Michigan vs. Minnesota Prediction
No. 18 Michigan meets No. 21 Minnesota at 7:30 p.m. ET in the opening weekend of Big Ten football. Will the Wolverines cover as a small road favorite or is the better bet to take the home dog Gophers?
Game Snapshot
385 Michigan Wolverines (-3.5) at 386 Minnesota Golden Gophers (+3.5); o/u 53
7:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, October 24, 2020
TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
TV: ABC
Michigan Wolverines Game Notes
Michigan DC Don Brown said the defense is “tweaking” some things to better fit the overhaul in personnel this season. Every offense and defense is going to change at least a little bit from year to year. Brown sounds adamant on that change being noticeable, though. The senior defensive coordinator hinted at Michigan’s coverage base changing a bit, as well as how they scheme up their blitz looks. Brown has long been one of the best blitzing defensive coordinators in college football (even if that wasn’t necessarily true last season), so he should have no issue finding new and different ways to get home with this Michigan front. Brown also stressed that Michigan are “much better up front” in general, praising the depth and backup players for showing serious development.
Minnesota Golden Gophers Game Notes
Minnesota redshirt junior QB Tanner Morgan praised the Big Ten for its decision to postpone the 2020 season over COVID-19 concerns on Monday. While there hasn’t been a lack of complaints since the Big Ten announced its decision to postpone the 2020 season, and Ohio State QB Justin Fields started a petition that has a signature count well into six figures. However, in the case of Morgan he believes that the conference put the health of the players at the forefront in making its decision. “I commend them for being the conference that actually put player health and safety first, like they said all along,” Morgan said during a press conference on Monday. With the FDA recently approving a saliva-based test for COVID-19, we’ll see if this changes the Big Ten’s thinking regarding the 2020 season.
Michigan vs. Minnesota Betting Prediction
The Wolverines are 4-0 against the spread in their last four games when they’re listed as the favorite, are 6-1 against the number in their last seven games played in the month of October and have covered in five of their last seven games dating back to last season. Michigan has also covered the spread in seven of the last nine meetings between these two teams and is 4-1-1 at the betting window in its last six trips to Minneapolis.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 8 PREDICTION: MICHIGAN WOLVERINES -3.5