Betting Odds and Trends
Michigan -2.5 O/U 54.5
- Minnesota was 4-3 at home ATS in 2019
- Michigan was 3-2 on the road ATS in 2019
- Both teams had highest over percentage in the Big Ten in 2019 (Over hit on 9 of 13 games)
Little Brown Jug rivalry
- Michigan leads the series 75-25-3
- The Wolverines have won 24 of the past 26 matchups against Minnesota
- Minnesota has beaten Michigan by one possession only 1 time since 1990
- Michigan has not lost a road game to Minnesota since 1977
Have the Wolverines found their guy in Joe Milton?
- 6-5, 243 pounds
- Has played 7 career games
- 6/11, 117 passing yards, 47 rushing yards, 3 total TD’s, 2 INT’s during his limited playing time at Michigan
- Consensus 4 star prospect coming out of high school
Tanner Morgan returns after an outstanding effort in 2019
- Completed 66 percent of his passes
- 3,253 passing yards
- 30 TD’s
- 7 INT’s
- 178.7 passer efficiency rating
Minnesota returns 12 of 22 starters from a 2019 team that went 11-2
- Rashod Bateman 2019 stats: 60 receptions for 1,219 yards, and 11 TD’s
- Chris Autman-Bell will have to take a step up with Tyler Johnson off to the NFL
- Coney Durr and Benjamin St. Juste return as starting CB’s: Combined for 20 passes defended, 1 INT, and 78 total tackles in 2019
- They do lose 3 key defensive players in Antoine Winfield Jr, Carter Coughlin, and Sam Renner (These 3 combined for 12.5 of the 28 sacks from the Gophers in 2019)
Michigan looking to bounce back after disappointing end to 2019
- Lost 4 of 5 offensive line starters (Jalen Mayfield only returning starter)
- Ronnie Bell returns as starting WR for this offense (48 receptions, 758 yards, and 1 TD in 2019)
- Nick Eubanks returns as starting TE: 25 receptions for 243 yards and 4 TD’s in 2019
- Kwity Paye and Aiden Hutchinson return to this stout defensive line: Combined for 10 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 119 total tackles
Who are some new starters to watch for?
- Mohamed Ibrahim looks to take over for Rodney Smith who was Minnesota’s all-time all-purpose yardage leader
- Ibrahim’s 2019 stats: 114 carries for 604 yards and 7 TD’s
- Ambry Thomas replaces Lavert Hill as the #1 CB for the Wolverines
- Thomas’ 2019 stats: 3 INT’s, 3 passes defended, 2 fumble recoveries, and 3 tackles for loss
Is Michigan finally ready to make the jump in 2020? Is Minnesota severely underrated? Let me know on Twitter: @James_Costanz
