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The Michigan Wolverines take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Piscataway, New Jersey, on Saturday, Oct. 31. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network.
Michigan is favored by -14 points on the spread with a moneyline of -600. Rutgers, meanwhile, enters as a +14 underdog and is +440 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 46.5 total points.
Here’s my Michigan vs. Rutgers prediction and college football pick for Saturday, October 31.
Michigan vs Rutgers Prediction
- Michigan vs. Rutgers Pick: Rutgers +14
My Rutgers vs. Michigan best bet is on the Scarlet Knights to cover the spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Michigan vs Rutgers Odds
| Michigan Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-14 -110 | 46.5 -110o / -110u | -600 |
| Rutgers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+14 -110 | 46.5 -110o / -110u | +440 |
- Michigan vs Rutgers Spread: Michigan -14 (-110), Rutgers +14 (-110)
- Michigan vs Rutgers Over/Under: 46.5 (-110o / -110u)
- Michigan vs Rutgers Moneyline: Michigan -600, Rutgers +440
Michigan vs Rutgers College Football Preview
Michigan Wolverines Betting Preview: Quarterback Controversy
If you ask Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham, it isn't time for drastic changes yet in Ann Arbor. The record sits at 4-3, but as the Wolverines ball coach noted at his midweek presser, they're just "a couple plays off from 6-1."
But a drastic change already happened. Benching highly-paid star quarterback Bryce Underwood for Wolverine legacy grandson Tommy Carr sparked the Wolverines into a comeback win over Penn State.
What followed was a wire-to-wire slugfest with Curt Cignetti's Indiana Hoosiers last week.
While the vibes may have picked up in Ann Arbor, the offense has not.
Carr poses more of a threat through the air, but he still contributed to costly turnovers in the loss to Indiana, and the Michigan run game has taken a step backward.
As a group, the Wolverines ran for just 57 yards on 42 carries against the Hoosiers last week.
Underwood's threat on the ground made that attack more one-dimensional, and limited the only area where Whittingham's group has found success.
It'll be interesting to monitor if Carr continues to hold the top spot under center or if this becomes a two-quarterback system down the stretch.
Either way, more disruption offensively is the last thing Michigan needs, especially in a trappy spot in Piscataway a week before a game against in-state rival Michigan State.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights Betting Preview: Solid Matchup
Rutgers enters this game with a 2-5 record, off back-to-back road trips, hoping for some love from its home fans.
The Rutgers defense has been the problem all season long, getting torn apart both through the air and on the ground and giving up 30 or more points in all three Big Ten games so far.
Overall, the Rutgers defense ranks 130th in Success Rate allowed, so facing Michigan's 105th-ranked offense in the same category, especially with a backup quarterback under center, will be a welcome sight.
The Scarlet Knights offense has fared far better this season, ranking 65th nationally in Offensive Success Rate. They put up 35 points at home against USC and 37 points against Maryland, so there's a recipe for success.
They'll need to capitalize on turnovers, but Carr's inexperience (and his first road start of his career) should give them a chance to do just that.
Michigan vs Rutgers Pick, Betting Analysis
It would be a mistake to ignore the spot here. Michigan hosts Michigan State in Ann Arbor a week from Saturday. It will be hard for everyone in Maize and Blue not to look ahead.
The market hasn't fully adjusted yet for Carr taking over under center.
While he shows signs of being a successful experiment, he's less talented than the man he's replacing, and it has hurt Michigan's biggest success story — its rushing attack — as a result.
Take Rutgers to make things more interesting than expected in Carr's first appearance on the road.
Pick: Rutgers +14
Michigan vs Rutgers Betting Trends
