What they're saying before Michigan football plays Wisconsin

Michigan Wolverines football is set to take on Wisconsin Saturday afternoon at The Big House. Here’s a look around the internet at what they’re saying about the Maize and Blue before kickoff.

Bob Wojnowski, The Detroit News: Predictions: Michigan football vs. Wisconsin

Sherrone Moore is back, and more and more, Michigan’s running game is too. The Wolverines (3-1) are eighth in the country in rushing, led by Justice Haynes’ 537 yards (8.1 per carry). Wisconsin actually ranks No. 1 in run defense, which won’t stop the Wolverines from running, but might tempt them to throw more. Bryce Underwood has been poised and patient, completing only 57%, but plagued by dropped passes (11 total). The Badgers (2-2) have injuries at quarterback, with Danny O’Neil likely starting, and Luke Fickell’s team has struggled to protect, allowing 13 sacks in four games. UM edge rushers Jaishawn Barham and Derrick Moore surely have noticed, leading a fierce attack that sacked Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola seven times in their last game. Underwood and the Wolverines appear primed for a breakout. Pick: Michigan, 37-13

Scott Dochterman, The Athletic: What we learned about the Big Ten after the conference’s most consequential Saturday yet

Mushy middle
Nothing is certain about the Big Ten’s middle-tier teams below Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana and Penn State. Maryland is unbeaten but untested. Illinois responded from a throttling at Indiana with a last-second home win against USC. Washington and Nebraska fell at home to Ohio State and Michigan, respectively, which doesn’t prevent either squad from staying in the Big Ten race, but they have little margin for error. Iowa has two losses to a pair of top-15 teams by a combined eight points, while Michigan State lost by two touchdowns at USC in a game that kicked off at 11 p.m. ET.

Add in Michigan, USC and Minnesota, and well over half the league still has a shot at contending for a CFP spot. But for the teams that have already taken a loss, it’s going to take a 10-2 season to do it. Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska and Washington have the most advantageous schedules for that task. The most pivotal games within the next month for teams in this group include Michigan State at Nebraska (Oct. 4), Michigan at USC (Oct. 11), Nebraska at Minnesota (Oct. 17), Washington at Michigan (Oct. 18) and Illinois at Washington (Oct. 25).

Evan Flood, Badger Blitz: Preview: Wisconsin at No. 20 Michigan

You never count out a team coming off a bye week. A lot can happen in two weeks behind closed doors. However, the same applies to Michigan on Saturday, who also got healthy and refocused.

We’ll find out if the Badgers’ run defense is for real. The Wolverines may have some wrinkles and be more willing to let quarterback Bryce Underwood loose against what’s been a weak UW secondary this season. Would guess UM wins that battle and eventually wears UW down by the fourth quarter.

On the flip side, even if Jake Renfro returns, UW could run into a laundry list of problems. The Badgers haven’t been able to run the ball against Miami (OH) or Middle Tennessee State. Tough to see the offensive line waking up against the Wolverines. I’d expect O’Neil to be in some really tough situations throughout the day and that’s where UM feasts with an opportunistic defense that creates turnovers and generates sacks.

It’s tough to see the hope for UW’s defense to keep them in this game. Take out garbage time touchdowns, this unit has scored three points in its last two games. And outside of a quarter and a half against MTSU, it’s been tough sledding all year.

Playing in a raucous environment and likely unable to control the line of scrimmage on either side of the ball, could be another tough day for Bucky.

Michigan 34 Wisconsin 3

Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports: Michigan vs. Wisconsin prediction, pick, odds, spread: No. 20 Wolverines return home, face struggling Badgers

It’s been a long time since Michigan lost at home to an unranked team: The Wolverines come into this game with a 26-game win streak at home against unranked opponents. That’s the third-longest active streak in the FBS. What makes the streak more interesting is the last loss came to Penn State in the 2020 season. You might remember fans weren’t allowed in attendance during the 2020 season because of COVID. To find the last time the Wolverines lost to an unranked team at Michigan Stadium with fans in attendance you need to go back to a 14-10 loss to Michigan State in 2017.

Wisconsin is on its longest Big Ten losing streak in over 20 years: The Badgers come into this game having lost six straight Big Ten games, including an upset 27-10 home loss to Maryland back in Week 4. That’s the longest conference losing streak the Badgers have suffered since losing 19 straight from 1989 to 1991. They’ve also lost eight straight against ranked opponents. Their last win was agaisnt No. 9 Iowa before Luke Fickell took over the program. The Badgers are 0-7 against ranked teams under Fickell.

Ari Wasserman, On3: College Football Week 6 picks: Picking the biggest games against the spread

Wisconsin at Michigan (-16.5, o/u 41.5)
It’s no fun coming down on a team, but there isn’t a single identifiable thing to feel encouraged by when thinking about Wisconsin football. The Badgers are in a really rough spot, way worse than I thought it ever could get under Luke Fickell’s leadership. Though Michigan isn’t an elite-level team this year, it’s really hard to pick Wisconsin to do anything functional. I’m picking against Wisconsin more than I am putting my faith in the Wolverines. I expect Michigan will break off big runs, control the game and win by 17 on their home field.
The Pick: Michigan to cover.

Austin Meek, The Athletic: Where does Michigan-Wisconsin fit in the rivalry hierarchy of the new Big Ten?

Michigan has a well-funded revenue-sharing and NIL operation, a massive stadium that’s always full and an international fan following that makes the Wolverines a reliable ratings draw. The Wolverines already enjoy some special privileges in the Big Ten, including a free pass from playing on Friday nights. Wherever the Big Ten goes from here, Michigan will have a sizable say in it.

Even within the Big Ten, the gap between the haves and the have-nots is significant. Just look at UCLA, which fired DeShaun Foster three games into his second season amid financial woes and fan apathy.

Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti has to keep the big brands happy while keeping everybody else afloat. That’s a tough balancing act. As weird compromises go, a rivalry series sponsored by Venmo is relatively harmless. If it generates a few bucks for the conference and reminds people to watch Northwestern versus Illinois, no one is going to complain. But if you look closely, you can see fissures forming just below the upper crust.

“What have you done for me lately?” is the question of the day in college sports. It doesn’t matter that Michigan and Wisconsin played some great games in the 1990s, not after we just watched Penn State and Oregon deliver one of the best finishes of the season so far. Winning is the only thing that guarantees relevance in the new Big Ten. Teams that aren’t winning will be scrounging every penny to pay coaching buyouts, build better rosters and try to keep the attention of a fickle audience.

Do they accept Venmo?