Michigan 45.5 point favorites over UMass
While point spreads may be nothing but talking points and things to bet on, I always find it interesting to follow them as one facet to guage how people feel about our team. Saw that Michigan has opened as 45.5 favorites over the Minutemen. This is the largest recorded spread in school history according to the full article at AnnArbor.com. More than a 6 touchdown favorite? With our offensive line, I'm not too confident about that. If this game is close, I may hit the panic button.
The 17th-ranked Wolverines opened up this week as 45 1/2-point favorites against the Minutemen, the largest early point spread of any game in the country this week.
On top of that, Michigan's listing as more than a six-touchdown favorite this week is the largest recording point spread in school history, according to R.J. Bell, the Founder and CEO of popular betting site Pregame.com.
September 10th, 2012 at 4:41 PM ^
I think that says more about people's perception of UMass than their perception of Michigan.
September 10th, 2012 at 4:46 PM ^
I'd say it depends more on the reality of UMass. The reality is that they're... not good.
September 10th, 2012 at 7:12 PM ^
I'm sure Umass is not that good but, from what I have seen from Michigan the last 2 weeks we're not that good either. After that Air force game and our line struggles there i'm wondering if we made Alabama look better than they are
September 10th, 2012 at 7:37 PM ^
There's a large difference between not good and losing by 30+ to Indiana...at football.
September 10th, 2012 at 8:18 PM ^
Hey, if we beat MSU, we're probably winning our conference. I'd say that's good enough.
September 10th, 2012 at 4:50 PM ^
Lalalalala can't hear you.
September 10th, 2012 at 4:54 PM ^
Okay, I know we're a lot better team than we were then... but still... this is a bigger spread than Baby Seal U? Wow...
September 10th, 2012 at 4:56 PM ^
As far as I know they dont release official point spreads for FBS vs FCS games, that could be why.
September 10th, 2012 at 4:57 PM ^
That Appy State team was damn good for an FCS team. I was nervous (and annoyed) about that game the moment that I heard it was scheduled.
UMass is terrible. I think we pull out a tight one late thanks to our senior leadership, especially at QB, and some clutch defensive plays. Michigan, 52-3.
September 10th, 2012 at 5:36 PM ^
Baby Seal U was Delaware St. Appy State never played Michigan.
September 10th, 2012 at 5:47 PM ^
Oh, right. Sorry about that. At some point, remind me to tell you about a horrible, completely unrealistic dream that I had back in 2007.
September 10th, 2012 at 5:06 PM ^
I don't care if Michigan is "favored" to win by 1 or 100. All that matters is the result on the field.
September 10th, 2012 at 7:42 PM ^
Then do you care to share why exactly you clicked on this thread?
September 10th, 2012 at 8:02 PM ^
A 1 point victory over UMass would be catastrophic.
September 10th, 2012 at 5:12 PM ^
I don't even think the odds makers put a spread on the Delaware State game, which is why UMass takes the prize.
September 10th, 2012 at 4:57 PM ^
I won't be surprised to see us put up 50 or 60 on them.
September 10th, 2012 at 5:03 PM ^
I'm not a gambler, but it seems like this would be an odd game to bet on since there are so many variables that come into play.
Brady Hoke doesn't seem like a "run up the score" type guy, and we don't know how long he'll play the first stringers. On the other hand, our third string could be far superior to UMass's starters (especially after they've been brutalized for X minutes by Michigan's starters), but how the heck would Vegas know that? (I understand lines move up and down based on action, but I'm understanding that this is the initial line - and thus represents the book's best estimation of the point spread, as their primary interest is in getting as much action going on the game as possible, and collecting the resulting vig/juice.)
Anyway, it seems the final score hinges as much on the coaching staff's philosophy (run up the score vs. pull back the reins) as it does on the aptitude of the programs themselves. Put another way, until I've seen Hoke coach a few more of these tomato can games, I can't see how you'd choose between taking or giving the points.
September 10th, 2012 at 6:45 PM ^
I think your right about Hoke but many of our first stringers need the work as they have clearly been struggling the first two weeks so we may see the O and D line stay in longer than normal.
September 10th, 2012 at 4:59 PM ^
FSU was just 70.5 point chalk over Savannah State.
45.5 is nothing.
September 10th, 2012 at 5:08 PM ^
Nothing but, you know, largest point spread in school history. Recorded, at least. I can imagine some of Yost's teams and their 100 point spreads.
September 10th, 2012 at 5:01 PM ^
September 10th, 2012 at 5:03 PM ^
probably wont be satisfied unless we outdo last year's beating that Michigan gave to the Gophers
September 10th, 2012 at 5:04 PM ^
Navy @ Penn State -6
UMass @ Michigan -45
Boston College @ Northwestern (-4)
Eastern Michigan @ Purdue (-23)
Cal @ Ohio (-17)
Western Michigan @ Minnesota (-3)
Utah State @ Wisconson (-14)
Notre Dame @ Michigan State (-4.5)
Ball State @ IU (-3)
Arkansas State @ Nebraska (-24.5)
Charleston Southern @ Illinois (FCS)
Northern Iowa @ Iowa (FCS)
Every Big Ten team is favored this week, mostly over really, really bad competition.
September 10th, 2012 at 5:11 PM ^
Northwestern has had a pretty solid OOC slate. Syracuse, Vanderbilt, and now BC. South Dakota... dont' know anything about South Dakota.
September 10th, 2012 at 5:16 PM ^
September 10th, 2012 at 5:42 PM ^
And, as anyone who's driven I-90 knows, it has the legendary WALL DRUG
/touristtrap
September 10th, 2012 at 10:28 PM ^
I seriously was considering stopping at Wall Drug by the time I was close to Wall...ended up just going to Badlands National Park instead.
September 10th, 2012 at 11:52 PM ^
I briefly considered it, but the continuous billboards kinda overstayed their welcome, so to speak
September 10th, 2012 at 5:49 PM ^
September 10th, 2012 at 5:16 PM ^
I'm kind of curious about what happens to Arkansas State under Gus Malzahn. Hopefully he stays long enough that we can see whether he builds something real there.
September 10th, 2012 at 5:40 PM ^
I would love to see Minnesota get this season started 3-0. NW for that matter, too. Purdue only because I will be sad when we don't have a Danny Hope to play with anymore.
September 10th, 2012 at 5:05 PM ^
Truthfully, it is hard to see how they could have gotten worse.
“Though the Minutemen suffered another blowout loss, they improved statistically over their 37-0 defeat to UConn in the season opener, when they had just three first downs, 3 rushing yards, and 59 total yards. By halftime of Saturday’s game, UMass had 164 total yards, before finishing with 14 first downs and 264 total yards.”
Unfortunately……
“…. that could not make up for the Minutemen’s defensive deficiencies — Indiana produced 33 first downs and 606 total yards, 427 yards on 50 first-half plays.”
UMass also had trouble stopping the passing of the second string QB, after the first stringer left with a broken leg (which probably would not have impaired his performance against the UMass defense).
To be fair, however, it would have been misleading to think that this was UMass’ “home opener.” This year, in a big financial gamble, they are playing all their “home” games in Patriots’ stadium in Foxboro. That's an hour and half from campus. So, I doubt they had much fan support (especially after getting shut out by UConn the prior week).
http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/football/2012/09/08/umass-routed-…
September 10th, 2012 at 5:45 PM ^
Their prior record was 18k. I don't think the venue change hurt them from a fanbase perspective.
September 10th, 2012 at 6:53 PM ^
16,000 in a 69,000 seat stadium is not the same as 18,000 in a 17,000 seat stadium.
September 10th, 2012 at 5:15 PM ^
September 10th, 2012 at 5:17 PM ^
They're in FBS this year and will officially be competing in the MAC next season.
September 10th, 2012 at 5:20 PM ^
September 10th, 2012 at 5:16 PM ^
I'm going out to the lot and tailgating some more. It'll be on the TV, but Denard will get pulled by halftime.
September 10th, 2012 at 5:16 PM ^
what a awful big ten slate this weekend. well outside the msu/nd game.
September 10th, 2012 at 5:32 PM ^
It's not just the Big Ten. The games around the country are terrible this week. That's why GameDay is stuck with Florida-Tennessee.
September 10th, 2012 at 5:54 PM ^
well shity games i guess is better then no games,
September 10th, 2012 at 7:02 PM ^
Were it not for that big injury the Alabama Arkansas game would be a good one.
September 10th, 2012 at 10:36 PM ^
September 10th, 2012 at 10:31 PM ^
September 10th, 2012 at 11:33 PM ^
Usually, MSU plays a tomato can while Michigan plays ND. Then, the following week, MSU beats a ND team that was "softened up" by Michigan. I'm quite happy to see it the other way around this time.
I just wish there was a way they could both lose.
September 12th, 2012 at 9:03 AM ^
Well there is one way... if Michigan beats both of them.
September 10th, 2012 at 5:28 PM ^
And I still expect us to cover. Even if we trot out all of our freshmen O-line for the entire second half, I still expect us to cover.
God, I really really hope we cover.
September 10th, 2012 at 5:41 PM ^
September 10th, 2012 at 8:55 PM ^
With our OLine, I'd take UMass and the points. 48-10 Michigan.