NCAAF Picks: In their Big Ten Conference debut the Rutgers Scarlet Knights could not build on a 10-0 halftime lead and suffered a 13-10 letdown home loss to Penn State that was yet another lost opportunity for head coach Kyle Flood to get a signature win but it was the first of three consecutive Rutgers payouts. Speaking of a crisis of faith, Michigan Wolverines head coach Brady Hoke is on one of the hottest seats in the land and has little if any margin for error. Michigan is dropping fans and backers as much as games and Hoke came off as a clueless incompetent in last week’s home loss to Minnesota.
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights will host the Michigan Wolverines at High Point Solutions Stadium with coverage on Big Ten Network starting at 7 PM ET. Rutgers opened as a three-point favorite.
Maize Malaise
Michigan is 2-3 straight up, 1-4 against the spread, and 2-3 under the total after back to back humiliation home losses to Utah (26-10) and Minnesota (30-14). The football has been bad enough but when Hoke said he was unaware that QB Shane Morris was hurt and the fact that he did not pull him out as he was limping and lame has cast a new dark cloud of embarrassment over one of the nation’s proudest programs. Michigan’s offense ranks an inept 104th in the nation for scoring.
Scarlet in the Black
Rutgers is 4-1 SU and ATS with a 2-3 mark under the total after last week’s 31-6 home payout over Tulane. Rutgers metrics do not match their record as they rank 68th for scoring offense and 41st for scoring defense but their three consecutive payouts heading into this matchup are indicative of a team that is methodically improving.
Matchup and Pick
Michigan has struggled to maintain board value on the road with just six payouts in their last 18 away games as just five out of their last 18 away games have gone over the total. Rutgers has also had their struggles as a betting value at home with just three payouts in their last 10 home games as just give out of their last 19 home games have gone over the total. Rutgers (-3) is in better form and gets the call as Michigan is a program in crisis.
