Game Time:  8:00 pm ET, Saturday, September 11th,, 2021

Venue:  Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Where to Watch:  ABC

DraftKings:  Spread: Michigan -6.5; Over/Under:  48.5 points

BetMGM:  Spread: Michigan -6.5 ; Over/Under:  48.5 points

PointsBet:  Spread:  Michigan -7; Over/Under:  48.5 points

 

Washington:  0-1 (Pac-12)

Michigan:  1-0  (Big Ten)

 

Washington lost their opener to Montana, 13-7.  It was a close one with a real struggle to score from both teams. It’s said that Jimmy Lake’s team looked poorly coached and ran an offense that didn’t work.  The Huskies were 22 point favorites and dropped the opportunity.  Becoming the fifth-ranked team to lose to an FCS team.  That game not only could have tanked the Huskies season, it also marred the Michigan Wolverines.  This game is no longer seen as a tough matchup therefore ruining the strength of schedule just a bit.  Washington was 3-1 in a wacky Covid shortened 2020 season… so we learned nothing about head coach Jimmy Lake during his first season. Unless FCS school Montana goes on to take care of business against everyone.

 

 

The Wolverines beat Western Michigan 47-14.  Jim Harbaugh is a lot of things but is not a guy who lets easy games slip.    Michigan got the running game going and kept it up with 335 yards and three touchdowns.  Michigan was 2-4 in 2020.  Harbaugh and his players were disconnected and went through the motions.  So we learned nothing about this team from last season.

 

Larry's celebrating the beginning of his 38th year as a professional handicapper.  Get Larry's picks, they’re  available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers.

 

Recent Form

Both Washington and Michigan had down years in 2020.  The question of course becomes “was that a college football blip?’ or have these programs started a downward trend into purgatory.  The Pac-12 North is poised to beat up Washington if they aren’t right.  Michigan’s strength has always been winning conference games and then crying about being smacked by Ohio State.   

The loss to Montana has been called Washington’s worst loss ever.  QB Dylan Morris threw 3 interceptions, got sacked 3 times, and completed 27 of 46 passes for 226 yards.  They stalled.  They didn’t turn in a complete game.  We will have to wait and see if this was a fluke or if this is the permanent offensive prowess. Washington ran the ball 27 times for 65 yards, that’s only 2.4 yards as carry… meaning if you ran 1-4th downs all in a row.. You would be stopped short of the first down by half a yard every time.

 

It was hardly a showdown when Michigan destroyed the Western Michigan Broncos in the opener.  One very big thing for Michigan did go wrong… they lost Ronnie Bell to injury for the entire season. Ronnie was the WR1 and has been for 3 seasons now.  Ronnie had a 76-yard touchdown reception and returned a punt 31 yards before the injury.  He is an enormous loss.  The offense in total scored 47 points and gained 551 yards in total. RB Blake Corum racked up 114 rushing yards, 22 receiving yards, and 2 TD’s.  

Washington must put last Saturday behind them if they want to beat the spread which is ridiculously low.  They won’t.  They will try too hard and get caught out of coverage or sneaking through the wrong gap.  

 

Michigan’s defense held the Broncos down all game.  The Broncos first score came as a result of  an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that gave Western Michigan new life in a dead drive and the last score came in the 4th quarter as Michigan already had a 40 point lead and had put the deep scrub 3rd stringers in. 

The spread says this should be a close affair.  The opening game numbers say this should be a Michigan blowout.  Michigan lost their #1 star receiver…. The answer is Washington is starting a freshman quarterback who should be badly snakebit from the first game's 3 interceptions. 

 

Our prediction for Saturday, September 11th is…. Michigan 35 - Washington 17

 

Don't miss our champion handicappers' Free NCAAF Picks and Premium Selections every day here at Bigal.com.  Just click on Shop Picks for our Best Bets, or click on Shop Subscriptions to join for a week or a month.  And if you enjoyed this Washington/Michigan preview, be sure to bookmark Bigal.com for our daily Game Previews and Predictions.

 

 

Michigan won their last meeting with Washington 31-29 in 2002.

Michigan is 7-5 all-time vs Washington.

Michigan is 1-4 ATS in their last five home games.

Washington is  3-5 ATS in their last eight road games.

 

 

Washington: DL Faatui Tuitele, Achilles, will miss entire season.

Michigan:  Ronnie Bell.  He will be sorely missed when they get into competitive games down the road.  2018 team rookie of the year, All-Big Ten Honoree 2019, 

Washington:  Dylan Morriss, he threw 3 interceptions against Montana!  The chess match starts when he has to throw against better corners at Michigan on the road.  He may get an early shower.

Michigan: RB Blake Corum, impressive stat line in week 1, if he builds on that Michigan should run away with this game.

 

 

"It stings, it stings,....Because I know how hard this team worked in the offseason and what we wanted to do. To have an outcome like this is not what we wanted. It stings a lot." -Washington Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio.

 

"I don't know if the word is shocked,...We told our team all week long it's a formidable opponent." -Jimmy Lake, UW coach.  Deflecting blame onto his players and off his game plan.

 

 

Washington:  QB Dylan Morris, RB Richard newton, WR Ja’lynn Polk, WR Terrell Bynum, WR Rome Odunze, TE Cade Otton, LT jaxson Kirkland, LG Julius Buelow, C Luke Wattenberg, RG Henry bainivalu, RT Victor Curne

 

Michigan:  QB Cade Mcnamara, RB Hassan Haskins, WR Daylen Baldwin, WR Cornelius Johnson, WR Mike Sainristil, TE Erick All, LT Ryan Hayes, LG Trevor Keegan, C Andrew Vastardis, RG Zak Zinter, RT Andrew Stuber

 

 

Coaches:

Washington: Jimmy Lake.  In hot water and a relatively new coach at the same time because of the big loss to open this season.

Michigan:  Jim Harbaugh.  Isn’t it time for Jim to move on after having burned all the bridges he crossed in Michigan.  He’d make a great Cowboys coach.  (after jerry passes on).

 

Partly Cloudy, 83*, humidity 50%, wind 18 MPH