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PISCATAWAY, N.J. — The Rutgers football team's challenging season took another hit when starting quarterback Dylan Lonergan went down with an injury early in the game against Northwestern. As the Scarlet Knights prepare to host Michigan on Saturday, their quarterback depth chart remains uncertain.
Backup AJ Surace struggled in relief of Lonergan, prompting coach Greg Schiano to turn to third-stringer Sean Ashenfelder for a spark, but that move also failed to ignite the offense. Meanwhile, Rutgers' defense continues to underperform, compounding the team's issues.
Michigan enters the matchup with a 4-3 overall record and a 1-3 mark in Big Ten play, but the Wolverines still present a formidable challenge. Michigan's defense ranks among the Big Ten's best, surrendering only 15.7 points per game. Given Rutgers' recent quarterback struggles, the Scarlet Knights' offense could face a tough test.
Game Details
Rutgers and Michigan will kick off at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 31, at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, N.J. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network and can be streamed live on Fubo (free trial for new subscribers). According to Vegas Insider, Rutgers is a 14-point underdog.
Key Analysis
Michigan's season has been disappointing thus far in Kyle Whittingham's first year at the helm, but the Wolverines may be finding their rhythm. They pushed defending champion Indiana to overtime before falling 13-6. At 4-3 with upcoming games against Rutgers and Michigan State, Michigan has a clear opportunity to secure bowl eligibility before facing Oregon, UCLA, and Ohio State. Despite their record, the Wolverines remain more talented than Rutgers, and their defense has performed well. The Scarlet Knights are not positioned to pull off an upset of this magnitude.
Prediction: Michigan 27, Rutgers 10
Tickets for Rutgers vs. Michigan are available on StubHub.
Originally reported by yahoo.