Nebraska Football vs Michigan: Why Vegas might have good news for the Huskers
Betting lines usually mean little more than who is putting money where, but the starting line for Nebraska football vs Michigan could be a good sign.
Nebraska football fans are going to spend the week looking for any signs at all that the Huskers can give the Wolverines a game. Logic and reason points to Saturday being a rather ugly day in Memorial Stadium.
However, it is worth pointing out that there is a sign of life. And that sign is a season-low opening betting line for Michigan against the Nebraska football team.
FanDuel has pegged Jim Harbaugh’s squad as 17.5-point favorites. That’s certainly a rather large line, considering the game is being played in Memorial Stadium. However, it’s also nearly a touchdown lower than any Wolverines’ line has been in 2023.
If you’re one who believes that the Huskers can find a way to score some points on Saturday (not a small task against a defense that hasn’t allowed more than 7 points in any game, the 41.5 total seems comfortingly low as well.
Caesar’s Sportsbook has both numbers a bit different, with the Wolverines expected to win by at least 18 and the total points a bit lower at 41. But the Vegas consensus projects a game that doesn’t quite constitute a blowout.
Nebraska football could be Michigan’s first real fight
The other potential piece of good news is that Michigan has been pretty bad regarding covering this year. The Wolverines are 0-3-1 this year as favorites in every contest.
The lowest spread so far this year happens to have been from last week, when they were -24 against Rutgers. That game almost looked like it would go bad for Harbaugh’s boys after going down 7-0, but they scored the last 31 points to make the contest a push.
It’s become clear that the Nebraska football rebuild under Matt Rhule is incremental. A win seems unlikely. However, hanging tight with the number two team in the country should be considered baby steps.
Not something for Nebraska football fans to hang their hats on, but it would be an encouraging sign nonetheless.