#328 ASA FREE PLAY ON Michigan -17 over Maryland, Saturday at 12 PM ET - Michigan is getting ripped in the national media for playing patsies to start the season. Yes, that has been the case but the fact is the Wolverines have done exactly what they were supposed to do destroying all 3 opponents (Colorado State, UConn, and Hawaii) by a combined score of 166-17! They’ve outgained those 3 opponents by a combined 900+ yards. Now they are hearing that they “haven’t played anybody” and they are coming into this game with a chip on their shoulder despite being double digit favorites. The Maryland offense is humming over the first 3 games but they’ve played defenses currently ranked 80th, 124th, and 131st (dead last) in total defense. They take a HUGE step up here facing a Michigan defense that is very good. The one decent team the Terps played so far this season, SMU, had a 27-20 lead heading into the 4th quarter (Maryland won 34-27) and the Mustangs outgained the Terps but had 3 turnovers, were shut out on downs TWICE inside the Maryland 10 yard line and missed a short FG. The Terps are 3-0 but this has been a common theme for them under head coach Locksley. Start the season on a high note and then once they step up in competition they get drilled. Last year the Terrapins started with a 4-0 record vs fairly average competition and in their next 2 games, both vs much better competition, they were blasted 51-14 by Iowa and 66-17 by Ohio State. In 2019 Maryland won their first 2 games and then in their first step up game they lost 59-0 to Penn State. Last year the Wolverines were favored by 16 @ Maryland and won 59-18. Now they are favored in the same range at home. Michigan has won and dominated this series winning 6 straight by an average score of 44-10 with each win coming by at least 21 points. Despite laying double digits, the value is on Michigan in this game.