Michigan Football: 5 Predictions for Wolverines against Rutgers
In the Big Ten opener for both teams, Michigan football will host Rutgers on Saturday, and here are five predictions for the Wolverines.
There’s something special about Big Ten football and on Saturday, the Wolverines will open conference play against one of the two teams they beat last season.
Michigan football fans and surely Rutgers fans will not soon forget the overtime win for U-M in Piscataway last year, one that happened only because the Scarlet Knights missed a game-winning field goal.
This year’s Michigan team looks nothing like last year’s squad through three games. The defense is ranked 10th in scoring defense and the rushing attack is leading the nation.
To be fair, the Wolverines haven’t beaten any elite competition. Neither has Rutgers, which is also 3-0 but like Michigan football, does own a Power-5 win (Syracuse).
The Scarlet Knights also have a stingy defense which is ninth in the FBS in scoring defense. Rutgers is also experienced with a bunch of returning starters, especially on defense from last season including some All-Big Ten performers.
If you are expecting a cakewalk for the Wolverines, you will be disappointed. Rutgers is a different animal under Greg Schiano and here are five predictions for U-M and the Scarlet Knights:
Corum hits 100 yards again
While Rutgers is tough defensively and allows just 3.5 yards per rushing attempt this season, Michigan football isn’t Syracuse, Temple, or Delaware.
Rutgers hasn’t seen an offensive line like the one Michigan will be trotting out and the Scarlet Knights also haven’t had to defend anyone like Blake Corum, who has 407 rushing yards (453 total from scrimmage) and eight touchdowns.
Rutgers is better on the back end of its defense and it has some talent at linebacker. But Michigan ran for nearly 150 last year and that offense, well, it wasn’t good.
This offensive line has been outstanding and Corum will find the end zone at least once while breaking the century mark again on the ground.