Michigan vs. Northwestern: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More

In a battle of shaky Big Ten teams, both the Michigan Wolverines and Northwestern Wildcats will look to get back on track when the former travels to Ryan Field on Saturday.

Michigan has lost two straight, first at the hands of then-No. 22 Michigan State and then to Nebraska. Remember, this is the same Wolverines team that was nearly upset by Akron and Connecticut in September (two teams currently with three wins between them).

Northwestern is a loser of five straight, with its only wins from early in the season coming against three teams with a combined seven wins. (The fourth doesn't count—Maine of the CAA has nine wins.)

Will Michigan win, with a big showdown against No. 3 Ohio State at the end of the month? Or will Northwestern finally get its first conference win of the year?

Here's a look at everything fans need to know.

When: Saturday, Nov. 16 at 3:30 p.m. ET

Where: Ryan Field, Evanston, Ill.

Television: Big Ten Network

Live Stream: ESPN3

Betting Lines (via Vegas Insider)

• Over/Under: 52.5
• Spread: Northwestern (-3)

Spartans Injury Report (via USA Today)

Player	Pos.	Date	Details	Status	Injury
Russell Bellomy	QB	08/30/2013	will miss the entire season	out	knee
Joey Burzynski	G	10/21/2013	will miss the remainder of the season	out	knee
Amara Darboh	WR	08/21/2013	will miss the entire season	out	foot
Will Hagerup	P	08/30/2013	will miss the entire season	suspended	disciplinary
Drake Johnson	RB	09/02/2013	will miss the remainder of the season	out	knee
Ondre Pipkins	DT	10/06/2013	will miss the remainder of the season	out	knee
Wyatt Shallman	FB	11/10/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against Northwestern	questionable	undisclosed
Tom Strobel	DE	11/10/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against Northwestern	questionable	undisclosed

Wildcats Injury Report (via USA Today)

Player	Pos.	Date	Details	Status	Injury
Stephen Buckley	RB	11/02/2013	is out indefinitely	out	knee
Collin Ellis	LB	11/11/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against Michigan	questionable	leg
Will Hampton	DT	11/11/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against Michigan	questionable	undisclosed
Daniel Jones	CB	09/03/2013	will miss the remainder of the season	out	knee
Tony Jones	WR	11/11/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against Michigan	questionable	lower body
Jack Konopka	T	11/11/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against Michigan	questionable	undisclosed
Warren Long	RB	11/11/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against Michigan	questionable	undisclosed
Dean Lowry	DE	11/11/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against Michigan	questionable	lower body
Venric Mark	RB	11/11/2013	will miss the remainder of the season	out	ankle
Sean McEvilly	DT	11/11/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against Michigan	questionable	lower body
Jaylen Prater	LB	11/11/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against Michigan	questionable	undisclosed
Mark Szott	TE	11/11/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against Michigan	questionable	undisclosed
Mike Trumpy	RB	11/11/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against Michigan	questionable	undisclosed
Nick VanHoose	CB	11/11/2013	is questionable for Saturday's game against Michigan	questionable	head

Can Michigan Run the Ball?

In recent weeks, Michigan has been anything but productive on the ground.

Against the Spartans, the Wolverines finished the game with minus-48 rushing yards. The contest last week against Nebraska was an improvement, as the Wolverines managed minus-21 on the ground.

Of course, these numbers are inflated by the hits Devin Gardner continues to take. He's completing over 60 percent of his passes but has thrown 14 touchdowns to 15 interceptions.

Starting back Fitzgerald Toussaint, the man mostly responsible for getting the ground attack going, has been a disappointment in recent weeks:

OPP.	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	REC	YDS
@ Michigan State	8	20	2.5	9	0	1	2
Nebraska	9	6	0.7	4	0	2	33

It gets worse. Northwestern only allows just over 168 rushing yards per game. While the Wildcats have struggled in recent weeks against backs such as Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah (127 yards), they appear to have a favorable matchup against a struggling Michigan team. 

Prediction

Things are as bad as they seem for the Wolverines.

Offensive coordinator Al Borges seems like a deer in headlights in recent weeks, as does his offensive line when it comes to protecting Gardner. The junior quarterback continues to take an excessive amount of hits and fails to produce through the air. 

These factors combine to create a horrific ground attack that Borges simply cannot seem to figure out. Northwestern has been bad in recent weeks, but its players can still smell blood in the water.

At home, Northwestern slips by as Michigan stumbles over itself.

Final Score 

Wildcats win 28-24

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