​At 4-3, it’s been a disappointing season for a Michigan team hoping to get to the College Football Playoff. But it’s possible for things to get a whole lot worse if the offense can’t finally get going against a struggling Rutgers defense.The Scarlet Knights all but got Maryland head coach Mike Locksley fired with a 37-30 win, and then they took that momentum to Northwestern and got rocked 42-14. If Michigan’s 130th-ranked offense can’t get moving, though, Rutgers has a shot to at least keep this close.Michigan at Rutgers: Quick HitsMichigan gets the rivalry game against Michigan State next before closing with at Oregon, UCLA, and at Ohio State.Rutgers goes to Wisconsin next before hosting Nebraska.Michigan is 9-1 against Rutgers, last winning 31-7 in 2023. The Scarlet Knight win came in 2014.How To Watch Michigan at RutgersDate: Saturday, October 31, 2026Game Time: 12:30 PM ETTV: Big Ten NetworkLocation: SHI Stadium, Piscataway, NJ– Week 9 Schedule, Game Previews– CFN Top 25 | Bowl Projections– Predicting the First CFP Top 25– CFN Week 9 Expert PicksWhy Michigan Will WinThe defense is the truth.It’s been lost in the season’s narrative, but the Michigan defense has yet to allow more than 20 points, it’s third overall in total defense, and it’s been able to keep the season alive with no help whatsoever from the other side.No one has thrown more interceptions than Rutgers (12), and it’s been having a nightmare of a time finding any sort of consistency. It managed just 100 passing yards in the 42-14 loss to Northwestern, and 59 yards rushing in the 47-14 loss to Indiana. However …Why Rutgers Will WinThe Michigan offense is sad.To be fair, part of the plan is to do just enough to get by and let the defense win games by holding up, but the Indiana game could’ve been played for 294 quarters, and the Wolverine offense still wouldn’t have come up with a touchdown in the 13-6 loss.The passing game is 127th in the nation, the offense as a whole is 130th, and the 52-17 win over UTEP was the only time it pushed past 21 points.As long as the Rutgers defense can hold up just a little bit and keep the game close, the offense has a puncher’s chance of finding something that can work. The Scarlet Knight punting game is fantastic – it needs to keep the field flipped.Michigan at Rutgers Prediction, Betting LinesThe Michigan defense will do what it does, but the Michigan offense will also do what it doesn’t do, at least for a little while. It won’t be perfect, but the Wolverines will take full control as the offense finally busts out a little bit with a running game that rumbles for well over 200 yards.Michigan 30, Rutgers 15Latest Consensus Line: Michigan -15.5, o/u: 44.5ATS Confidence (out of 5): 3Must See Rating (out of 5): 2.5Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants