Michigan football is favored to beat Minnesota, but that doesn't mean much.
The Wolverines were a 5.5-point favorite over Iowa last week, and we all know how that turned out. Michigan football dominated the game, at least according to the box score, but Iowa won thanks to Michigan's mistakes.
While the Wolverines are at their lowest point this season, Minnesota is on a high. The Golden Gophers also lost at home earlier this season, in the coming out party for Mississippi State, but they rebounded with a huge road win at Washington last week, 27-24.
That has Minnesota ahead of Michigan football in the Big Ten standings going into this game. Kyle Whittnigham said he felt like his team was 0-4 even though it's 3-1. Losing to Minnesota would make it feel much worse than that.
This feels like a game the Wolverines have to win and here are three reasons why Michigan football should be on upset alert against Minnesota.
The penalties
Michigan has eight penalties or more in three of four games this season. Kyle Whittingham's teams haven't been penalized that much over the course of his coaching career, so it shouldn't continue to be an issue long-term.
That doesn't mean it will be corrected this weekend either. The Wolverines will be playing on the road for the first time. Sometimes that will lead to pre-snap penalties. The holds have been ridiculous.
Some of them have been bad calls. How is Michigan supposed to avoid those? The pre-snap and the personal fouls have to end. At some point, the people who keep making the mistakes have to get taken off if they field if they don't end them.
Bryce Underwood on the road
Underwood was great last week against Iowa. He accounted for 312 total yards and two touchdowns. There was one interception, but that was really on Andrew Marsh running the wrong route.
Despite the loss, it was a huge step forward in his development. That being said, Underwood completed less than 60 percent of his passes away from home in 2025. He's got six touchdowns and six interceptions away from the Big House.
Underwood hasn't been on the road this season and in the last three games, he has taken a step forward. Will that continue this weekend? Michigan fans better hope so.
Drake Lindsey
Minnesota has always been a team that plays really hard. Minnesota is still that team, but the Gophers have one of the better quarterbacks in the Big Ten.
It's the first time in a long time you could say that. Lindsey is averaging 237 passing yards per game, completing 66 percent of his passes, and has seven touchdown passes. He also threw some dimes against Washington.
After watching Iowa throw for 236 yards and drive the ball 90 yards in two minutes to win the game, Michigan's defensive line needs to get pressure on Lindsey. If not, it could spell trouble.
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