3. Michigan at Rutgers
LINE Michigan -25.5
PICK Michigan
Oh yes, I am well aware of the panic during last year’s 20-13 Michigan win over Rutgers. Somewhere I have the flurry of text messages from freaked out Wolverine friends to prove it.
Oh yes, I am well aware of the panic during 2020’s 48-42 Michigan win over Rutgers. Somewhere I have the flurry of text messages from freaked out Wolverine friends to prove it.
Because of those two too-close calls, everyone forgets the pre-Greg Schiano days when Michigan rolled 52-0 in 2019, 42-7 in 2018, and there was that 78-0 nail-biter in 2016.
But this is about this year and these two teams, and it’s this simple. Rutgers can’t stop teams that run the ball well – Minnesota and Ohio State combined for over 500 yards – and Michigan is a machine right now with its style.
Rutgers doesn’t take the ball away like it usually does under Schiano, Michigan doesn’t turn the ball over, and most importantly, Rutgers doesn’t score.
Take out the 66 points hung on Wagner and the Scarlet Knights are averaging 13.5 points per game. Minnesota beat them 31-0, Ohio State beat them 49-10, and getting to 26 shouldn’t be too much of a problem if the Wolverines are focused.
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