There probably aren’t going to be a lot of people at the Michigan-Minnesota game this weekend ... at least by Michigan standards. There’s a very good chance that the Wolverines’ streak of 254 straight games of having an attendance over 100,000 will end, despite Coke’s best effort to sell tickets for what amounts to $1.50 apiece.
How to watch Minnesota vs. Michigan: Game guide, TV/streaming, odds
Can Michigan finally turn things around?
Who can blame Michigan fans? Their team is 2-2 with wins over Appalachian State and Miami (Ohio), and big losses to Notre Dame and Utah. The offense is a mess, the defense is underperforming, the tickets are expensive (when not bought with a Coke) and Minnesota is a very “meh” opponent.
The Gophers had a good season last year, but they’ve been unimpressive en route to a 3-1 record this year. They were routed 30-7 by TCU and have been unable to get their passing game going against even weak foes. It could be a snoozer in Ann Arbor, and there likely won’t be 100,000 people to watch.
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: ABC or ESPN2
Online streaming: WatchESPN
The numbers
Rankings and records: Michigan is 2-2, while Minnesota is 3-1. Neither team is ranked in either poll.
Vegas: Michigan opened as a 9.5-point favorite and is now an 11.5-point favorite.
Weather forecast: 76 and clear.
Two things at stake
If Michigan loses this game, that pretty much has to seal Brady Hoke’s fate in Ann Arbor, right? If the Wolverines win convincingly, then maybe a few people will put down the pitchforks for the time being.
Minnesota could get a big boost from the prognosticators with a win. A loss sends the Gophers back down to “will they even win three Big Ten games and get bowl eligible” range.
Also, the Little Brown Jug is at stake.
One big matchup
Michigan vs. Itself: Minnesota’s offense isn’t very good and its defense can be beaten by teams with superior talent, as TCU showed. Michigan has far more talent than Minnesota, and really, the Wolverines should beat the Gophers with ease. However, turnovers have killed Michigan so far, and the Wolverines haven’t been able to capitalize on opportunities despite having pretty decent statistics. If they implode, they could easily lose this game.
Further reading
Read Maize n Brew for more on Michigan and The Daily Gopher for more on Minnesota.
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