Michigan Football: Preview, prediction, live stream vs. Wisconsin in Week 7
Michigan football hosts a scrappy Wisconsin team looking to pull off the big upset on Saturday afternoon. Who comes out on top?
It’s not very often in today’s college football that you see a game where both teams will utilize a fullback for all four quarters. Saturday night’s matchup of Wisconsin and Michigan will bring you just that, along with a war in the trenches, strong running games and very efficient quarterbacks. Many people are of the opinion if the Badgers lose this game, their chances are severely damaged in the Big Ten race. While I disagree, Michigan appears to have a slight advantage over the Badgers.
Michigan comes in to Saturday’s game against Wisconsin feeling very confident about where they stand as a team. Since the opening weekend blunder against Notre Dame, quarterback Shea Patterson has found a great rhythm, throwing 10 touchdowns and two interceptions in the five following games. The Wolverines also possess the most dominating defense in college football, full of superstar talents such as Rashan Gary, Chase Winovich and Devin Bush.
The Badgers also come into Saturday’s game with a similar 5-1 record and ranked 15th in the AP Poll. Wisconsin has really picked up the slack following their own blunder at home against BYU, scoring a big win at Iowa and wire-to-wire win over Nebraska.
However, the Badgers have been suffering from the injury bug. Injuries include defensive stud D’Cota Dixon and backup running back Bradrick Shaw. Alex Hornibrook has shown great maturity for the Badgers since their loss to BYU.
Here’s where to watch this Saturday night, primetime matchup:
Date: Saturday, Oct. 11
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Ann Arbor, Mich.
Venue: Michigan Stadium
TV: ABC
Live Stream: WatchESPN or FuboTV
Keys to Victory
The big matchup to watch for most of the night will be the Michigan front seven against the elite Wisconsin offensive line and running back Jonathan Taylor. No one has been able to stop the Badgers rushing attack and the Wolverines posses the sixth-best rush defense in the nation, this is a battle Michigan needs to and can win. Patterson will also have to continue to play mistake free football and get the Michigan offense to convert every chance they get.
The Badgers will have to look to Hornibrook for leadership in this game of stingy defenses. If the Wisconsin rushing attack is not as effective as hoped, Hornibrook will have to beat the Michigan defense through the air. If he can answer the call the Badgers will be right in this ball game. The pass rush from Andrew Van Ginkel and Olive Sagapolu will be huge in rattling Patterson’s confidence as well.
Betting Odds
Odds courtesy of OddsShark
Line: Michigan -9.5
Over/Under: 49
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Prediction
This is game is going to be one of those fabled, physical, cold Big Ten matchups where both teams will beat on each other until they are black and blue all over. But in the end, it will all come down to which quarterback will make the big plays at the end. Alex Hornibrook has been there and done it before, but Shea Patterson is something special and having Jim Harbaugh as his coach only enhances his game. Michigan gets a statement win over Wisconsin.
Prediction: Michigan 28, Wisconsin 23