Rutgers vs. Michigan Prediction
Can Michigan get itself back on track when it plays host to Rutgers on Saturday at Noon ET? Here’s our prediction for this contest.
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Michigan is favored at home, as the Wolverines are getting odds of -24 points against Rutgers. The over/under total for the game has been set at 43.5 points. Michigan has won two of three meetings with Rutgers in Big Ten play and the Wolverines have covered in all three contests. The public is currently putting 56 percent of the wagers on Rutgers on the road. Saturday’s game takes place from Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan and will air live on the Big Ten Network.
Michigan is coming off a 42-13 loss at Penn State last weekend to fall to 5-2 on the season and 2-2 in the Big Ten. The Wolverines are just 2-4-1 against the spread on the season and 0-3 ATS at home. Michigan is putting up 25.1 points and 361 yards per game on offense this season. Karan Higdon and Ty Isaac are leading the offense with a combined 855 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. John O’Korn has thrown for 729 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions in place of the injured Wilton Speight. Defensively, U-M is holding opponents to just 18.6 points and 264.1 yards per game.
Rutgers is coming off a 14-12 win at home over Purdue. The Scarlet Knights have won two straight two improve to 3-4 on the season and 2-2 against the spread. Rutgers is 5-2 against the spread on the year and 2-0 ATS on the road. Rutgers is scoring just 22.6 points and posting just 301.3 yards per game on offense this season. Gust Edwards has 587 rushing yards and five touchdowns to lead the team while Kyle Bolin has thrown for 711 yards with three touchdowns and six interceptions. The team has been giving Giovanni Rescigno more chances under center as well. He has thrown for 199 yards with one touchdown and no picks. Defensively, Rutgers has been pretty respectable. The Knights are allowing 23.6 points and 384.1 yards per game.
Oddsmakers seem to think Michigan is more than what it is. The Wolverines have a storied history, but this team doesn’t look like one that will go down in the history books. While the defense is tough, the offense is a disaster. I am not sure I would bet money on Michigan to score 24 points in this game, let alone cover a spread of this size. While this is a gut-check game for the Wolverines, they are still limited. They had a gut-check game at Indiana and had to go to OT to win. Rutgers has played much tougher than people have expected and are perfect ATS on the road. I am taking Rutgers and the points.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: RUTGERS +24