weather)!! Goldv

[Homer]

I would but with Vikes imput I would have to see the weather tomorrow

I personally already have them at -14... I called it in today :D

So lets hope they win by more then that

And for anyone that gets in higher I hope they win by at least three touchdowns. They should dominate this team. But like Vike said though, they may try to run the ball to run the clock out

Lets hope not

[BUGS]

PERSONALLY...

I THINK BARBER HAS A HUGE GAME REGARDLESS. I WOULDNT BE SURPRISED TO SEE HIM GET 200 TOMORROW!

[GoldVike]

HOMER!!

So I don't put out the wrong message here I AM ONLY TELLING PEOPLE TO MAYBE TEMPER the CURRENT bet down a tad with the line going UP and the weather GOING DOWN! (just in case it goes bad)

I personally already bet the Gophers straight up on a 4* buying off at -13.5 BESIDES MY WACKO PARLAY......

MINNESOTA """"""SHOULD""""""ABSOLUTELY DOMINATE TO THE POINT OF EMBARRASSMENT (evern on the road) (but I give you Miami at home vs West Virg)...here is why Minn should cruise.....but the weather is a BIG ONE!!

The Illini were once again embarrassed this past Saturday, as they were defeated by then 17th-ranked Michigan, 56-14, in Ann Arbor. They have now dropped their last three games by a combined score of 148-38 and are sporting a winless record of 0-4 in Big Ten play. The Gophers hold a slight edge in the all-time series with the Illini, as they have a 29-26-3 advantage. Minnesota has taken four of the last five meetings, including a 31-10 victory at the Metrodome last season.

The Gophers' offense was far from the reason for their loss this past Saturday, as they were able to rack up 525 yards of total offense and 29 first downs. The only problem this unit had was when it needed to get a first down in clutch situations, converting just 3-of-14 third-down opportunities.

Minnesota was able to gain 148 yards running the ball, but it had no rusher with more than 46 yards gained on the day. Laurence Maroney was the Gopher who was able to run for 46 yards, while Marion Barber III once again found the end zone, but gained only 19 yards off of 14 carries. Asad Abdul-Khaliq had another solid performance throwing the ball, finishing with 377 yards and four touchdowns through the air on 27-of-40 pass attempts. Aaron Hosack hauled in a team-high eight balls for 113 yards and two touchdowns, while Tony Patterson had six receptions for 98 yards and one score. Hosack is now leading the team this season with 25 catches for 387 yards and seven touchdowns. Barber leads the nation with 15 rushing touchdowns in 2003 and has also been able to rush for 759 yards, for an average 6.3 ypc. Abdul-Khaliq has been phenomenal thus far, throwing for 1,472 yards and 13 touchdowns, while also rushing for 288 yards and three more scores.

The Gophers' defense did not have one of its better performances in the loss to Michigan State, allowing 412 total yards of offense and 23 first downs.

They Spartans were able to convert 8-of-18 third-down opportunities and also scored on all three of their red-zone chances. Trumaine Banks finished with a team-high 11 tackles, while Eli Ward had another solid game and racked up 10 stops. Ben West added seven tackles and a TFL, while Ukee Dozier had a team- best two TFLs. Justin Fraley and Darrell Reid accounted for the Gophers' two sacks in the game, but Minnesota was unable to recorded a single interception in the loss. Despite failing to pick off a pass, the Gophers remain one of the best teams in the conference against opposing throwers, holding teams to just 194.2 ypg through the air. Minnesota has given up just five passing touchdowns thus far and recorded seven interceptions. The run defense has not been all that bad despite giving up 14 touchdowns thus far, as they are allowing just 131 ypg on the ground. Terrance Campbell is the team's leading tackler with 60 tackles and 5.5 TFLs, while Reid's eight TFLs and 4.5 sacks are second to none.

The Illini's struggles on offense continues to be a major reason for their terrible start to the year. They could muster only 252 yards of total offense in the loss to Michigan and were held to just 13 first downs. Illinois gained only 89 yards rushing on 29 attempts and converted just one of their 11 third- down opportunities. Pierre Thomas paced the team in defeat with only 26 rushing yards, as he was able to find the end zone twice. Chris Pazan and Dustin Ward filled under center this weekend in this weekend for Jon Beutjer, who was held out of the contest with a back injury. Pazan completed 11-of-23 passes for 100 yards and was picked off once, while Ward completed all five of his pass attempts for 63 yards. Mark Kornfeld turned in a solid performance, finishing with a team-high five receptions for 77 yards. The loss of Beutjer doesn't help this sputtering offense, which is averaging just 107.9 ypg on the ground and 234.1 ypg through the air. EB Halsey is the team's leading rusher with 476 yards, but he has scored just one of the Illini's four rushing touchdowns this year. Beutjer has been up and down thus far, tossing for 1,597 yards and 10 scores, but he has also been picked off nine times already. But that's where the stats for this year will stop now that he has been put on the shelf for the rest of the campaign due to his injury. The Illini might also be without Halsey (knee) who listed as doubtful for this contest.

Michigan just dismantled this defensive unit last weekend, torching the Illini for 519 yards of total offense and 30 first downs. The Wolverines found it extremely easy to attack Illinois by just running the ball down its throat, as they finished with 275 yards on the ground. The Illini also allowed 244 passing yards in the loss and pretty much watched as Michigan converted 9- of-15 third-down opportunities. Travis Williams and Kyle Kleckner each finished with eight tackles, while Scott Moss recorded the team's only sack of the game. Matt Sinclair finished with six stops and is now leading the team with 73 tackles this year and has also registered three sacks. Winston Taylor is right on his heels with 66 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, and two quarterback takedowns. Moss and Derrick Strong are tied with Sinclair for the team lead in sacks, with three apiece, while amazingly Marc Jackson has recorded the Illini's only interception in eight games played this season. Although Illinois has had problems causing turnovers with its secondary, it's run defense has been the more porous of the two, allowing 182.5 ypg. Unfortunately for the Illini that doesn't bode well with one of the best rushing teams in the conference heading to Champaign this weekend.

BEST OF LUCK TO EVERYONE "WEATHER" YOU PLAY IT OR NOT!! Goldv

[Homer]

I agree with you Vike. Its like I always say "no one should put all their money in the same basket"

So I was just stating the fact that your right and people shouldn't go overboard on this game and think its a sure thing.

Nothing in Gambling is. I have seen bigger locks in my lifetime then this one. And they have lost



On that note Go Gophers