Minnesota-Illinois score predictions from the Gophers On SI staff

The Golden Gophers travel to Champaign, Illinois this weekend to take on the No. 24 Fighting Illini. Minnesota will look to land head coach Bret Bielema for the first team after suffering nine straight losses to fellow Wisconsin and Illinois teams. After a three-game winning streak, the Gophers are now 5-3, and a win on Saturday could help them qualify for a fourth straight season.

Here are our staff's earnings forecasts.

After their third straight Big Ten win, everything seems to be falling into place for the Gophers. Illinois will enter this game armed with the status of leading receiver Pat Bryant and three contributors at cornerback uncertain. Illinois has been solid all season, but I think Minnesota catches them at the right time and will take out monkey Bret Bielema and pull out a dominant road win.

Illinois is a strong team and they are well coached, led by the man (Bielema) who owns Minnesota. I'll even go so far as to say that the Fighting Illini are probably the best team the Gophers have played this season, but they will be without their No. 1 running back and their star wide receiver, Pat Bryant , is a real star-time decision as he recovers from a concussion. My gut feeling is that Illinois will win by a slim margin, but I'm feeling lively so I'll take on the Gophers in an upset.

The game on Saturday at No. 24 Illinois could be the game that defines the season for the Gophers. Minnesota, currently 5-3 and winners of three straight games, would have a good shot at an eight-win season and a 6-3 record in conference play if it can emerge with a win on Saturday. That wouldn't be insignificant in the first year of the expanded Big Ten. It won't be an easy task on Saturday against an Illini team that has an outstanding, error-prone quarterback in Luke Altmyer and a game-winning receiver in Pat Bryant, not to mention a solid defense.

But one of the U's strengths is its secondary, which features veteran corners Justin Walley and Ethan Robinson, as well as rising star freshman safety Koi Perich, who makes a play every week, no matter the circumstances. that changes the game. Max Brosmer had his best game of the year for the U, and it just feels like the Gophers are finding a solution on both sides of the ball. Minnesota has never beaten a Bret Bielema-led team, but there is a first time for everything, and on Saturday PJ Fleck and the Gophers beat Bielema in Champaign.

It's tempting to think that Minnesota has turned things around after three straight wins, especially considering how well Max Brosmer played against Maryland. But Illinois is ranked for a reason and will be tough to beat in Champaign. Luke Altmyer has two great receivers and is looking to bounce back after a difficult game against Oregon. Defensively, Gabe Jacas and Xavier Scott are the Illini's playmakers. Unfortunately, the Gophers could miss a game this week.