Media and blogs in Illinois share thoughts on Saturday’s Gopher matchup:

- Illinois blog Paint the Town Orange comments:

Obviously the most significan improvement on this Gophers team has been the defense, they are no longer getting blown out week in and week out.

This game will not be handed to us by any means.

- IlliniHQ.com features an interview with Ron Zook regarding Tim Brewster:

“You’ve got to get out and work,” Zook said. “You’ve got to go out and sell your program. (Brewster) has done that. It wasn’t like they hadn’t won before. Minnesota’s been to a lot of bowl games. I think last year was the first time they’ve missed a bowl game in a while. You’ve got a lot on that football team that know how to win.”

- According to a University of Illinois’s website article, fans will be frantically waving their “Zook Zone” towels.  Does anyone know if the origin of organized linen waving was the 1987 Minnesota Twins Homer Hankie?:

The “Rock the House” Game is a game of special fan emphasis - a call for Illinois fans to bring their Zook Zone Towels, stand when the opponent has the ball and create an extremely loud home field advantage in support of the Fighting Illini.

- The Daily Illini has an interview with Gopher quarterback Adam Weber that can be read by clicking here.

- Illinois players Juice Williams and Brit Miller comment on the Gophers in a Chicago Sun-Times article that can be accessed by clicking here:

”This is a big game for Minnesota and a big game for us. They’re learning how to win. I see a lot of ourselves in those guys. This is a different Minnesota team than last year.”

Various other media and bloggers have also mentioned Saturday’s game:

- Adam Rittenberg of ESPN’s Big Ten Blog mentions a key matchup to watch.  Read the entire article by clicking here:

Eric Decker vs. Vontae Davis — The nation’s leading wide receiver goes up against one of the top cover corners in FBS. Decker and Minnesota have a great chance to validate a surprising start against Illinois, which comes off its best game of the year last week at Michigan. Ohio State and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins held Decker in check two weeks ago, and the talented Davis will try to do the same.

- A USA Today article quotes Ron Zook:

“This is a good, good football team, a much-improved football team,” Zook said. “They’re doing very, very similar things to what we did last year. They’re playing with unbelievable emotion. The coaches are running up and down the sideline with unbelievable emotion…they can move the ball against anybody in the country. All you’ve got to do is watch the Ohio State game.”

- Purdue blog Off the Tracks predicts a 27-21 Illini victory and comments:

This game is very intriguing. Minnesota is an unexpected team that could join the Michigan State-Northwestern winner, Penn State, and Ohio State as bowl eligible. They would also give themselves a very nice win in terms of positioning for that bowl. The offense wasn’t overwhelming against the Hoosiers last week, but the defense was one big play given up away from a shutout. The Gophers will almost undoubtedly find their way to a sixth win and a bowl this year. That’s a good sign for what Tim Brewster is doing in Minneapolis. Our homecoming is far from a guaranteed win.

- Michigan’s Maize and Blue Nation comments:

Illinois has maybe the best player in the Big Ten right now in Juice Williams. He may be inconsistent, but when he’s on, he’s on big time. He was on last week and I think that will carry over into this game. Minnesota is push over. Illinois rolls big.

- Michigan’s Maize n Brew has a commentary on Illinois fans:

Illinois Fans - For the most part, you were nice people. A couple of you were schmucks, but for the most part nice enough. I wish your football team luck with the remainder of your schedule. You beat us in our house and I tip my cap to you.

- Penn State’s Happy Hour Valley says that there is ”Too much Juice in the Illini’s tank for the Caddyshack Gophers to handle.”

- Michigan State’s Ground Zero East Lansing predicts a 38-17 Illinois win.

- The Buckeye Battle Cry predicts:

Imagine the huge gush of popularity the Gophers would get by becoming bowl-eligible in just seven weeks of football. I’m convinced they’ll get there, but just not this week. Illinois has a nasty offense and can rack ‘em up against teams like Minnesota. The Gophers will get their points too, but I don’t see them keeping up with Juice Williams.

- Penn State’s The Nittany Line notes:

Minnesota has the better record in this game (5-1) compared to (3-2) but Illinois just got done manhandling Michigan and the two loses are to PSU and Missouri. The Illini are statistically better in Total, passing and rushing yards, and points scored. Juice Williams is on a roll and Minnesota hasn’t faced anything like him yet. Again, Minnesota is on the rise but they won’t be able to contain Juice.

- Michigan Sports Center comments:

The Golden Gophers are only one win away from becoming bowl eligible, but I think they’ll have to wait for that win until another week. Since we all saw what Illinois did to Michigan last week, I don’t think an explanation is even necessary. If Juice Williams plays half as well as he did a week ago, the Fighting Illini will win this game.

Prediction: Illinois wins comfortably

Check back tomorrow morning for local Minnesota media and blog predictions, comments, and news.