Since falling to the Penn State Nittany Lions three weeks ago, The Michigan Wolverines have bounced back with consecutive wins. And while nobody mentions it, they now have just as many losses on the season as Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan State. Maybe the Big House isn’t burning down like so many people had thought.
They will look to extend their win streak on Saturday against the Maryland Terrapins. While the Wolverines are once again an afterthought in the Big Ten standings, they could still rally with a strong finish over the final three weeks. With back-to-back games against the Wisconsin Badgers and Ohio State Buckeyes, the key this week might very well be to avoid a letdown against the Terrapins in a potential trap game on the road.
Details
Odds: Michigan -17
Date & Time: Saturday November 11th, 2017 – 3:30 PM ET
Location: Maryland Stadium – College Park, Maryland
Broadcast: Big Ten Network
Reasons To Bet On The Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines offense has been rolling in back-to-back wins over Rutgers and Minnesota over the last two weeks. Michigan has averaged 34.0 points per game in those two victories and will try to build on those performances heading in to the final stretch of its season. Running backs Karan Higdon and Chris Evans sparked the run game for the Wolverines when they combined for 391 yards rushing in the win over the Golden Gophers. Higdon and Evans are bound to get a large share of the touches on Saturday as head coach Jim Harbaugh looks for a similar result from his offense.
Meanwhile, Michigan’s defense has also stepped up over the last two weeks as they have allowed an average of just 12.0 points per game. If the Wolverines could pick up from where they left off and perform at a high level on both sides of the football, then they could deliver in a big win on Saturday. This is a layup for them – even though it’s on the road. With Ohio State playing Michigan State this weekend, a win here and a loss by one of those teams means Michigan will be Top 3 in their division.
Reasons To Bet On The Maryland Terrapins
For as bad as the Terrapins have looked at times this season, they still have a couple of notable wins on their schedule. Maryland took down Texas at home in its season opener and outscored Indiana in a 42-39 win at home two weeks ago.
The problem is that Texas win feels like it was centuries ago. While Texas has actually bounced back well from that loss, the Terps have completely nosedived. Their defense has been an abject disaster, giving up at least 31 points in five straight games. Towson and Minnesota are the only two teams that failed to score that many and Minnesota scored 24.
The Terrapins have been inconsistent at best but when they have been at their best they have found ways to win. The key for Maryland could be the status of quarterback Max Bortenschlager, who has an injured shoulder. If Bortenschlager plays, then Maryland should have a much better chance at keeping this game close. However, if he can’t go then the Terrapins could be in trouble on Saturday. At last check, he was posted as a game-time decision for Saturday’s affair, so you’ll have to keep an eye on the news to figure out his status.
Outlook
We’ve seen some steady action on the Wolverines since open. They opened at -13.5 but the line has continued to climb since then. It now sits at -17 as the Wolverines seem to be the bettor’s choice in this spot. As for the total, we’ve also seen the action move in one direction as
The Wolverines are rolling after consecutive victories which it makes it a lot easier to trust them on the road in this game. Michigan has struggled against its toughest opponents in the Big Ten but for the most part has been good against inferior competition so far. The key for the Wolverines will be avoiding a letdown in a potential trap game before a tough two-week stretch to close out the season. Michigan has the weapons to win and cover. Maryland has been a lot less predictable this season so it’s worth it to take a chance on the Wolverines to win and cover.
Pick: Michigan -17
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