Monangai leads the Big Ten rushing leaders and has rushed for five TDs and 357 yards on 58 attempts this season. Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano heaped high praise on his junior running back, telling reporters after the game,
“Yeah, he’s (Monangai) running very, very hard, running smart, running determined,” said Rutgers coach Greg Schiano. “Thank goodness, right, because he’s helped us win games.”
Wimsatt Improved Rushing Skills
Rutgers junior QB Gavin Wimsatt has also become more involved in the rushing attack–his 144 yards this season are already 13 yards more than the past two seasons. Wimsatt scored 87 yards and a TD in the victory over VT and has two for the season. Schiano spoke about Wimsatt to reporters following Saturday’s big win,
He (Wimsatt) ran the ball really well, and most of all he protected the football,” said Schiano. “When we don’t turn it over, we’re tough to beat. He did a very good job.”
Wimsatt hasn’t thrown an interception, and his offensive line has allowed just one sack this season.
Rutgers Defense Top 20 in Rushing Yards Allowed
The Scarlet Knights offense may sometimes sputter, but the defense has fueled their 3-0 start. Rutgers is second in the Big Ten and top-20 in the nation in rushing yards allowed, and they’ve been the driving force behind the conference’s fourth-best 272.2 total yards allowed.
Rutgers vs. Michigan Betting Analysis
Rutgers is a +24 (-110) point underdog with a 44-point (-110) total at Caesars Sportsbook New Jersey for Saturday. Game time is set for 12:00 pm ET and will be held at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Michigan will beat the daylights out of Rutgers on Saturday afternoon, and my best bet is Michigan -24 (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook.
Head Coach Jim Harbaugh makes his season debut after serving a three-game self-imposed suspension for NCAA recruiting violations. The Wolverines are off to a 3-0 start fueled by a defense allowing just 16 points this season with an offense averaging 32 points per contest.
The Wolverines have a tremendous size advantage in the trenches, and they’ll win this game the old-fashioned way–by wearing down the smaller Scarlet Knights and scoring at will by the fourth quarter.
The Michigan offense isn’t the one-dimensional offense of old. QB JJ McCarthy has thrown seven scoring strikes with three interceptions against some soft defenses and will face a test against a Rutgers defense ranked 11th in interceptions. However, he will pass that test with flying colors at home on Saturday.
The one-two punch of running backs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards has been huge for Michigan. Rutgers has been stout against the run, but they’ll be gassed by the fourth quarter, and the Wolverines’ ground game will flourish.
Finally, Michigan has far too much size and experience for Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights offense will have a hard time scoring the football, and the defense will have its hands full against the multi-faceted and uber-talented Michigan offense. Lay the -24 and take Michigan to cover at Caesars Sportsbook.
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