Michigan favored by 3 at The Pennsylvania State University
http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-football/odds/las-vegas/
Couple lines jump out, but I especially like Oregon only giving 7.
October 24th, 2010 at 4:22 PM ^
That means Michigan will win, right?
October 24th, 2010 at 4:24 PM ^
You got it.
October 24th, 2010 at 4:32 PM ^
Also, Iowa is favored by 4.5, so it looks like MSU's magical run will come to an end.
Edit: I don't really believe that, because you can't be a Michigan Blank Hating God and not find the humor in MSU going undefeated this year.
October 24th, 2010 at 4:40 PM ^
I say the line goes up the closer to game time...
October 24th, 2010 at 7:56 PM ^
the three is on the light side. It could be that tight but I think the chances of a much wider win margin really favors M. I could see a 21+ point margin of victory for M, GO BLUE!
October 25th, 2010 at 9:19 AM ^
I hope you're right.
October 24th, 2010 at 4:43 PM ^
This is a prove it game for the team and the coaching staff. Desperate need to win is a 10.
October 24th, 2010 at 5:39 PM ^
Agree. The problem is, every game this season is more or less in that category for RR. Even if we manage to beat PSU, the good feelings from bowl qualifying will disappear if we follow it up with a loss to Illinois or Purdue for the third year in a row.
There've been far too many confident assurances over the last 2+ seasons by MGoBloggers that "Oh, we're better than (insert Big Ten team of choice) there's no way we'll lose to them. Anyone who disagrees is a pussy" for me to think any game home or away is a gimme. Given our record over that time, I think we should be an underdog wherever we play until we can prove that we deserve to be a favorite.
October 24th, 2010 at 5:54 PM ^
Love Michigan, but I just can't get too high on them on the road.
I desperately want them to prove otherwise! Until then... nothing's a gimme.
October 24th, 2010 at 7:02 PM ^
2-0 ON THE ROAD HOMESLICE
October 24th, 2010 at 7:21 PM ^
I heard a stat this week that was sort of scary (not sure if I read it here)....
Mark Dantonio has won as many Big Ten games in the Big House as RR has in the past three years.
That doesn't say a lot about home field advantage. I think that Michigan played really well in a night game in Iowa City last year. Happy Valley can be a tough place to play but if Michigan can jump on them early, that will take the crowd out of the game.
October 24th, 2010 at 11:04 PM ^
Can be somewhat interpreted as a negative comment toward RR. Get it out of here.
October 25th, 2010 at 12:40 PM ^
Yeah, I know. I got multiples negs for it. Those people are complete kool-aid drinking, lemming following morons.
It was simply a statement of fact....not beligerent at all. You can choose to interpret it any way you'd like.
October 24th, 2010 at 6:02 PM ^
I mostly agree, but I think our strong start gave us some margin for error. After the MSU and Iowa losses, that's gone, though. PSU has suffered almost as much attrition as we have this year and is starting a true freshman at qb. If we lose we can't blame it on talent, there will be no good excuse.
You could say the same for Purdue, but I don't think they're a realistic threat at this point.
October 24th, 2010 at 10:59 PM ^
How can anyone say that any team we face this year "isn't a realistic threat". I agree with Don above, in the take no-one for granted mold. We have not proven anything yet. Every one of these games is not a gimme and needs to be conceived a realistic threat until proven otherwise (i.e. Win).
October 24th, 2010 at 7:44 PM ^
time to put up or shut up starting with Penn State. Also, need wins over Ill and Purdue. I think we need to go 4-4 minimum in the Conference. It's time to start showing we can win in Conference.
October 24th, 2010 at 8:12 PM ^
So the next 3 games are must wins. At least some of us will be gracious if we lose to Wiscy and/or O-state.
October 25th, 2010 at 9:17 AM ^
I'd say 2+ weeks. Look at all the predictions of us dropping 40+ on Iowa and MSU in the prediction threads. And now I'm seeing 21 point wins called for here. What's the definition of insanity....? To win by 21 you actually have to hold the other team to 21 points less than you. Which I don't see happening if we score 42 or 21. But we can and better win this game. We need W's, not exciting scores.
October 24th, 2010 at 4:47 PM ^
So that's what? 7 points on a neutral field? I'm really hoping we play like we did against UCONN. Aside from BG, it's the only game this year I didn't have multiple heart attacks.
October 24th, 2010 at 5:00 PM ^
Home team always gets an automatic -3 then they set the line from there.
Also, your Farley avatar looks like a grabber in progress. Is that a fair representation of how it has been going for you most Saturdays this season?
October 24th, 2010 at 8:02 PM ^
Farley? No dude, that's me on the way home from the UMass game haha
October 24th, 2010 at 7:10 PM ^
October 24th, 2010 at 4:48 PM ^
MOAR 200/200 plz
October 24th, 2010 at 4:50 PM ^
And I'm delusional, because I could see it happening.
October 24th, 2010 at 4:58 PM ^
He was on pace for approximately 200/200 v Iowa before he got hurt. He may not have gotten 200 rushing yards due to the heightened need to pass, but he coulda got 200/200 vs. one of the best defenses in the country.
October 24th, 2010 at 5:01 PM ^
Thank you Captain Obvious!
sorry I've been wanting to do that
October 25th, 2010 at 2:26 AM ^
To be fair, Michigan's offense was averaging 1.16 points per posession and a paltry 4.5 yards/play when Denard went out with an injury.
After he went out, they averaged 3.5 points per posession and 7.2 yards/play.
October 25th, 2010 at 2:30 PM ^
That is hardly shocking. Pass plays normally gain more yards than running plays. We passed the ball the vast majority of the time when Forcier was in.
October 25th, 2010 at 3:50 PM ^
My point is that in all the glee over OMGDENARDHEADEDFOR200/200AGAINSTIOWA'STOUGHDEFENSELOLZ!!! people are ignoring that the offense was ineffectual with Denard at the helm.
October 25th, 2010 at 4:50 PM ^
Only on the scoreboard. 4.5 yards per play is not that bad. It's not as incredible as what we did earlier, but it's not poor. You get that on first and second down, and you're facing 3rd and 1.
October 25th, 2010 at 6:06 PM ^
It's not that bad but it's not good either. It's significantly worse than what Wisconsin and Arizona did to the "vaunted" Iowa defense and is on par with Penn State's performance:
http://cfbstats.com/2010/team/312/total/defense/gamelog.html
Think about it this way: If someone asked you which offense put up more yards/play against Iowa's defense, Michigan with Denard at the helm or Penn State, everyone would guess Michigan w/Denard. But they were exactly the same.
NB: Michigan's 4.5 yds/play under Denard is extracted from the following drive chart:
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/boxscore?gid=201010160029&page=dr…
October 24th, 2010 at 4:58 PM ^
I wouldn't say your delusional at all. PSU defense is horrid.
October 24th, 2010 at 5:32 PM ^
The gap between our defense and their offense is pretty much a push vs our offense and their defense.
October 24th, 2010 at 5:33 PM ^
Yeah but their offense doesn't have dilithium
October 24th, 2010 at 6:00 PM ^
Their offensive is pretty mediocre (maybe worse without Bolden) and our defense is horrible.
Our offense is awesome and their defense is average (at best).
I think we'll be okay.
October 24th, 2010 at 4:51 PM ^
It was PSU -2.5 last week (on Sportsbook's futures)
October 24th, 2010 at 5:01 PM ^
-3 sounds about right being on road.
I will take a one point win every game for the rest of my life all things considered.
October 24th, 2010 at 5:11 PM ^
The "ultimate suffering game" that keeps popping in my head is the 5-0 1995 Purdue game. I would happily sit through 3.5 hours of cold, snow and discomfort to watch Michigan win without them even scoring a TD.
Honorable mentions that include TDs: 1998 at NW, 2006 vs. NW and 1999 vs. Purdue.
October 24th, 2010 at 10:45 PM ^
I'd substitute '92 Illinois (a 22-22 tie that clinched the Rose Bowl in heavy snowfall) for '99 Purdue. '99 Purdue wasn't on that level of discomfort.
October 25th, 2010 at 9:23 AM ^
Though I don't remember it being THAT bad, but it certainly doesn't rank on his win by 1 satisfaction scale. Playing a team tough to assure a title with a tie is one thing. Getting to the point where the student section is chanting "1, 2, 3, 4, X, ...we want mmoooooorrrrrreeeee fumbles!!" because you giving the game away was not very satisfying (as you're fumbling away a chance at a National Title).
October 25th, 2010 at 2:34 PM ^
It wasn't hugely satisfying to tie a mediocre Illinois team. But weather-wise it was down there with the worst. '99 Purdue was not that bad; I don't know why he mentioned it. (Not to mention that it was an awesome game - a 38-12 ass-kicking,)
October 24th, 2010 at 5:07 PM ^
October 24th, 2010 at 5:27 PM ^
7 days out... oookkkk......
October 24th, 2010 at 8:21 PM ^
I had seen chance of showers, but I'm not counting on anything until about wednesday. Weather changes too much this time of year. Praying it doesn't rain because cold rain suck...winning or losing cold rain just sucks.
October 24th, 2010 at 5:15 PM ^
through their asses. Michigan by 21.
October 24th, 2010 at 8:28 PM ^
I might go on a bender despite the outcome. The only difference is will it be a happy bender or a FML bender?
October 24th, 2010 at 9:14 PM ^
I am right there with you Louie.
October 24th, 2010 at 6:01 PM ^
This and every win is important to the whole team and us fans not just RR. I don't agree that this is a statement win for just RR. I really hope Molk, D rob, and Martin are back healthy(early season healthy) if they are I'll go with a win by 10.
October 24th, 2010 at 6:08 PM ^
My predictor has UM by 11