Michigan Wolverines vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights Preview & Odds — October 31, 2026
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About these numbers
2026 regular season to date, captured before kickoff. League rank in small type (138 teams); the gold side ranks higher. Bars show rank, longest = 1st. Source: Gridiron & Wine public Analytics tables.
Last five results this season, oldest to newest. Records are season to date, with home and road splits. Against-the-spread (ATS) and over–under records use the consensus closing line.
Margin of each of the last 7 games this season, oldest to newest (gold = won). Hover a bar for the score margin.
Distance is straight-line from each team's home arena; time-zone change is at game time. Rest counts days since each team's previous game.
Matchup preview
Michigan (4-3) visits Rutgers (1-5) on Saturday, October 31 at 12:30 PM ET.
Michigan has the 96th-ranked offense by EPA per play (expected points added per snap) and the 5th-ranked defense (ranks among the 138 teams with play-by-play data). Meanwhile, Rutgers has the 115th-ranked offense and the 123rd-ranked defense. When Michigan has the ball, a 96th-ranked offense (−0.005 EPA per play) meets a 123rd-ranked defense (+0.207 allowed); when Rutgers has it, a 115th-ranked offense (−0.062) meets a 5th-ranked defense (−0.175 allowed).
By success rate (the share of plays that gain expected points), the Michigan offense is at 47.9% (58th) and the Rutgers offense at 47.8% (60th). Michigan scores 20.3 points per game (108th) and allows 15.7 (11th); Rutgers scores 23.8 (82nd) and allows 37.7 (129th).
Michigan is 4-3 and 3-4 against the spread; its last game was a 13-6 loss to Indiana. Rutgers is 2-5 and 3-4 against the spread; its last game was a 42-14 loss to Northwestern.
Michigan is a 14.5-point road favorite, with Rutgers getting the points at home. The spread has not moved since it opened. The total is 46.5, down from 47.5 at the open. After removing the vig, the moneyline (Michigan -625, Rutgers +450) prices Michigan at 83% and Rutgers at 17%.
Built from public team and player data; ranks are league-wide and update daily until kickoff.
Market
Odds and line movement
Michigan -14.5 (-112)
Michigan -14.5 (-107)
Rutgers +486 16%
Rutgers +450 17%
Consensus of US sportsbooks. The Now column updates from our odds board. Percentages are the moneyline's no-vig market-implied chances.
Best available prices on Oct 28
- Michigan -14.5+108Novig
- Rutgers +14.5-110theScore Bet
- Over 46.5-106Novig
- Under 46.5+100Novig
- Michigan-525Novig
- Rutgers+510BetRivers
Members
G&W Line
G&W’s own number for this game, next to the market. Analytics
Matchup
Players to watch
- Attempts32
- Completion %68.8%
- Passing yards199
- Yards per attempt6.2
- TD–INT1–1
- Rushing yards319181st
- Season line81 carries, 319 yds, 4 TD
- Receiving yards53941st
- Season line33 catches, 539 yds, 4 TD
- Tackles5579th
- Attempts60
- Completion %56.7%
- Passing yards474
- Yards per attempt7.9
- TD–INT5–5
- Rushing yards64823rd
- Season line123 carries, 648 yds, 6 TD
- Receiving yards7747th
- Season line45 catches, 774 yds, 9 TD
- Tackles34434th
Season passing totals from public box scores, captured before kickoff. Ranks among the 264 quarterbacks with at least 60 attempts. Rushing, receiving and tackle leaders: season totals captured October 28, 5:34 a.m. ET; ranks among FBS players.
Success by situation
| Situation | Michigan | Rutgers |
|---|---|---|
| Early-down success rateMichigan offense vs Rutgers defense | 44.3%53rd | 45.6%106th |
| Early-down success rateRutgers offense vs Michigan defense | 38.3%13th | 45.9%35th |
| 3rd-down conversion rateMichigan offense vs Rutgers defense | 39.1%82nd | 44.6%104th |
| 3rd-down conversion rateRutgers offense vs Michigan defense | 35.2%31st | 40.9%63rd |
| Explosive play rateMichigan offense vs Rutgers defense | 4.5%130th | 8.9%125th |
| Explosive play rateRutgers offense vs Michigan defense | 4.7%12th | 5.8%104th |
| Pass rateshare of plays that are passes or sacks | 44.0%114th-highest | 50.1%76th-highest |
On 3rd down Michigan converts 39.1% (82nd) against a Rutgers defense allowing 44.6% (104th).
On 3rd down Rutgers converts 40.9% (63rd) against a Michigan defense allowing 35.2% (31st).
2026 regular season before kickoff, from play-by-play with garbage time removed; ranks among the 138 teams in the play-by-play data (defense: 1st = allows the least). Success = a play that gains expected points.
Coaching staff
| Staff | Michigan | Rutgers |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Kyle Whittingham | Greg Schiano |
| Tenureat this school | 1st season | 7th season |
| Record at schoolthis season included, as of the date below | 4–3 | 101–113 |
| Career recordas an FBS head coach | 181–91 | 101–113 |
| Offensive coordinator | Jason Beck | Kirk Ciarrocca |
| Defensive coordinator | Jay Hill | Travis Johansen |
Staff list as of October 27, 6:50 a.m. ET.
Head-to-head
The teams have met 3 times since 2021: Michigan won 3 and Rutgers 0.
| Date | Score | Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 23, 2023 | Rutgers 7, Michigan 31 Michigan won | ||
| Nov 5, 2022 | Michigan 52, Rutgers 17 Michigan won | ||
| Sep 25, 2021 | Rutgers 13, Michigan 20 Michigan won |
Meetings since 2021, most recent first. Line and total are the consensus closing numbers where line history is available.
Result
After the final: score vs the closing line, Drive X-Ray and the graded official play, if there was one, appear here on this same page.
Teams
Michigan Wolverines
- Michigan Wolverines team stats
- Indiana Hoosiers 13, Michigan Wolverines 6 (Oct 24)
- Penn State Nittany Lions 18, Michigan Wolverines 21 (Oct 17)
- Michigan Wolverines 14, Minnesota Golden Gophers 20 (Oct 3)
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
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