Michigan-Rutgers Odds: No. 19 Wolverines A 3-Score Favorite Opening Big Ten Play

Once again, the Michigan football team emerged victorious with another impressive win this week.

This week, the Wolverines, who are currently 3-0, will shift their focus to Big Ten Conference play as they prepare to host Rutgers, who are also undefeated.

Can UM maintain its dominance with the arrival of the league road? Here’s an early preview.

Michigan Vs. Rutgers Odds: NCAA Football Week 3

Oddsmakers like Michigan over Rutgers by three scores

The Wolverines have not only successfully covered all three spreads this season, but they have also done so quite comfortably. Impressively, they have emerged victorious in all three games with a margin of at least 21 points.

Michigan is once again expected to dominate Rutgers this week, with oddsmakers initially favoring them by 18.5 points. However, DraftKings Sportsbook had Michigan as a 19-point favorite on their home turf. As the week progressed, the spread increased to 20 points or more according to most major lines by Tuesday afternoon.

Michigan does not find the moneylines very attractive, as they vary from -950 to -1300. On the other hand, Rutgers has a more appealing line, ranging from +630 to +730.

The consensus initially set the over/under total at 51.5 points. However, due to an increase in bets on the under, the listed total has shifted closer to 50 points.

Similar to Michigan, Rutgers has also gone undefeated against the spread this season with a record of 3-0. However, for the first time in 2021, the Knights are entering a game as underdogs.

Rutgers’ games have resulted in a 2-1 record favoring the over, whereas in Michigan’s games, the under has prevailed in two out of three instances.

Michigan has a historical record of 6-1 against Rutgers, emerging victorious in their previous six encounters. The Wolverines had a nail-biting experience against the Knights last year, with the game ending in a thrilling 48-42 victory for Michigan after three overtime periods on Rutgers’ turf.

How to watch: Michigan Wolverines vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

• Rutgers (3-0) is going up against No. 19 Michigan (3-0).
• When: 3:30PM ET, Saturday
• The location is Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.
• The TV network broadcasting this program is ABC, and the announcers for the show are Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge, and Molly McGrath.
• Online livestream: ESPN+
• The Michigan Sports Network on the radio is provided by Learfield.
• For satellite radio listening, tune in to SiriusXM Channel 196 for Michigan, or SiriusXM Channel 389 for Rutgers.

Wolverines dominate Northern Illinois

Last Saturday, Michigan once again demonstrated their dominance by achieving a resounding 63-10 victory over Northern Illinois in a non-conference matchup.

NIU was limited to a mere 208 total yards, whereas the Wolverines accumulated an impressive 606 yards.

This week, U-M showcased a slightly improved offensive balance, accumulating 233 passing yards and 373 rushing yards. Nevertheless, the play calling remained unbalanced with only 17 passes attempted compared to 48 rushing attempts.

Cade McNamara showcased his finest performance, completing 8 out of 11 passes for a total of 191 yards. Notably, he sealed the game with an impressive 87-yard touchdown pass to Cornelius Johnson.

Blake Corum recorded 125 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while Donovan Edwards and Hassan Haskins also contributed with two rushing touchdowns each. Currently, Michigan leads the nation in rushing yards per game with an average of 350.3.

Michigan’s defense lacked standout moments, but they demonstrated dominance in shutting down the Huskies. Despite not securing any sacks and only forcing one turnover, the Wolverines impressively limited NIU to a mere 2 successful conversions out of 13 attempts on third downs.

Blake Corum a Heisman Trophy contender?

Corum has undoubtedly been Michigan’s key to success in 2021 when it comes to running the ball.

In each of the initial three games, the sophomore athlete has achieved an impressive feat by accumulating over 110 yards in rushing. Furthermore, they have also managed to score seven touchdowns while on the ground.

At present, he ranks third in the nation with his impressive 407 yards, and his seven touchdowns are tied for first. Interestingly, Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III takes the lead with 493 rushing yards.

Currently, Corum is listed at +5000 to win the Heisman Trophy according to DraftKings. However, a better choice would be to choose BetMGM Sportsbook’s +8000 line for Corum at the moment.

Unexpectedly, Corum is not the only Michigan Heisman contender, as McNamara is also listed at +10000 on DraftKings.

Despite having fewer passing yards than Corum’s rushing yards (371), McNamara is perceived by oddsmakers as someone who will likely need to elevate his performance for Michigan to succeed in the Big Ten.

Greg Schiano turning Rutgers around again

Heading into the Michigan game, Greg Schiano is back for his second stint with Rutgers, and it seems that he has successfully reinvigorated the Knights, reversing their fortunes.

Following a commanding 45-13 victory over Delaware last week, Rutgers continues their undefeated streak, achieving a 3-0 start to the season. The Knights have convincingly triumphed in all three games, defeating Temple, Syracuse, and the Blue Hens, with each victory secured by a margin of more than ten points.

The Knights’ defense has been the driving force behind their success, as they hold impressive rankings in the top 20 nationwide for points allowed (11.3 per game), passing yards allowed (145.7 per game), and total yards allowed (261.7 per game).

In addition to their impressive record of 14 sacks, Rutgers’ defense is being spearheaded by Olakunie Fatukasi, who has notched 28 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Despite only averaging 351 yards per game, Rutgers’ offense has been impressive with their ability to score points. The Knights have not turned the ball over and have managed to average 41 points per game.

To guide the offense, Noah Vedral has racked up an impressive 606 yards through the air, resulting in four touchdowns. Additionally, he has showcased his agility by rushing for 71 yards.

Vedral’s primary recipient, Bo Melton, has successfully caught 20 passes for a total of 227 yards, resulting in two touchdowns. On the other hand, Isaih Pacheco has taken the lead in rushing, accumulating 152 yards and securing three touchdowns.