Michigan vs. Purdue: Early point spread released on Wolverines, Boilermakers

In what will be the final tune up for an undefeated Michigan team before playing a pair of massive conference games in November is a visit from Purdue. And the Boilermakers will come to Michigan Stadium off a loss on the road.

Unsurprisingly, Michigan opened as a massive, 28.5-point favorite over a 2-win Purdue squad, according to FanDuel. The points total is set at 49 points.

The last meeting between the two teams was in the 2022 Big Ten Championship Game, which Michigan won, 43-22.

Purdue travelled to Nebraska on Saturday and fell behind, 24-0, before a pair of quick scores made it 24-14. But that was all Purdue could muster as the Cornhuskers iced the game with a late touchdown to make it 31-14.

Michigan was off for Week 9 after demolishing the first eight opponents it faced. The biggest story surrounding Michigan, likely for the rest of the season, will be the ongoing sign-stealing investigation into Michigan football and staffer Connor Stalions.

But Michigan already played one game against an overmatched opponent while having to silence the distraction, and Vegas oddsmakers don’t seem to think Purdue poses a threat to this Michigan team prior to a critical three-game stretch to end the year.

The Michigan sign-stealing investigation is into uncharted waters

ESPN’s Pete Thamel joined Saturday’s edition of College GameDay to tackle the biggest topic in college football at the moment, the Michigan sign-stealing scandal.

Speaking with the usual crew, Thamel elaborated on the latest in the case, and stressed that it’s taken the highest priority with the NCAA.

“The latest development in the Michigan sign-stealing probe came on Friday night. My colleague Dan Murphy interviewed a former Division III coach, who said that Connor Stallions, the Michigan analyst at the heart of this probe, paid him to record multiple Big Ten games. Stallions of course has been suspended with pay, as the NCAA investigates whether Michigan broke NCAA rules to steal signs,” Thamel said. “NCAA rules make it clear that both scouting the opposition in person, and using electronics to steal signs, is illegal. ESPN reported this week that Stallions bought tickets to at least 35 games in 17 stadiums the last three years, including at 12 of the 13 Big Ten schools.

“NCAA enforcement officials were in Ann Arbor this week, and it’s a sign of the priority that the NCAA is taking in this case.”