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Michigan Wolverines at Rutgers Scarlet Knights

High Points Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey

Saturday, October 04, 2014 7:00 PM

Michigan 24
Rutgers 26
46.0
-3
Final

Wolverines Scarlet Knights Game Recap


Rutgers 26, Michigan 24: Gary Nova's three touchdown passes and career-high 404 passing yards highlighted a home victory for the Scarlet Knights.

Nova was 22-of-39 and hooked up for a pair of scoring strikes to Andrew Turzilli and another to John Tsimis as Rutgers (5-1, 1-1 Big Ten) won the first ever meeting between the schools. The Scarlet Knights had a quiet rushing attack, managing just 74 yards on 30 carries.

Michigan's Devin Gardner was 13-of-22 for 178 yards and contributed two rushing scores, while Derrick Green led the Wolverines (2-4, 0-2) with 74 yards on 12 carries. Devin Funchess paced the visitors with five catches for 71 yards.

Following a scoreless third quarter, Rutgers pushed its advantage to 26-17 on Nova's 14-yard scoring strike to Turzilli early in the final stanza, but Michigan answered on its next possession with Gardner's 19-yard TD burst to close within 26-24. The Wolverines put together a drive in the waning minutes, but Matt Wile's 56-yard field goal attempt was blocked with about three minutes to play and the Scarlet Knights ran out the clock.

Rutgers led 19-17 at halftime after each team scored a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter. The action was particularly good late, as Michigan's De'Veon Smith scored a 1-yard TD run with 1:43 left before intermission only to watch as the Scarlet Knights put together an 11-play, 75-yard drive in just 1:21, capped by Nova's 7-yard TD pass to Tsimis with 22 seconds left in the half.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Nova extended his school record for touchdown passes to 64. ... Rutgers RB Desmon Peoples led his team with only 38 rushing yards on 15 carries. ... The Scarlet Knights were 8-of-16 on third down against the Wolverines, who have lost four of their last five games.

Preview: Michigan Wolverines at Rutgers Scarlet Knights


Mired in a mix of inconsistency, injuries and controversy, Michigan is desperate for a bounce-back performance Saturday when the Wolverines travel to New Jersey for the first time in more than eight decades to take on Rutgers. Michigan is coming off a 30-14 home loss to Minnesota, one week after Utah came into Ann Arbor and walked away with a 26-10 triumph. Wolverines coach Brady Hoke came under fire this week not only for the team's struggles, but for his handling of quarterback Shane Morris, who suffered a concussion against the Gophers but later returned to the game.

Devin Gardner will return at quarterback against the Scarlet Knights, but Hoke would rather focus on the future than dwell on the past. "I'm getting ready to play Rutgers, that's what I've been doing. Getting ready to play Rutgers. Getting the staff and the team ready to go play Rutgers -- that's what I've been doing," he said. Rutgers is quietly off to a nice start this season with only a three-point loss to Penn State separating the Scarlet Knights from a perfect record.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Rutgers -3

ABOUT MICHIGAN (2-3, 0-1 Big Ten): The Wolverines, who have lost three games before October for the first time in school history, only managed 88 passing yards against Minnesota and weren't much better on the ground, rushing for just three yards per carry. The embattled Gardner will need help from star wideout Devin Funchess, who has battled through a leg injury to make eight catches for 119 yards over the last two games after racking up 16 grabs for 202 yards and three touchdowns in the first two games. On the bright side for Michigan is a run defense that has limited three of its five opponents to 2.2 yards per carry or fewer and a red zone offense that is a perfect 12-for-12, including 10 touchdowns.

ABOUT RUTGERS (4-1, 0-1): Despite all the turmoil surrounding the Michigan program, Rutgers' defense - which allowed six points against Tulane last week - plans to be ready. "The way we have to look at it is we've got a real good Michigan team coming in who is going to give us all they've got," said junior defensive tackle Darius Hamilton. Gary Nova threw four touchdown passes last week, including three to high school teammate Leonte Carroo, in becoming the Scarlet Knights' all-time leader with 61 TD passes in 38 games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Michigan has only played in New Jersey twice - in 1931 (a 21-0 win at Princeton) and in 1881 (a 13-4 loss at Princeton).

2. The Wolverines and Scarlet Knights have never faced each other even though they are the two oldest non-Ivy League programs in the nation.

3. Rutgers S Johnathan Aiken committed a targeting penalty against Tulane, and as a result, will be suspended for the first half against Michigan.

PREDICTION: Michigan 23, Rutgers 20
Away Spread Consensus 39% Wolverines (3.0) Home Spread Consensus 61% Scarlet Knights (-3.0)
Total Over Consensus 46% Over (46.0) Total Under Consensus 54% Under (46.0)
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Wagering Trends

  • Scarlet Knights are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games as a home underdog of 10.5 or greater.
  • Scarlet Knights are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
  • Wolverines are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a road favorite of 0.5-3.0.
  • Wolverines are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
  • Wolverines are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as a road underdog of 10.5 or greater.
  • Over is 4-0 in Scarlet Knights last 4 games as a home underdog of 10.5 or greater.
  • Under is 4-0 in Scarlet Knights last 4 games as a home underdog of 0.5-3.0.
  • Under is 4-0 in Wolverines last 4 games as a road underdog of 0.5-3.0.
  • Under is 5-0 in Wolverines last 5 road games.
  • Under is 7-0 in Wolverines last 7 games as a road underdog of 3.5-10.0.
  • Under is 4-0 in Wolverines last 4 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
  • Under is 4-0 in Wolverines last 4 games as an underdog of 3.5-10.0.
  • Under is 7-0 in Wolverines last 7 games as a road favorite of 10.5 or greater.
  • Under is 4-0 in Wolverines last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
  • Under is 4-0 in Wolverines last 4 games as an underdog of 0.5-3.0.

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Rutgers

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