Michigan at Maryland
Time: 2:30 PM (CT), ABC/ESPN
Spread: MICH -30.5
Total: 53.5
Betting odds c/o 5dimes
The No. 3 ranked 8-0 Michigan Wolverines dodged instate rival Michigan State last week 32-23, in a game that was much closer than expected. Can they get back on track and blow out lowly conference foe Maryland this week? College football oddsmakers at 5dimes predict such, setting the line 30.5 points in favor of the visiting Wolverines. The game will air at 2:30 Central on ABC and has an over/under of 53.5 points.
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Michigan had been dominating defensively prior to last week. In wins over Wisconsin, Illinois and Rutgers, the Wolverines allowed just 15 points over those three contests but gave up 23 last week to struggling MSU. Amara Darboh had a big game catching the ball for the Wolverines with eight passes for a career-high 165 yards, while De’Veon Smith rushed for a pair of TDs to get past the Spartans. Even with the win, Michigan fell from No. 2 to No. 3 in the AP rankings.
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Wilton Speight threw for 244 yards on 16 of 25 passing, but he did not throw a TD and had an interception. The Wolverines rushed for 192 yards, splitting the carries between Karan Higdon (44 yards on 10 attempts) and Smith (38 yards on 11 attempts), but it was Eddie McDoom who led in yardage with just two attempts for 53 yards. One was a 33-yard run, the other a 20. Maybe get McDoom some more touches this week? Darboh had the bulk of the passing yards, with Jake Butt ranking No. 2 on three catches for 35 yards. The Wolverines average 46.4 points per game, ranking No. 3 in the nation, but its defense has been even better, allowing a nation’s low 11.6 points per game.
The Wolverines are a rush-heavy team, averaging 249.0 yards per game on the ground to rank No. 14, while the pass game accounts for 228.1 yards per game (No. 71). Speight has been good, but this is a team with a lot of talent in its backfield, and the Terrapins are going to struggle to keep it contained.
Maryland is 5-3 and 2-3 in Big Ten play. They lost 42-36 to Indiana last week and defeated Michigan State 28-17 the week prior. The Terrapins are a solid team, but will find themselves outclassed by one of the country’s best this week. Maryland ranks No. 44 in scoring (32.9 points per game) and No. 38 in points allowed (23.3). The rush attack has been it for the Terrapins, as the team ranks No. 12 in rushing yardage at 252.0 per contest.
Ty Johnson and Lorenzo Harrison have both been dominant. The pair has over 1000 yards between them and nine of the Terrapins’ 21 rushing TDs. Johnson literally averages a first down (10.4 yards per carry) and has a long run of 76-yards on the season. It is a lot of talent to corral, but the Wolverines have such an advantage on the line that it might be Johnson and Harrison both return to earth while still turning in good football games. That will put the onus on QB Perry Hills who has 1,070 yards this season with 10 TDs, three INTs and a 66.4 percent completion ratio. His passer rating of 149.9 shows that Maryland could go a little more pass heavy, but why mess with what has been working?
Johnson and Harrison are dominant. Expect Michigan’s defense to make the difference in this one, though the game could be closer than many anticipate. Maryland has a lot of talent, it just happens to be facing the toughest team in the Big Ten thus far this season.
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