Michigan -6.5 vs. Utah
... according to the lines that ESPN has posted so far (BETONLINE.ag, 5Dimes.eu, SportsBetting.ag).
Other Big Ten games:
Texas State +14.5/15 @ Illinois
Indiana +16.5 @ Missouri
Iowa +5/5.5 @ Pittsburgh
Maryland +1.5 @ Syracuse
EMU +45/45.5 @ MSU
Miami (FL) +7.5 @ Nebraska
UMass +28.5 @ Penn State
Bowling Green +21.5/22 @ Wisconsin
No line yet:
San Jose St. @ Minnesota
Western Illinois @ Northwestern
Southern Illinois @ Purdue
Rutgers @ Navy
Bye:
Ohio State
September 14th, 2014 at 10:38 PM ^
I hope the oddsmakers are right.
I'm not so sure they are. Took a job out here at the U of Utah and have been watching Utah play live. I'm hoping for the best, but the QB they got back from cranial artery/concussion injury last year runs very well. Michigan hasn't dealt well with those sorts of QBs in recent years/games . . . .
I'm excited for this game, but having watched both teams this year, very apprehensive.
September 14th, 2014 at 11:15 PM ^
The oddmakers are setting the line based on the sentiment of the betting public . . . how can they get the bets evenly on both sides?
There are still people who are dismissive of Utah, especially on the road, because it is not a "name" team.
I doubt that they really feel that Michigan will win by a toughdown, but the line at 6.5 will get them more action on the Utah side.
September 14th, 2014 at 11:22 PM ^
I've always wondered this about sports betting. If it's really the case that Vegas simply tries to equalize money, couldn't you reliably win at sports betting simply by betting on unpopular teams, which are presumably undderrated in the lines? You would think that if this phenomenon shifts the line by even a single point a game from the "true" line, you'd have no problem cleaning up over a large sample by always betting against large schools.
There's gotta be more to it, right?
September 15th, 2014 at 1:39 AM ^
September 15th, 2014 at 8:39 AM ^
If there is easy money to made by the smart money, it will be made, thus gross mispricings should be corrected by the demand of the smart money.
But if that easy money has to overcome the vig, then that leaves room for some mispricing before it becomes profitable for the smart money to go against the "dumb masses". But then again, the smart money will be shopping around for a minimal vig in addition to the dumbest line.
September 15th, 2014 at 10:17 AM ^
Then there's weird stuff. I think it was last week in the NFL somebody put a $30,000 wager on the Dolphins, which instantly moved the line a point.
September 15th, 2014 at 9:08 AM ^
There's no way this U-M team beats Utah. The U-M secondary is a sieve, the front seven can't tackle and there's nothing resembling a rush, even when they blitz. Utah will carve up Michigan's defense. Michigan might score a few points, but every defense now knows that you just need to blitz Gardner to rattle him. Gardner will toss up two or three interceptions and fumble once or twice and the running game will be held to under 50 yards. With the exception of the Rich Rod era, this is perhaps the worst U-M team since the 1984 team that went 6-6. Couple this with a loss to PSU, MSU, and OSU, and the best case scenario for this team is a 7-5 record. If the Big-10 weren't abysmal (see the 3-6 non-conf record this past weekend against a bunch of teams no better than FCS teams), I'd say it wasn't impossible for this team to go 6-6 or 5-7, but the MAC-like strength of their Big10 schedule will almost guarentee this team 7 wins.
September 15th, 2014 at 9:11 AM ^
Welcome to the board!!
September 15th, 2014 at 9:21 AM ^
September 15th, 2014 at 9:26 AM ^
Welcome!
September 15th, 2014 at 12:27 PM ^
If M wins, I expect you to post in this space and admit that you were wrong. BTW, the two teams Utah has beaten are at about the same level as App State and NTM.
September 14th, 2014 at 10:39 PM ^
September 15th, 2014 at 7:57 AM ^
Which is essentially a pick 'em. Home field is usually worth a -3 to -4
Woo. Waives small M flag.
September 15th, 2014 at 10:52 AM ^
Another guy I haven't seen in ages. Welcome back Dude!
September 14th, 2014 at 10:40 PM ^
3 points for home field advantage, so about a field goal favorite on a neutral field. Wouldn't be surprised to see the line move closer to 0 as the game gets closer.
At first blush, -6.5 seems a bit high. Happy to be wrong, though.
September 14th, 2014 at 10:50 PM ^
Are field goals still something we do?
September 14th, 2014 at 10:58 PM ^
In a pinch. Hopefully Wile is out of whatever funk he was in because there's a good chance we need him next week.
He went 2/2 yesterday from 29 and 40. One of them was close to being blocked, if I remember right.
September 15th, 2014 at 10:23 AM ^
September 14th, 2014 at 10:42 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
September 14th, 2014 at 10:46 PM ^
Could be. It could also be the game that helps propel Michigan to good things. A solid performance against Utah could give Michigan the momentum they need heading into conference play.
September 14th, 2014 at 11:10 PM ^
September 15th, 2014 at 12:48 AM ^
September 14th, 2014 at 10:43 PM ^
Still remember that very 1st RR game in which Threet and McGuffie dragged Michigan back in the second half. It was so strange seeing a new coach, QB, and RB all of a sudden on the sidelines. That game got pretty loud.
September 14th, 2014 at 10:47 PM ^
September 14th, 2014 at 10:49 PM ^
That was such an odd game. As bad as that Michigan team was, they were within 3 points of beating Utah. Utah went on to go undefeated and beat Alabama in their bowl game quite handily.
No one at the time knew just how bad Michigan was or how good Utah was.
September 14th, 2014 at 11:12 PM ^
First games are weird.
September 14th, 2014 at 11:28 PM ^
Beat me to it. That was a very talented Utah team. They were the only team to finish the season undefeated after they beat Alabama and Boise State lost to TCU in the Poinsettia Bowl. Odd game indeed.
September 15th, 2014 at 12:02 AM ^
I think we weren't that bad - not 3-9 bad, at least. The Utah game was when everyone was still on the same page, both coaches and players. That changed by midseason and the bottom fell out.
September 14th, 2014 at 10:47 PM ^
I think Wolverine Devotee had a good one and that is to take UMass and the points. They lost to Boston College 30-7, a bad Colorado team 41-38 and a bad Vandy 34-31. PSU has not had a game that was comfortable to play 2nd stringer so if they get up 28-7 or whatnot they might throw in some subs late. PSU's defense seems good enough to hold UMass to 10ish, so I guess the question is will PSU put up 38+...with their OL perhaps not. Also feels like an emotional letdown game after their HUGE RIVALRY game (BTN!) v Rutgers.
Geez the rest of that slate is impossible to really tell. Indiana could put up 35 and still lose by 20 on any given Sunday. Miami (YTM) is not a good program right now but Nebraska almost lost to a FCS team at home 2 weeks ago. Wisconsin has a safety as a QB.
Wouldn't touch our game with a 10 foot pole. Two teams that are mysteries at this point.
September 15th, 2014 at 4:47 PM ^
The intriguing one for me is the Sparty/EMU game. Is EMU that bad? Would anyone take the points?
September 14th, 2014 at 10:47 PM ^
Michigan's last win against a current Pac-12 team was against......
utah. September 21, 2002.
Julius Curry saved the day, picking off utah in the final minute to seal the 10-7 Michigan win.
Brady Hoke sighting below-
September 14th, 2014 at 10:53 PM ^
12 flipping years? NOOOO
when was the last win vs a Pac 12 win when they were actually in the Pac 12? Utah of course was not in the Pac 12 at the time. Had to be right before that? 2001? 2000?
September 14th, 2014 at 10:55 PM ^
3 weeks prior to the game mentioned above.
Phil Brabbs. That is all.
September 14th, 2014 at 11:00 PM ^
I knew it couldnt have been too far before that - we used to be ok v the Pac 12 if it didnt include the Rose Bowl.
Fun fact:
After the Wolverines failed to complete a pass on third-and-10 with 6 seconds left, Washington was penalized 15 yards for having 12 men on the field. Without the flag, Michigan would have attempted a 59-yard field goal.
September 14th, 2014 at 11:02 PM ^
Excluding bowls was Virginia our last ACC win? It seems we rarely play ACC teams in the regular season (I am excluding "Notre Dame" of course)
September 14th, 2014 at 11:09 PM ^
We played virginia in 95 and NC State in 93 and Syracuse in 99 but Syracuse was still in the Big east. I dont think we've played anyone else from that conference aside from VA Tech in a bowl since Florida State in 91?
So I'm sticking with virginia (nearly 20 years) as the last ACC opponent in the regular season unless WD has a better answer.
September 15th, 2014 at 11:41 AM ^
September 14th, 2014 at 11:08 PM ^
Against the current ACC, Michigan's last win over an ACC team--and last regular season game against an ACC team--was at Syracuse in 1999.
If you're talking about if they were ACC at the time Michigan played them, then yes, Virginia was the last win over a team who was in the ACC at the time.
After that Virginia game in 1995, Michigan beat Boston College in 1995 and 1996, also.
September 14th, 2014 at 11:12 PM ^
Yes BC was Big East too. Strange - due to geography it seems like a natural fit to play ACC teams more often in OOC the past few decades. Probably due to the watering down of schedules in BCS era. With Notre Dame every year you fit in mostly baby seals elsewhere.
September 14th, 2014 at 11:17 PM ^
Michigan played Maryland several times, most recently in 1990. So that would be Michigan's last win over an ACC team who was in the ACC at the time.
Michigan played North Carolina, Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia and Maryland in the regular season from the 1960s-1990s.
Michigan's only losses against true ACC teams are against UNC in 1966 and the 1979 Gator Bowl.
Other than that, Michigan's 7 other losses against ACC teams are against teams who weren't actually in the ACC at the time they played but are now. (Syracuse, Miami and Florida State).
Michigan has a 29-9-1 record against the ACC.
September 14th, 2014 at 11:23 PM ^
Synopsis: MOAR ACC scheduling*
*except FSU/Clemson
I think UM even in current form could win the ACC Coastal. Us or Duke! ACC Coastal and Big Ten West might be the 2 worst divisions in the Big 5. We and Northwestern would also fit very well in this ACC division from an academic standpoint - some really strong schools there.
Might have to erase this post before Jim Delaney sees it; he might just ask the whole division to secede to the Big 10.
ACC - Coastal | W-L | PF | PA | W-L | PF | PA | STRK |
Pittsburgh | 1-0 | 30 | 20 | 3-0 | 134 | 45 | W3 |
Virginia | 1-0 | 23 | 21 | 2-1 | 88 | 62 | W2 |
Georgia Tech | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 3-0 | 118 | 78 | W3 |
Duke | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 3-0 | 127 | 33 | W3 |
North Carolina | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 2-0 | 87 | 56 | W2 |
Virginia Tech | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 2-1 | 90 | 58 | L1 |
Miami (FL) | 0-1 | 13 | 31 | 2-1 | 95 | 58 | W2 |
September 15th, 2014 at 12:40 AM ^
You're omitting the 2012 Sugar Bowl win over Virginia Tech.
September 14th, 2014 at 11:04 PM ^
Michigan's record against the current Pac-12 members is 48-24-1.
Here is every game against the current Pac-12 since 1984.
9/15/1984 | vs #16 Washington | L 11-20 | |
9/20/1986 | vs Oregon State | W 31-12 | |
1/1/1987 | #7 Arizona State | L 15-22 | Rose Bowl |
9/19/1987 | vs Washington State | W 44-18 | |
1/2/1989 | #5 USC | W 22-14 | Rose Bowl |
9/23/1989 | at #24 UCLA | W 24-23 | |
1/1/1990 | #12 USC | L 10-17 | Rose Bowl |
9/22/1990 | vs UCLA | W 38-15 | |
1/1/1992 | #2 Washington | L 14-34 | Rose Bowl |
1/1/1993 | #9 Washington | W 38-31 | Rose Bowl |
9/4/1993 | vs Washington State | W 41-14 | |
9/24/1994 | vs #7 Colorado | L 26-27 | |
9/14/1996 | at #5 Colorado | W 20-13 | |
9/28/1996 | vs UCLA | W 38-9 | |
9/13/1997 | vs #8 Colorado | W 27-3 | |
1/1/1998 | #8 Washington State | W 21-16 | Rose Bowl |
9/16/2000 | at #14 UCLA | L 20-23 | |
9/8/2001 | at #15 Washington | L 18-23 | |
8/31/2002 | vs #11 Washington | W 31-29 | |
9/21/2002 | vs Utah | W 10-7 | |
9/20/2003 | at #22 Oregon | L 27-31 | |
1/1/2004 | #1 USC | L 14-28 | Rose Bowl |
1/1/2007 | #8 USC | L 18-32 | Rose Bowl |
9/8/2007 | vs Oregon | L 7-39 | |
8/30/2008 | vs Utah | L 23-25 |
September 15th, 2014 at 12:12 AM ^
September 14th, 2014 at 11:52 PM ^
Is that a headset Hoke is wearing?
September 15th, 2014 at 12:48 AM ^
September 15th, 2014 at 6:07 AM ^
September 15th, 2014 at 12:20 PM ^
That can't be Brady, he's wearing a headset!