LAS VEGAS — It has the sound of a broken record at this point, but this is being called a make-or-break year for Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. In his first five years in Ann Arbor, Harbaugh has made habits of talking too big and losing big games.
Joe Milton might be able to make many of Harbaugh’s problems go away. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound junior quarterback is an elite athlete who’s capable of making 80-yard throws. He’s projected to be a future NFL first-round pick, even drawing comparisons to Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes. The Wolverines create no shortage of over-the-top hype.
Big Ten football is finally back, and Michigan is among the conference’s mystery teams. The Wolverines lost nine players to the NFL draft — only LSU lost more — and will be breaking in a new quarterback, yet they are road favorites against Minnesota.
Golden Gophers coach P.J. Fleck brings back most of the key parts from an 11-win team. Star wideout Rashod Bateman reconsidered his opt-out decision and will be the top target for quarterback Tanner Morgan, who returns after passing for 30 touchdowns. Minnesota, which scored 31 points or more in 10 of 13 games last season, also boasts one of the Big Ten’s most experienced offensive lines.
Maybe Milton is the real deal, and maybe it means something that the Wolverines have won 16 consecutive times in Minneapolis. Or maybe Minnesota deserves more respect.
It’s interesting to note that, since 2006, Michigan is 1-20 straight up on the road versus ranked opponents. Harbaugh is not to blame for all of those failures, but this is the type of game he typically loses, so let’s see it before believing the hype.
The pick: Minnesota +3.
MISSISSIPPI (+3.5) over Auburn: The Tigers appear to be in disarray, with quarterback Bo Nix regressing and resembling the Mitch Trubisky of the SEC. In a predictable loss at South Carolina, Nix struggled with his passing accuracy from the pocket and made plays mostly by running. He gets a break by facing a weak defense this week. But it’s important to remember how well the Rebels played offensively against Alabama and Kentucky — totaling 90 points against two good defenses — and try to forget Matt Corral’s six-interception game last week in a loss to Arkansas. Jump back on the Lane Kiffin train in a bounce-back spot.
NEVADA (+3) over Wyoming: The Mountain West is back in action, and these teams rank right behind Boise State atop the conference. Seventeen starters, led by quarterback Carson Strong, come back for the Wolf Pack. This looks like a week for live home ’dogs.
Last week: 2-2. Louisville (W), South Carolina (W), Louisiana Tech (L), Mississippi State (L).
2020 season: 14-6-1.