Michigan vs Minnesota Preview: Wolverines’ Defense Nearly Unmatched

The second-ranked Michigan Wolverines will look to build on their unbeaten start when they visit the Minnesota Golden Gophers in Big Ten Conference play on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET).

After opening as a 16.5-point favorite, the Wolverines are now up to -19 (-115). They are also -1500 on the moneyline, while the Golden Gophers are +19 (-105) on the spread and +870 to pull off the upset. The projected total remains 45.5 (-110 Over, -110 Under).

Without further ado, let’s dive into the matchup in our Michigan vs Minnesota preview.

Wolverines vs Golden Gophers Betting Trends

The Michigan Wolverines are just 1-4-1 against the spread over their last six games, including 1-3-1 this season. They’re 5-1-1 ATS in their last seven games against Big Ten opponents. The total has gone Under in four of their last five games. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Golden Gophers are 1-4 ATS this season and 1-5 over their last six games. The total has gone Under in five of the Golden Gophers’ last seven games in Big Ten play. That’s important to remember when assessing the odds in our Michigan vs Minnesota preview.

Michigan in Driver’s Seat

The Michigan Wolverines continue to state their case as a legitimate national championship contender. The Wolverines are coming off a 45-7 rout of Nebraska in Week 5, in which they piled up 436 total yards and covered the spread for the first time in five tries this season.

Michigan (5-0) has now outscored opponents 172-30. It’s allowed the fewest points in the country and the seventh-fewest yards (1,229). The Wolverines have yet to give up double digits.

In doing so, Michigan maintained its hold on the No. 2 spot in the AP Top 25 poll. The Wolverines are also a +150 favorite to win the Big Ten and have climbed from +900 to +400 to win the national title, the second-best odds on the board behind Georgia (+300).

Given their schedule over the next month, the Wolverines will likely remain on the short list of teams to beat. The Wolverines don’t play another ranked team until Nov. 11, when they visit No. 6 Penn State. A 9-0 start is entirely possible for Jim Harbaugh’s team, putting the Wolverines in line to cover their projected win total of 10.5. The margin for error there is slim, but their success in NCAAF games is no secret.

While their defense is tremendous, the Wolverines also have a steady hand at quarterback in J.J. McCarthy. The junior has completed 79% of his passes for 1,071 yards and 10 touchdowns while getting sacked just three times. He’s now +3000 to win the Heisman Trophy, while running back Blake Corum is +5000.

Ground Game Fueling Gophers

The Minnesota Golden Gophers snapped their two-game losing streak by beating Louisiana 35-24 in Week 5. The Golden Gophers, a 9-point favorite, rallied from 17-14 down at halftime to cover the spread for the first time in five tries this season.

Athan Kaliakmanis completed 12 of 14 passes for 146 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also ran for a score. The Golden Gophers piled up 201 yards on the ground, topping their season average of 193.2. Even in Darius Taylor’s absence — the star freshman who leads FBS with 133 rushing yards per game — the running game remains a priority for Minnesota. Taylor missed the victory over Louisiana with a leg injury, and his status for Saturday is uncertain. Without him, freshman Zach Evans logged a team-high 15 carries.

Minnesota was projected for 6.5 wins and may have trouble topping that total if its health doesn’t improve. After Michigan, the Golden Gophers get another test in Iowa. They also have games remaining against No. 4 Ohio State and Wisconsin. The Golden Gophers have made two straight bowl games, so anything short of that would be a disappointment.

Improving their 101st-ranked offense (342.2 yards per game) would certainly be a good start. Notably, they’ve scored over 30 points in back-to-back weeks. Keep that in mind when analyzing the odds in our Michigan vs Minnesota preview.

Handicapping the Game

The Wolverines’ defense is tremendous. They’ve allowed only three touchdowns in five games. That doesn’t bode well for the Golden Gophers, who are under-manned offensively. Even if Taylor plays, it’s hard to expect them to have much success against the Wolverines. With Kaliakmanis, the Golden Gophers aren’t balanced enough offensively to spread the field against such an elite unit.

Look for the Wolverines to roll on the road during college football this weekend.

For college football odds and predictions, betting news, analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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