Michigan Wolverines vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Coming off consecutive blowout victories over Wisconsin, Michigan State and Penn State, the fourth-ranked Michigan Wolverines (8-1 overall, 6-0 Big Ten) take a dramatic step down in class this week when they visit the Big Ten cellar-dwelling Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-8 overall, 0-6 Big Ten) Saturday afternoon in New Jersey. Michigan pounded the Nittany Lions 42-7 last Saturday in Ann Arbor to finish the toughest three-game stretch on its schedule, outscoring its opponents by an aggregate total of 101-27.

Now, with games against Rutgers and Indiana over the next two weeks, the Wolverines simply look to win and stay healthy as they prepare for a season-ending showdown at Ohio State that will likely decide the Big Ten champion. Still, oddsmakers have made Michigan a 39-point road favorite, the second time in as many visits to Rutgers that the Wolverines have laid 30-plus points. By the way, Michigan easily covered that last meeting, routing the Scarlet Knights 78-0 in 2016.

Michigan vs Rutgers Game Center

HOW WILL MICHIGAN APPROACH THIS GAME?

Whether or not the Wolverines cover this contest may simply depend on how Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh approaches things.

On one hand, there are some elements of Michigan’s game that could use some improvement going into the game against Ohio State and the postseason, such as the Wolverines’ 96th-ranked pass attack. There’s also the danger of letting your foot off the gas and falling into bad habits, so Harbaugh may want his defense to keep playing with the same mentality and intensity that has it No. 1 in the nation in total yards allowed and against the pass.

But on the other hand, injuries seem to be about the only thing that can derail a Michigan team that is already a 3.5-point favorite over Ohio State on the early look-ahead lines. The last thing the Wolverines need is an injury to a key player in a meaningless game, particularly to quarterback Shea Patterson. With the way Michigan’s been running the ball of late, the Wolverines may go ultra-conservative and keep Patterson out of the game as much as possible, especially after backup quarterback Dylan McCaffrey broke his collarbone last week against Penn State.

RUTGERS DEFENSE SHOWING IMPROVEMENT

When you’re as bad as Rutgers has been over the past four seasons (11-34 since 2014), you’ve got to be encouraged by the little things. And if there’s a bright spot in the Scarlet Knights’ last two losses, it’s been some improved play from their defense.

Yes, the Scarlet Knights gave up 317 rushing yards last week to Wisconsin, more of the same for a run defense that ranks 120th in the nation in yards allowed. But the Rutgers defense kept the Knights in that game into the second half, allowing just 10 points in the Sportsbook 34 minutes and intercepting Badgers quarterback Alex Hornibrook twice.

It was the second consecutive decent outing for the Rutgers stop unit, which allowed only 18 points in a three-point loss at home to Northwestern before its bye week. Since head coach Chris Ash became more involved in the defense, Rutgers has allowed 24.5 points per game, a tremendous improvement from the 40.8 it was allowing in its first six games.

PLUG YOUR NOSE AND TAKE THE POINTS

Let’s face it, Michigan can essentially name the score here. But the Wolverines have shown a tendency in the past to play down to lesser competition on the road (3-11 ATS in their last 14 road games against teams with losing records), they’re vulnerable for a letdown and their biggest motivation is to simply stay healthy.

Rutgers is still playing hard and showing some improvement, easily staying within the number last week in a 31-17 loss at Wisconsin and coming close to an upset of Northwestern in its previous game as a 20-point dog. Look for the Scarlet Knights to keep this game low-scoring enough that a touchdown or two against an uninterested Michigan defense earns them the cover.