Illinois Football: Top 5 most baffling ESPN Analytics predictions for 2023

No. 1 Illinois at Minnesota

• ESPN Analytics Prediction: Illinois 39.7%, Minnesota 60.3%

I am down on a few teams this season. I think teams like Indiana and Northwestern will have a bad year, but everyone thinks those two teams will be terrible. Minnesota is a team that most are high on that I am not.

ESPN Analytics loves Minnesota for some reason. They don’t just favor the Golden Gophers this season, ESPN has them with a 60.3% chance to beat Illinois in November.

I was blown away by these percentages. I have looked numerous times to make sure my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me. ESPN indeed does have Minnesota as the big favorite in this game.

Last season, Illinois was able to beat the Golden Gophers 26-14. This was with a healthy Minnesota team on the field. Entering the 2023 campaign, I think Minnesota has gotten worse as a team.

I believe Athan Kaliakmanis is going to be starting this season for the Golden Gophers. He was 2-of-6 for 17 yards and two interceptions against the Illini in 2022. Minnesota also lost starting running back Mo Ibrahim to the NFL. He was their rock in that offense.

The percentages that ESPN Analytics put out there just boggle my mind. It makes no sense to me. I believe Illinois isn’t going to just compete in this game, I think we could blow Minnesota out of the water. This is a below-average Golden Gophers team in 2023.

• Changed Prediction: Illinois 56.7%, Minnesota 43.3%