Illinois Illini at Michigan Wolverines 2010 NCAAF Week 10 Odds, Preview, and Predictions: Head football coach Ron Zook leads his Illinois Illini team on the road for a Big Ten showdown with the Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor at the Big House at 12:00 Noon Saturday on ESPN. Illinois is 5-3, 3-2 and in 5th place in the Big Ten while Michigan comes in at 5-3, 1-3 in 9th place as they continue to struggle through their conference schedule. Michigan’s Denard Robinson was an early leader in the Heisman race but with some bench time due to minor injuries and his team’s record the dual threat quarterback has fallen out of favor but still represents a threat to any team. “(We’re) playing arguably one of the best players in the country,” head coach Ron Zook said. “A guy that every time he touches the ball, he takes your breath. So it’s going to be a great, great challenge for our defense. A lot of people ask, ‘Well, how do you stop him?’ I don’t know that you stop him. I think what you try to do is you try to keep the ball away from him — try to keep him on the bench. That’s one of the things our offense has done a pretty good job of.” Vegas odds makers have the Michigan Wolverines a -3 point favorite at home against the Illinois Illini.
Michigan is on a 3 game losing streak most recently at the Penn State Nittany Lions 41-31 leaving the Wolverines 3-4 against the spread for the season. Quarterback Denard Robinson completed 11 of 23 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown while carrying the ball 27 times for 191 yards and 3 more TD’s. Unfortunately the defense gave up 453 yards and continued to struggle to stop anyone. Vegas odds makers have Denard Robinson at +4500 odds to win the Heisman Trophy.
The Illini pounded the Purdue Boilermakers last week 44-10 and their 3 loses have come from teams that are all ranked in the top 15 in the BCS rankings. Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase completed 16 of 20 passes for 195 yards and 4 touchdowns as well as 21 carries for 118 yards reminiscent of the Michigan signal caller. The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Illinois’s last 11 games on the road and they are 5-2 ATS for the season. Odds makers at SBG Global have the over/under for the total score at 57 1/2 points combined of the Illinois Illini and Michigan Wolverines.
I predict the Wolverines will become Bowl eligible with a win at home. Go Big Blue!