The No. 17 Michigan Wolverines host the cellar dweller Massachusetts Minutemen in Saturday College Football action. The Wolverines are a massive favorite in this game, laying an incredible 45.5 points. The game is scheduled for a 3:30 pm EST start time and it will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.
The 45.5 points Michigan is laying in this game against UMass is the most ever by any Michigan team. It might be justified. Michigan enters today's game against the Minutemen with a 1-1 overall record but they haven't covered a point spread yet. They were blown out on national television in the opening week of the season by the country's best team in Alabama and then had to take on a scrappy Air Force team last week that hung tight with the bruised up Wolverines. Today's game against UMass is everything Michigan needs and wants. It's going to be a blowout and everyone in the country knows that. But how many points will Michigan win by?
Sometimes looking at the total in games like this tells us just how much oddsmakers are expecting the underdog to score. The total for this game across the board at many books is 53. If Michigan is then favored by almost 46 points, are we then to assume that UMass is only going to find the end zone once? It quite possibly could happen. UMass has struggled immensely in their opening two games of the season. They lost their opener to an average Connecticut team by 37 points and then were spanked by Indiana (a less than average team) last week 45-6. They didn't score in the opening game and are only averaging a field goal in the two games. That's not good. The numbers totally get worse. UMass is near the bottom of all NCAA ranks in just about every meaningful category. They're 119th in passing yards per game at 121, 121st in the country at running the ball (45 yards per game) and are giving up 41 points per game. Yikes. UMass has a total of just 81 yards running this year in two games on 60 carries, which is just 1.4 YPC.
UMass kept this game close a couple of years ago, but this is a completely different situation than that game was. Denard Robinson needs to put forth a great effort for his club today to help get Michigan ready for Notre Dame next week. The schedule isn't an easy one, but in games like this, you have to pound your competition.
Brady Hoke has a pretty good record (23-9) ATS in non-conference games dating back to his time at both Ball State and San Diego State. Michigan has lost the turnover battle so far this season, sitting at -3. UMass is at +3, but it obviously hasn't helped them. Michigan needs to win the turnover battle if they are going to win by as many points as the oddsmakers are projecting them to win by. But, in any case, Michigan just needs to play well in this game and get out of it without any major injuries as they get ready for Notre Dame next week.
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