Rutgers' trouble is on the other side of the ball. Northwestern led 21-3 after 1 quarter. Aidan Chiles went 19-for-25 for 219 yards and 3 touchdowns and ran for 83 more, and Caleb Komolafe added 150 rushing yards. The Scarlet Knights can score when things are working: they put up 35 on USC and 37 in a win at Maryland. The defense just keeps giving up big numbers.
Howard58-7
The form card shows how similar these two teams are right now. Both are 2-3 over their last 5, and both are 1-3 in the Big Ten. Michigan's wins are a 52-17 rout of UTEP and a 21-18 grinder over Penn State. Its losses to Iowa, Minnesota and Indiana came by 1, 6 and 7 points. Michigan is losing close, low-scoring games, while Rutgers is losing by 4 touchdowns. Those are very different problems.
Rutgers' injury report is thin where it can least afford it. Cornerback K. Sanders has been shut down for the season, which leaves a secondary that just let Chiles complete 76% of his throws with one fewer starter. Receiver F. Toure is still questionable with a knee injury, and the quarterback status is the biggest unknown on the board. For Michigan, guard A. Sprague is still listed out. That matters for an offensive line that couldn't open lanes against Indiana.
It looks like a game Michigan should control on paper, but this Michigan team hasn't controlled much of anything in October. If the Wolverines can't run on a Rutgers defense that just gave up 150 yards to one back, the question shifts from who's playing quarterback to what the offense is actually built to do. The forecast is cloudy and 57 with light wind, so the weather won't be an excuse for anyone.