Michigan football vs Rutgers predictions: Time for an easy Big Ten win?

Our advice to you: Find something you love doing as much as Michigan football loves playing in Piscataway, New Jersey. Granted, it’s a relatively small sample size – when the Wolverines kick off vs. Rutgers on Saturday, Oct. 1 (12:30 p.m., Big Ten Network), it’ll mark their sixth game in conference play in the Big Ten’s most-eastern state – but U-M’s has won its past five visits to the Springsteen State by a combined score of 230-66. Granted, that 164-point margin is helped a bit by U-M’s 78-0 and 42-7 shellackings in the birthplace of college football in 2016 and 2018, respectively, but still, U-M’s last visit to SHI Stadium featured a 52-17 stomping of the Scarlet Knights, back in 2022.Then again, with the problems the Wolverines have on offense, they might not score 52 points in their next five games against Rutgers combined. And yet, they’re 14-point favorites, which means someone has faith in this offense (or faith that the Scarlet Knights defense couldn't catch a cold), since the NCAA doesn’t allow negative points (at least, not yet).Will Michigan live up to that sizable spread? Five Free Press sports writers have some thoughts on that:Tony GarciaThe way U-M's offense has played, it's hard to imagine Michigan being favored by two scores against any power opponent. All six of Michigan's games that haven't been against UTEP have been decided in the final minute, three of which were decided on the last play of the game. But Rutgers is often a get-right spot for opponents, and the Wolverines have far and away the best unit on the field with its defense. The offense should be able to get some ground game going against a porous run defense, which is enough to make this a relatively stress-free win. The pick: U-M 24, Rutgers 6.Rainer SabinThe Wolverines’ season hasn’t gone completely off the rails. But it feels that way. The fans have turned on first-year coach Kyle Whittingham and his offensive play-caller Jason Beck after the Wolverines continued to look impotent in an overtime loss to Indiana. Michigan, at 4-3, failed to manufacture more than 21 points in six of its first seven games and didn’t even reach the end zone against the Hoosiers. But expect the Wolverines to cross the goal line multiple times against Rutgers, which owns the worst defense in the Big Ten. The pick: U-M 24, Rutgers 7.Carlos MonarrezNo, that’s not someone in a scary Halloween mask. It’s something scarier: Jason Beck still calling the offense for Michigan. But he’ll get to cosplay as a good offensive coordinator for one of the final times this season against an atrocious Rutgers defense that’s been lit up by everyone in the Big Ten. The pick: U-M 31, Rutgers 20.SCOUTING THE GAME: Prediction, scouting report for Halloween clashJeff SeidelThis is the perfect game for the Wolverines to get everything in sync. I can’t imagine Rutgers will generate much offense against Michigan’s defense. So, the only compelling part of this game will be this: How much production will Michigan get at QB? Reports say Tommy Carr will remain under center (as he should) and this should be a game for him to shine. Rutgers is giving up 416.7 yards a game on defense, which ranks No. 123. And its passing defense ranks No. 82 (217.6). The pick: U-M 24, Rutgers 3.Shawn WindsorJason Beck's heard the noise and like any good coach will have tuned it out, except for the noise from his boss, Kyle Whittingham, who questioned a call Beck made against Indiana. Will that stir the Wolverines' offense? Maybe. A little. More likely, Rutgers' defense helps Michigan's offense. The pick: U-M 23, Rutgers 13.This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football vs Rutgers predictions: Time for an easy Big Ten win?