The Michigan Wolverines will scoop up what’s left of a shell-shocked Rutgers Scarket Knights on Saturday, October 8th at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, NJ. In lay terms, the Michigan Wolverines are the NCAA football betting favorites, according to the sportsbook odds, as seen below:
Michigan -27½ (-110) 53 (-110) -5000
Rutgers +27½ (-110) 53 (-110) +2500
The No. 4 Wolverines uncharacteristically struggled in their first game of the season against a fellow ranked team; No. 11 Wisconsin Badgers. Michigan QB Wilton Speight threw 20 of 32 for 219 passing yards, including a 46-yarder to wide receiver Amara Darboh for the go-ahead TD. More importantly, CB Jourdan Lewis channeled his inner Odell Beckham made a one-handed interception with 2:59 to go.
The Michigan Wolverines could have had more wiggle room, but while Khalid Hill had two yards and a touchdown, kicker Kenny Allen missed two field goals, and his replacement Ryan Tice was half as good – meaning he only missed one. As a result, the two will compete for the job, because as head coach Jim Harbaugh says, “to win championships, you’ve got to make field goals.” And to get the power, you’ve got to get the money first.
The Scarlet Knights were blown out of the water 58-0 by No. 2 the Ohio State Buckeyes. Rutgers QB had a day to forget, completing only three passes of 12 attempts for 33 yards and being sacked three times. All three completions went to wide receiver Jawuan Harris who got a measly 33 yards out of them. Running back Robert Martin led the rushing attack, as it were, with 40 yards on 13 carries.
The Scarlet Knights never went farther than the Buckeyes 38, and were forced to punt on each of its 10 drives that didn’t end a half. Rutgers put up a fight against the Iowa Hawkeyes the previous week, but what hurt them more than losing that game was losing returner Janarion Grant for the season due to injury. And things are going to get worse before they get better, NCAA football betting-wise.
The Scarlet Knights will continue to struggle offensively. Michigan’s defense is one of the best in the country, and is about as good, if not better, than the Ohio State’s. The Wolverines limited Wisconsin to their fewest total yards in 20 years. Michigan wasn’t as effective on offense as they NCAA football betting fans had been accustomed to, but it may not even matter, seeing as how Rutgers allowed 669 yards of offense to the Buckeyes. Even on a so-so day, Speight, De’Veon Smith, et al should be able to get the job done.
The only field where the Scarlet Knights surpass the Wolverines is the special teams, where the latter are 4-of-9 kicking field goals. Expect Michigan to exact a measure of revenge for their 24-26 loss to Rutgers in 2014 – and to add insult to injury, they will do it with two New Jersey natives on the roster; defensive lineman Jabrill Peppers and true freshman defensive tackle Rashan Gary.