NCAAF Analysis: The humiliating struggles of the Big Ten Conference are best epitomized by the Michigan Wolverines who are a proud and storied college football program that seems to be living in its past while struggling with today’s new dynamics. The Utah Utes continue to try and build up their program that proved far too thin when it made the jump from the Mountain West Conference to the Pac 12.
The Michigan Wolverines will host the Utah Utes on Saturday at Michigan Stadium with coverage on ABC/ESPN2 starting at 3:30 PM ET. Michigan opened as a seven-point favorite.
Maize Malaise
Michigan is 2-1 straight up but 1-2 against the spread with two out of their three games going under the total. The Wolverines are best known for 31-0 loss at Notre Dame in week two and last week’s 34-10 home win over Miami of Ohio did little to make fans forget what happened under the Golden Dome. One positive is a Wolverine defense that ranks seventh overall nationally but the offense continues to struggle ranking 80th for scoring and 101st for passing. Head coach Brady Hoke is under intense fire for leading a program that thinks of itself as a national power not being able to effectively compete on such a level.
Improved Utes?
Utah is 2-0 both straight up and against the spread with both of their games going over the total. Utah is coming off a bye week that followed a 59-27 home win over Fresno State. This week will be the ultimate test and measurement of Utah’s improvement as a program as they have not been good against Power Five teams nor on the road.
Matchup and Pick
Utah has been a weak board value on the road with just three payouts in their last 11 away games as seven out of their last 11 away games have gone under the total. Despite their overall struggles the Wolverines have been at their best in the Big House under Hoke with 13 payouts in their last 19 home games with eight out of their last 10 home games going over the total. Utah has covered both of their previous meetings at Michigan and we like their improved look so far in 2014. Utah getsthe pick.
