Michigan Football Back In Top 25 With 4-Score Underdog Northern Illinois Up Next

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Wolverines fans can now breathe a sigh of relief as the Michigan football program has reclaimed its position in the top 25 rankings.

After yet another dominant victory against Washington over the weekend, the Wolverines have secured the 25th spot in both the Associated Press and USA Today coaches’ polls.

Will Michigan be able to maintain their momentum from the 2-0 start and avoid a disappointing performance when they face Northern Illinois at home this Saturday, under Jim Harbaugh’s leadership?

How to watch: No. 25 Michigan Wolverines vs. Northern Illinois Huskies

• The match-up: Northern Illinois (1-1) visiting Michigan (2-0)
• At: 12:00 PM Eastern Time on Saturday.
• The location is Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.
• The television broadcast of the Big Ten Network features Brandon Gaudin, James Laurinaitis, and Rick Pizzo as the announcers.
• Live streaming online: BTN+
• Michigan Sports Network on Learfield Radio
• The satellite radio channel known as SiriusXM 195.

Oddsmakers expect Michigan blowout over Northern Illinois

Michigan sports betting oddsmakers are anticipating a dominant performance from the Wolverines this weekend, following their two impressive double-digit victories.

NIU started off as 27-point underdogs when facing the Wolverines on their home turf.

Late on Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had U-M listed at -3500 on the moneyline, whereas BetMGM Sportsbook offered NIU at +1800 for those seeking a daring bet.

The total points for the over/under was fluctuating between 54 and 55 points. Initially, Caesars Sportsbook set the total at 54.5.

Michigan has a perfect 2-0 record when it comes to covering the spread, and in both of those games, the total score remained under. On the other hand, NIU has a 1-0-1 record against the spread, with the total score going over in both instances.

The Wolverines secured a 33-17 home victory over the opposing team in 2005, marking the sole encounter between these two teams in their history.

Below are the current best odds for the game.

Wolverines pound out win over Washington

On Saturday night, Michigan secured a convincing 31-10 win against the previously-ranked Washington team by maintaining their lead throughout the entire game.

The Wolverines opted for a more conservative approach, relying mostly on their ground game to secure the victory.

Michigan ran the ball a total of 56 times, gaining 343 yards, while only throwing 15 passes for a mere 44 yards.

At the start of the game, there were some difficulties, but Harbaugh’s bold decision to execute a fake punt in Michigan’s territory brought about a remarkable turn of events. Immediately after, Blake Corum seized the opportunity and embarked on an impressive 67-yard touchdown run.

Michigan’s defense asserted their dominance as they held Washington to a mere 50 rushing yards on 32 attempts. The majority of the Huskies’ offensive achievements occurred when the game had already been decided.

Aidan Hutchinson showcased his dominance by securing 2.5 sacks, solidifying his position as one of the most promising prospects for the 2022 NFL Draft.

In two games, Corum and Haskins have accumulated over 500 rushing yards. Corum contributed 171 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries, while Haskins added 155 yards and a score on 27 carries.

Is Jim Harbaugh too reliant on the run?

Michigan has managed to secure a 2-0 record while achieving impressive rushing totals, but doubts arise regarding the sustainability of this strategy.

In previous instances, the Wolverines have demonstrated their success on the ground, but have encountered challenges when faced with formidable defenses that possess superior physicality and talent.

At some point, Michigan will inevitably rely on quarterback Cade McNamara. Given the significant discrepancies in game scores, it’s logical for the Wolverines to prioritize giving him more passing opportunities.

In the first two games, McNamara has only made 26 attempts. Nevertheless, he has displayed efficiency by completing 16 passes, resulting in two touchdowns and zero interceptions, accumulating a total of 180 yards.

However, we are still waiting to witness him in a demanding situation or truly taking charge of the offense.

This week, it is highly likely that the plan will remain unchanged, considering NIU’s defense has already conceded a total of 462 rushing yards in their previous two games.

Northern Illinois loses a shootout

In a surprising turn of events, Northern Illinois secured a major upset during their season opener by defeating Georgia Tech with a score of 22-21. Unfortunately, the Huskies were unable to maintain their winning streak as they suffered a 50-43 loss to Wyoming in their home game on Saturday.

At the midpoint of the third quarter, NIU found themselves behind by a significant margin of 42-16. However, they showcased remarkable determination and managed to make a comeback, seizing a 43-42 lead in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, their efforts were in vain as they conceded the game-winning score with only 1 minute and 35 seconds left to play.

The NIU quarterback, Rocky Lombardi, will be a familiar face for Michigan fans as he was previously a quarterback for Michigan State.

In the past two games, Lombardi has completed 30 out of 53 passes, accumulating a total of 369 yards. Within this timeframe, he has scored three touchdowns and unfortunately thrown three interceptions.

The Michigan defense will rely heavily on Harrison Waylee, who has emerged as their main player. Waylee has played an instrumental role in the NIU offense this season, accumulating 323 yards and three touchdowns on 53 carries.

Week 3 College Football Odds 2021

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