The Michigan football season is only seven games old, but it has been a nightmare under Kyle Whittingham.
Michigan's offense is difficult to watch. The Wolverines head to Rutgers this weekend as a 14.5-point favorite against the team that has the same number of Big Ten wins as they do.
Despite the fact that fans and pundits want to burn everything to the ground, Whittingham insists that Michigan hasn't been a disaster and is just a few plays away from 6-1 or 7-0.
It has been frustrating to hear Whittingham say after the game that a particular call was a mistake. He did that against Iowa, Western Michigan, and Indiana. Hopefully, we don't have to hear that after the Rutgers game.
Kickoff is Saturday at 12:30 PM EST in New Jersey and here are three bold predictions for Michigan vs. Rutgers.
Rutgers doesn't score a touchdown
Indiana scored a touchdown last week, but not unitl overtime. The Hoosiers also didn't start a drive in their own territory and score.
Rutgers won't do that either. KJ Duff, who averages 110 receiving yards per game, is doubtful. Antwan Raymond is one of the best backs in the Big Ten, but good luck running the ball on the Wolverines.
The Michigan defense has been outstanding. No team has scored over 20 points. Indiana had six after four quarters. Oklahoma scored 10.
Rutgers is playing at home, but after last week, the Michigan defense has to know it can't give up many points if it wants to win.
A shutout is possible. Rutgers will probably get a field goal or two; however, the Scarlet Knights will be kept out of the end zone.
Tommy Carr will throw two touchdowns
The freshman quarterback had some of the same issues that Bryce Underwood did. He missed open receivers. He turned the ball over. Yet, Carr was better in the second half against Indiana.
Imagine how good he would have looked with a running game, which Michigan did not provide him with. The Wolverines ran 41 times for 57 yards. That running game should be able to get going against Rutgers, a defense that allows 5.8 yards per attempt.
If not, anything could happen.
Defense gets multiple takeaways
Rutgers will have its backup quarterback. Aj Surace has thrown interceptions on seven percent of his passes. He's got five interceptions in 71 attempts. If the Wolverines can make Rutgers one-dimensional, or even if not, the Wolverines will get some interceptions and force a fumble for three total takeaways.
Score prediction: Michigan 24, Rutgers 3
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