Michigan Football: 5 Predictions for Wolverines against Rutgers

Who wins?

Michigan football enters this game as a 10.5 point favorite according to Fan Duel and after getting beat 49-11, you wonder if that still has to do with reputation?

This Wolverines team has not played like a group that should be favored, even against Rutgers. The talent is there, but Michigan was also more talented, at least according to the 247 sports team talent rankings, than Michigan State, Indiana and Wisconsin.

Even though this is a battle of 1-3 teams, it does feel like a turning point for Harbaugh and company. If U-M can win this game, beat Maryland and Penn State — suddenly, it’s 4-3 going into Ohio State and maybe things don’t seem so bad.

I definitely don’t think Harbaugh is going anywhere with a winning season and if Michigan gets this game, that’s still a possibility. But will he be able to rally and inspire the troops?

So far, it hasn’t worked. Michigan didn’t circle the wagons against Wisconsin and if the Wolverines go through the motions again, they could easily leave Piscataway with a loss, a loss that would be by far the worst result of the Harbaugh era, as well as the true beginning of the end.

Yet, even though I might be wearing maize-and-blue colored glasses, I have to believe this team will respond Saturday and show some life. Michigan will be tough, physical and it will finally play with a little fire. It will also win the game and cover the spread.

Final score: Michigan 34, Rutgers 17