Saturday’s contest between Michigan and Northwestern will have major implications on the Wolverines’ bowl eligibility. Here’s everything you need to know about how you can watch this pivotal game:
Before the season began, many Michigan fans would have expected that, at worst, the Wolverines would have two or three losses heading into the final two weeks of the season. Instead, the program is fighting for its life for bowl eligibility at 5-5, and a win over Northwestern this weekend is necessary for the Wolverines to earn something they did in the first six weeks the last three seasons.
Michigan-Northwestern is not going to be pretty. Both offenses have gone anemic for large portions of the season, so we should expect a rock fight on Saturday.
Here’s how you can watch the game.
Michigan Wolverines vs Northwestern Wildcats
- Day: Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024
- TV: Fox Sports 1
- Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Weather: 43 degrees, cloudy
- Odds: MICH -11 O/U: 37.5
t’s pretty crazy to think a season that once had such promise has come to a close so quickly. The good news is you can get your tickets for as low as $24 on many sites before the game if you have a strong desire to see this one.
If you decide to attend, I hope you like defense — or maybe just really bad offense. Michigan averages 290.1 yards and 20.4 points per game, which ranks 127th and 108th in the country, respectively. The only team worse in the Big Ten on both accounts is Northwestern. The Wildcats are 131st with only 266.2 yards per game, and put up just 16.6 points per game, ranking 127th. These are truly two of the worst offenses in the country.
Neither of these teams can get anything going through the air. Michigan is No. 128 in passing yards per game and Northwestern is No. 118. To put that in perspective, the bottom three teams in passing yards are the three service academies that run the triple-option. Michigan averages just 15.5 more passing yards per game than Navy, the best passing team of those three schools.
This game will come down to who can run the ball more efficiently and who can generate big plays. With both run defenses ranking in the top-35 in the country, and Michigan’s being No. 8, I lean towards the Wolverines being able to stymie Northwestern at home and win the game. But I fear this game will not have much excitement. The Wolverines win, but I’m not confident they cover and I have the sense this game is hitting the under.
The pick: U37.5
Other top games in Week 13
- Noon ET – No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers vs No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes
The play: O51.5
- 7:30 p.m. ET – No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide vs Oklahoma
The play: ALA -13.5
Betting Record: 16-21