Indiana at Michigan Spread, Free Pick & TV Info

Posted by Kenny Bell on Thursday,November 17, 2016 8:47, EDT in

The University of Michigan was shocked last week at Iowa, but the Wolverines caught a major break in that they weren’t dropped in the new College Football Playoff rankings, staying at No. 3. Now the Wolverines begin life without starting QB Wilton Speight on Saturday in a potential Big Ten trap game vs. Indiana. But the Wolverines are still more than three-TD favorites on college football lines.

Indiana at Michigan Spread, Free Pick & TV Info

When: Saturday, Nov. 19, 3:30 PM ET
Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor
TV: ESPN
Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Indiana / Michigan
Opening NCAA Football Lines: UM -24 (52.5)

Why Bet on Indiana?

The Hoosiers (5-5) are looking to get bowl eligible. They come off a 45-31 loss to No. 10 Penn State. Indiana’s defense dominated the line of scrimmage as the unit posted 16 tackles for loss, believed to be tied for the most in school history. The effort contained Penn State tailback Saquon Barkley to just 58 yards on 1.8 yards per carry. That mark is the lowest single-game rushing average of Barkley’s career. Entering the contest, Penn State was averaging 183.4 yards rushing and 4.7 yards per carry. Barkley entered the game averaging 117.2 yards per game and 6.3 yards a rush.

Redshirt IU junior quarterback Richard Lagow passed for two touchdowns, moving his total to 17 on the season, which puts him tied for sixth on the IU single-season list. Lagow was 23-for- 40 for 292 yards. He now ranks fifth in single-season passing yardage with 2,866, seventh in completions (214), 10th in attempts (351) and eighth in total offense (2,760). IU is the only Big Ten team with three players in the top 10 in yardage and receptions: Nick Westbrook (793-2nd; 44-6th), Ricky Jones (713-6th; 43-T- 7th) and Mitchell Paige (536-10th; 49-4th).

Indiana is holding its opponents to 392.0 total yards, an improvement of 117.5 from last season, the largest improvement in the country. The Hoosiers have limited their foes to 78.0 fewer passing yards (2nd nationally) and 9.2 fewer points (10th).

IU will meet its fourth top 10 opponent this season for the first time in program history. The Hoosiers have won four of its last six on the road and three of its last five Big Ten games away from home.

Why Bet on Michigan?

The Wolverines (9-1) lost 14-13 at Iowa last week but still control their destiny to play in the Big Ten title game and potentially the national semifinals. Keith Duncan’s 33-yard field goal as time expired gave the Hawkeyes the win. Michigan was held to 201 yards of offense, while Iowa managed just 230 yards of offense.

With one rushing score, U-M has had at least one rushing score in each game this fall, amounting to 37 on the season. U-M’s 37 rushing scores are the third most for the team since 1970, trailing only the 43 touchdowns scored by the 1976 squad on the ground and the 47 scored by the 1971 team. Wolverines starting QB Wilton Speight played the whole game vs. Iowa but reportedly broke the collarbone on his non-throwing shoulder and is expected to miss the rest of the regular season, although Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh only says that he’s a game-time call vs. Indiana. Houston transfer

John O’Korn should start. O’Korn isn’t a rookie. He was a full-time starter at Houston as a freshman in 2013, throwing for more than 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns. He’s played in games before. This will be the 65th meeting between Michigan and Indiana. The Wolverines have a 55-9 advantage in the all-time series and are 37-7 in Ann Arbor against the Hoosiers (32-7 at Michigan Stadium). U-M has won 20 straight games against IU and has claimed victories in 35 of the last 36 contests; last setback came in 1987. Michigan is a perfect 22-0 against Indiana when ranked in the top 10 of the national polls.

Indiana at Michigan Free Pick:

Take the points here as Michigan could be looking ahead to next week’s game at Ohio State. Go under the NCAA Football betting total.