Nebraska, Michigan, Maryland, and Iowa Give the Big Ten a Third Chance. Vegas Big Ten Predictions for Week 4 Here.
Saturday Blitz Vegas Big Ten Predictions Week 4
Utah Utes at Michigan Wolverines
Line: Michigan by 4.5
The Michigan Wolverines have a second chance to show themselves on a national stage against another Power Five team. Utah may not be Notre Dame, but it has definitely shown itself to be a pretty good team so far this year. For Michigan, the biggest goal to winning this game has to be not turning the ball over. Outside of the Notre Dame game, Devein Gardner has some pretty good stats with 5 touchdowns to only 1 interception. Obviously it’s not against the same competition, but Gardner has proven he can play. He just got caught in a colossal collapse against the Irish that made us question everything about Michigan. Michigan also needs to get the running game going with Derrick Green, who looks like a superstar right now. That would limit turnovers and set up some things for Gardner. The defense is fine for the most part, as long as it doesn’t get put in bad positions.
The Utah Utes appear to be on the way back to proving they belong with the Power Five teams of college football. A blowout win over Idaho State didn’t mean much, but they joined other Power Five teams USC and Nebraska in blowing out Fresno State. Travis Wilson will be the key to winning, just like Everett Golson was the key behind Notre Dame’s offense two weeks ago. Wilson has been very efficient through two games, completing 63 percent of his passes for 446 yards, 6 touchdowns, and no interceptions. Don’t forget he is a dual-threat as well. If the Utes can do that and force Michigan back into being a turnover machine, this will be another win by a Pac 12 team against a Big Ten team. That is the last thing the Big Ten wants to see, and it’s certainly the last thing Brady Hoke needs as he is desperately trying to cling to his job.
Prediction
Michigan’s loss to Notre Dame was a bit of a fluke, as it was the perfect storm of a slew of turnovers. The Wolverines won’t let that happen this time. They’ll beat Utah in Ann Arbor and show the world that they are on the verge of improving under Hoke, and they’ll move the ball enough to win by a pretty decent margin. Utah is a good team that is going to get better, but they don’t have the horses to compete with Michigan.
Michigan: 31 Utah: 17