Michigan opens as 7 point favorite for Brown Jug

Submitted by Zoltanrules on

From Mlive's Nick Baumgartner...

ANN ARBOR -- It's Little Brown Jug week in Ann Arbor. And Michigan, despite an ugly home loss Saturday against Utah, will enter Big Ten play as a favorite. The Wolverines (2-2) opened as a seven-point favorite over visiting Minnesota (3-1) for next Saturday's game at Michigan Stadium (3:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN2), per VegasInsider.com. After dropping a 30-7 decision at TCU two weeks ago, Minnesota got back in the win column last week with a 24-7 win over lowly San Jose State in Minneapolis. Michigan is 39-3 against Minnesota since 1968. Minnesota currently ranks No. 107 nationally in total offense (336 yards per game) and No. 67 nationally in total defense (383.3 yards allowed per game). Minnesota's passing offense ranks No. 124 nationally (99.8 yards per game), but its rush offense current sits at No. 30 with 236.25 yards per game.

 

JTownMaize

September 21st, 2014 at 8:33 PM ^

We will be fine this game. I know we've flat-out sucked the last few weeks (even with a W), but this team will NOT lose to Minnesota Saturday. No, we're not a good team. But we will find a way, probably not pretty, and pull it out. We don't need to support the coaches, but I'm supporting the players 110%. 

J.Madrox

September 21st, 2014 at 8:35 PM ^

I don't know what it is but Michigan can't score and Minnesota's entire offense is built around their run game. If there is anything I have almost complete faith in at this point it is Michigan's ability to stop the run. Maybe a nice 2 to 0 game, Frank Clark with the game winning safety.

J.Madrox

September 21st, 2014 at 8:53 PM ^

Well it is tough to outscore a team by more than 7 when you can't score an offensive TD. The defense just needs to produce one TD and know for every one they give up they need to score one more to cover the all important spread.

I also believe that line will move down as we get closer to the game.

snowcrash

September 22nd, 2014 at 11:12 AM ^

given that neither offense has shown the ability to do anything against a competent defense. Unless the offense makes a big jump, we'll have a hard time beating anyone by 7. Best guess, we win 9-6 or 9-7, maybe 9-3 if we don't turn it over as much as usual.

LSAClassOf2000

September 21st, 2014 at 8:38 PM ^

Courtesy of TeamRankings, the preliminary comparison:

Offense
Minnesota Michigan
Yards/Play 5.1   5.9
Points/Play 0.332   0.352
Rush Play % 73.87%   55.68%
Pass Play % 26.13%   44.32%
Completion % 42.55%   58.93%
3D Conv % 32.50%   45.28%
RZ Scoring % 100.00%   100.00%
Defense
Minnesota Michigan
Opp Yards/Play 5.1   4.1
Opp Points/Play 0.276   0.316
Opp Completion % 55.56%   58.33%
Opp 3D Conv % 40.48%   32.79%
Opp RZ Scoring % 100.00%   100.00%

 

acnumber1

September 21st, 2014 at 8:42 PM ^

Those red zone percentages are wild.  Both teams are scoring 100% of the time when they get to the red zone (yeah, yeah, I know) and both team give up points 100% of the time when their opponents reach the red zone.

 

So..both Michigan and Minnesota lead the nation in one category and are the worst in the nation in the other.

Wolverine Devotee

September 21st, 2014 at 8:41 PM ^

Michigan clobbered them in 2008. Nick Sheridan turned into Tom Brady.

Last year they played their best conference game of the year against them.

They can do this. 

team126

September 21st, 2014 at 8:42 PM ^

Think about the opportunities TOs give to the opposite and the negative impact on the defense.

Still, I am completely, absolutely not sure what we may end up with next Saturday.

May be Nuss should send Wilton Speight to start?

atom evolootion

September 21st, 2014 at 8:55 PM ^

What makes anybody think that Michigan can beat Minnesota this year? Oh! All they have is a ground game. Michigan is built to stop the ground game. Maybe we'll do well in this game, unless those wiley Gophers go off the script and air raid us with wide receivers converted from lumberjacks.

alum96

September 21st, 2014 at 8:59 PM ^

Feels like a 16-7 game.  I was thinking this would be a blowout a week ago for our team but seeing our inability to do anything but pass to Devin Funchess and then turnover the ball/punt (without 11 men on the field) makes it more difficult to call.  Still Minnesota got blown out by a very average TCU team by 23.  All Minnesota does is run, they barely have a passing game.  But man if we turn it over on our own 20-30 yard line you cant ask the defense not to give up any rush yards all game.  Tough one.

 

UMaD

September 21st, 2014 at 9:32 PM ^

And I'm a guy who predicted Utah would win and spent a lot Friday saying Utah was pretty clearly superior.

Unless Shane starts - and then Michigan 23 Minnesota 14