Michigan football vs. Rutgers game predictions: There's no way Wolverines lose, right?
Free Press sports writers give their predictions for the Michigan football game against Rutgers on Saturday night in Piscataway, New Jersey (7:30 p.m., Big Ten Network):
Tony Garcia
Rutgers defense is stingy and the Wolverines have had trouble scoring in the red zone. But it's hard to picture Rutgers moving the ball with any consistency. The Wolverines will do what they do, control the clock on the ground and shorten the game which will force Rutgers to try and pass early and often to catch up. That's not a recipe for success. The pick: Michigan 38, Rutgers 6.
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Carlos Monarrez
Poor Scarlet Knights. Through no fault of their own, Michigan is going to take out its frustration on them over being ranked fifth in the initial College Football Playoff rankings. Rutgers has been better at home than on the road, but it’s coming off a shutout loss at Minnesota and has scored more than 16 points just once in its past six games. The Blake Corum Show continues. The pick: Michigan 40, Rutgers 16.
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Rainer Sabin
Michigan’s red-zone efficiency has become a glaring issue. But it hasn’t stopped the Wolverines from winning their last four conference games by double-digit margins, and it certainly won’t deter them from demolishing Rutgers. Expect some big plays to materialize against an inferior opponent, allowing U-M to strike from outside the 20. The pick: Michigan 42, Rutgers 7.
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Jeff Seidel
Michigan can control its own destiny, winning its way to the playoff. But still, the Wolverines want to show what they have, proving it every week. Ohio State beat Rutgers, 49-10. And the Wolverines will roll with ease, picking up some style points along the way. The pick: Michigan 41, Rutgers 10.
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Shawn Windsor
The Scarlet Knights are physical and tough and have played the Wolverines well lately. But the talent gap is as wide as it’s been in a few years and UM will be better in the red zone. The pick: Michigan 38, Rutgers 13.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football vs. Rutgers game predictions: There's no way, right?
