Tag: Wolverines Football

1 key college football betting trend to keep an eye on in Week 1 (featuring Alabama and Michigan)

One trend for season-openers has proven quite profitable over the last five years in week 1

While searching for college football trends to bet on for Week 0, one stat in particular caught my attention. Per Action Network:

During the last 5 years, teams favored by 30 points or more are just 35-49 (41.7%) ATS in their season openers, finishing below .500 ATS in all five years

That’s not exactly a small sample size. And in Week 0, two teams were favored by more 30+ points. UNC opened at -34.5 against Florida A&M and won 56-24, failing to beat the spread by a field goal (the line closed at FAMU +45, which was no doubt influenced by the Rattlers missing a ton of players and nearly canceling the game).

Florida State opened as -35.5 favorites against Duquesne but closed at -41.5. FSU won 47-7, failing to cover the closing line.

So now we may be looking at a bonafide edge. In the last five years, teams are 35-51 ATS in their season-opener when favored by 30+ points. There are seven teams who open their season in Week 1 with similar spreads.

I’m not ready to say you should hammer these lines immediately. Rather, you may want to wait until right before kickoff to see if there’s any favorable movement. That’s what I’ll be doing here and these are the game I’m keeping an eye on.

All lines are as of Aug 31. Odds via Tipico.

Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano disappointed, but pleased with team’s response in Michigan loss

Rutgers football head coach, disappointed after a close loss at Michigan, says he likes his team’s response on Saturday.

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Greg Schiano said that he saw something on Saturday that tells him he has a good football team. In the aftermath of a 20-13 loss at No. 19 Michigan, Schiano said that everyone in his locker room, from players down to coaches, was taking responsibility for the narrow defeat.

Rutgers very nearly toppled a ranked Big Ten opponent on the road on Saturday, but for a handful of mistakes that extended from untimely penalties to a couple of decisions that Schiano would likely want to re-do.

In his team’s second-half response, after going down early, Schiano saw a real positive as Rutgers nearly pulled off the upset.

“That’s a good football team and they played well and they had great concepts, their coaches did a great job,” Schiano told reporters.

“I didn’t help our team enough today. I could have helped our team more. I’m disappointed in myself and that’s something that I have to examine. Was I all bad? No, I’m not, I’m not the martyr here. I really feel like I could have been, I think every guy in that locker room feels that way – every coach and every player.

“And that’s, that’s what good football teams do; they stand up and they’re willing to look at what didn’t go right and how can we get it right because the second half, I don’t know if you play much better defense than that. Seven plays I think they had in the third quarter.”

And still, despite the errors, Rutgers very nearly came out with the win. After a rough first half where Michigan raced out to a 20-3 lead at halftime and had 15 first downs, Rutgers responded on defense. Michigan’s offense, prolific in the first three games of the season, was shut out and held to just two second-half first downs.

The Rutgers offense, in turn, produced two scoring drives and could well have tied the game if a hold on wide receiver Aron Cruickshank in the back of the end zone wasn’t missed by the officiating crew.

2020 NFL draft: Khaleke Hudson scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Michigan safety/linebacker prospect Khaleke Hudson

Khaleke Hudson | S | Michigan

Elevator Pitch

Hudson is a bit small to play linebacker full-time in the NFL, likely a safety-backer hybrid role is what suits him best. He can tackle and rush the passer as needed. Hudson is a backup at the NFL level with a lot of focus on special teams with his propensity of blocked punts.

Vitals

Height | 5-11

Weight | 224

Class | Senior

College Stats

College Bio

Strengths

Hudson is quicker than fast, shows the short area quickness but not the long speed. Very good player on special teams where he might find his calling in the NFL. Ability to challenge punts will do wonders at the next level as teams look for any advantage they can get. Uses the same get off on punt blocks as he does as a pass rusher. Can get to the quarterback and be disruptive in the backfield. Teams will need to find a way to blitz him in certain packages.

Very solid tackler at Michigan and provides some pop when doing so. He isn’t afraid to mix it up with the bigger bodies when chasing down a ball carrier. Very much a high motor guy who doesn’t give up on a play. Really needs to play near the line of scrimmage as that is where he will get his best production. Solid in short and intermediate zone coverages.

Weaknesses

Hudson’s lack of length could be a detriment to what he can provide on defense. Not to mention his lack of top end speed will hurt him when coming down hill from a deeper safety spot. Needs to play around the line of scrimmage. Doesn’t show the ability to disengage from blocks in the run game. The tape against Army was putrid for Hudson as he was a non factor. Produced his second highest number of tackles but he struggled with how they ran the football.

His ball skills are very limited. Produced two interceptions during his four seasons in Ann Arbor. Needs to be better at creating turnover opportunities by way of interceptions and forced fumbles. Not a player who can play coverage downfield or play as a single high. Very limited as a fourth linebacker or box safety.

Projection: Day 3

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Former Wolverine takes shot at Michigan football program, Jim Harbaugh

Former Wolverines great Jake Long noticed Juwan Howard’s leadership for the Michigan Basketball program. He wishes their football had that.

Hey, it’s time to check in on our rivals. Because, well — it can be fun to see what’s happening at TTUN.

It’s a good one this time too. Former Wolverine great Jake Long noticed Juwan Howard’s leadership for the Michigan Basketball program, and he apparently wishes the football program had the same culture, somewhat taking a shot at Jim Harbaugh.

Prior to taking on Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans, Howard touched on how he’s taken a back seat at times and humbled himself in order to improve.

Long decided to quote tweet the video and approve Howard’s statement.

He also put that “Our football program should take some notes.” That implies that head coach Harbaugh hasn’t quite taken that step in his leadership. Here’s exactly how the couple tweets were phrased.

Michigan Football ended the season 9-4. IT were absolutely obliterated by the Alabama Crimson Tide without its star quarterback, a bad look for the program that desperately wants to take that next step.

It’s on Jim Harbaugh. He has the talent, and Harbaugh must find a way to exploit teams and opponents better.

But to have former players call it out is not an ideal situation. Yikes.

Ohio State vs. Michigan: Weather no longer expected to be huge factor in “The Game”

Despite early doom and gloom, it now looks like the weather for Ohio State vs. Michigan will not play a huge factor.

The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry, dubbed “The Game”, was supposed to get a rude interruption by Mother Nature just a few days ago. A noon kickoff was thought to coincide with a nasty storm.

The Buckeyes will travel up to Ann Arbor where they take on the No. 13 ranked Michigan. Ohio State has taken on two other top-15 ranked Big Ten teams, beating them a combined 66-24.

That said, late-November games are never safe from the weather, and it was looking like it could play a factor for both teams. For Ohio State, the bulk of their games, excluding partially Wisconsin, haven’t had weather play a role.

However, the forecast has improved somewhat, and despite some chilly conditions, precipitation is not supposed to move in now until after the game is completed.

Any poor conditions could actually be on the side of Ohio State anyhow. The run-heavy offense should be able to battle in windy, rainy, and icy conditions.

But, that no longer appears to be a possibility.

Ohio State does have a top five running attack in the country AND the best defense so that should travel no matter what conditions The Game is played in.

Michigan DE on Ohio State: “We don’t see them as unbeatable”

The Ohio State Buckeyes are a perfect 11-0, yet Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson doesn’t think this dominant team is unbeatable.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are a perfect 11-0, yet Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson doesn’t think this dominant team is unbeatable.

I guess he hasn’t watch Ohio State. While that’s in partial jest, the Buckeyes have looked virtually impossible to beat at times this season. They combine a rare mix of unstoppable offense and forceful defense.

Yet, at the end of the day, Ohio State is beatable. Every team IS beatable.

However, with three fumbles, two of which led to critical Penn State points this past Saturday, Ohio State also proved that even at their worst they’re still a formidable opponent, downing the No. 8 ranked Nittany Lions 28-17

That said, Hutchinson is right. It’s just highly unlikely his Wolverines down the undefeated Buckeyes. Here’s his full statement.

Michigan is hitting stride, defeating Indiana last week 39-14. They also have a quality and telling victory over Notre Dame, a game they won 45-14. Now sitting at No. 10, the Wolverines have a chance.

According to ESPN, Michigan has just a 26.1% chance to beat the Buckeyes. That said, I’d bank on another double-digit victory for the Buckeyes.

MSU Football crushed by Michigan 44-10: Twitter Reactions

MSU football was absolutely pummeled by the Michigan Wolverines, 44-10. Here are a handful of Twitter reactions to this game.

Well, here we are. The worst possible outcome of the MSU vs. Michigan game is now a reality. Michigan absolutely pummeled Michigan State, 44-10. The game was close for less than one quarter before the Spartans lost control. Shea Patterson and the Michigan offense carved up Michigan State’s defense.

Here are a handful of Twitter reactions to this game:

Michigan State faces Rutgers next Saturday on Nov. 23. The game starts at 12 P.M. and you can catch all of the action on FS1.

Stay locked on SpartansWire for more football coverage to come.

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