Michigan vs. Rutgers Pick
As No. 4 Michigan gets set to make its first road trip, will the Wolverines still be able to put up plenty of points against Rutgers on Saturday at 7PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, Michigan is the clear favorite in this game, as the Wolverines are getting odds of -27.5 points against the Scarlet Knights. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 53 points. The home team has won the two Big Ten meetings between these two and they have hit the over in both encounters.
Michigan got tested last week but found a way to grind out a 14-7 win over Wisconsin to improve to 5-0 on the season and 2-0 in the Big Ten. The Wolverines hit the under for the first time in nearly a year last week and are now 4-1 with the over. Despite scoring just 14 points last week, Michigan is still averaging 44.4 points and 444 yards per game this season on offense. Quarterback Wilton Speight has thrown for 1,094 yards and 10 touchdowns to lead the offense while De’Veon Smith is the leading rusher with 325 yards while Chris Evans has added 247 yards. Defensively, Michigan is one of the best in the country, holding opponents to 12.4 points and 247.6 yards per game.
Rutgers is coming off a 58-0 drubbing at Ohio State last week to fall to 2-3 on the season and 0-2 in the Big Ten. The Scarlet Knights have scored a total of just 20 points in their three losses but are still 3-2 with the over. The Knights are giving up 32.4 points and 423.8 yards per game on defense, including 227.4 rushing yards per contest. On offense, Rutgers is putting up just 21.8 points and 333 yards per game. Chris Laviano has thrown for 680 yards and five touchdowns this season while Robert Martin has run for 398 yards and a score.
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Michigan is hitting the road for the first time, which is likely to lead to a few hiccups here and there, especially on offense with a first-year starting quarterback. Still, the Wolverines defense should be fine. Similar to what Ohio State did last week, I expect Michigan to limit the Knights to few points, which puts it all on Michigan to hit the over. As I mentioned, with Michigan going on the road, I just think the Wolverines will have some struggles that will keep them from putting up numbers near 40 points. Pick the under in this one.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 6 PICK: MICHIGAN/RUTGERS UNDER 53