Gator Bowl Betting – Gator Bowl Is Full Of Coaching Intrigue
The Michigan Wolverines are playing to save their coach’s job… if they want that to happen. The Mississippi State Bulldogs are glad their coach is staying for another season.
NCAA football betting: Michigan Wolverines vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Online Betting Odds: Mississippi State -4.5
Why To Bet On Michigan
The biggest reason to take the Wolverines in this game is that their best player is going to be profoundly healthier than he’s been in quite some time. Denard Robinson, the fleet-footed quarterback who is more dangerous as a runner than as a passer, lit up opposing defenses in the first five weeks of the season. Robinson’s extraordinary open-field speed laid waste to deficient defenses who were not able to gang up on him and deliver hard hits. However, as soon as Michigan entered the teeth of its schedule, Robinson began to face teams with quality defenses and sound game plans. Opponents did begin to focus on stopping him, and as a result, Robinson got hit hard by meaty linebackers and massive defensive linemen. As a result, his body couldn’t hold up.
Robinson failed to complete multiple Big Ten games, and in his diminished capacity, Michigan failed to stack up points as regularly as it had done throughout the month of September. That’s why Michigan’s 5-0 start turned into a 7-5 season. Now, though, Robinson has had a full month to rest and heal. With a fresher Robinson in a one-game situation against a defense that’s not used to playing him, Michigan can expect a very good game from Robinson and a point total in the 30s at the very least.
Why To Bet On Mississippi State
Even though Denard Robinson should play well and lead the Michigan offense with distinction in this game, the counterbalancing element – as is the case in every game Michigan plays this season – is that the Wolverines can’t stop a flea on defense.
Coordinator Greg Robinson, who is almost certainly going to be coaching his last game for Michigan, has presided over a defense that has given up almost 34 points a game, ranking 102nd out of 120 FBS teams in the United States. What’s remarkable about Michigan’s defensive performance is that the Wolverines gave up 65 points in a game they won earlier this year. It’s fair to say that Michigan’s defense was bad enough to produce a 5-7 season; the offense managed to bail out the Wolverines this season.
It goes without saying, then: Mississippi State should score a ton of points in its own right. Unless Michigan scores 45 points or more, Mississippi State will have reason to be confident. Holding Michigan to anything below 35 will make the Bulldogs commanding favorites to win this game. That seems absurd on its face, but that’s how bad Michigan’s defense really is.
How The Game Will Play Out
Mississippi State 49, Michigan 42. The Bulldogs were worried a few weeks ago that their coach, Dan Mullen, would bolt to Florida to replace the retiring Urban Meyer. However, when Mullen held his ground and remained at MSU, the Bulldogs gained a big jolt of happiness and confidence. Meanwhile, Michigan is playing for a coach – Rich Rodriguez – it might not feel entirely invested in. Rodriguez’s era in Ann Arbor has been marked by controversy and turmoil. Mississippi State is likely to play this game with more joy, while Michigan is likely to display more emotional fatigue. Take the Bulldogs in a very high-scoring game.
Gator Bowl Betting Pick: Mississippi State
