Vegas Play of the Day: Michigan at Purdue

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017 | 2 a.m.

We’re entering the fourth season of the annual South Point-lined Play of the Day competition, effective July 1.

Starting bankrolls have reset to $10,000, with the maximum bet being to win $1,000 and the minimum wager $300. Ray Brewer won back-to-back titles in the 2015-2016 and 2016-17 seasons, after Taylor Bern prevailed in 2014-2015.

Purdue plus-10 vs. Michigan, $550 to win $500: Purdue has a respectable 2-1 record to open the season, including a 35-3 victory last week at Missouri. Winning on the road against a Southeastern Conference opponent is no easy task, let alone winning on the road by five touchdowns. More important, Purdue has covered the spread in every game.

Purdue averages 286.7 yards per game passing, which ranks 35th nationally. It is surrendering just 19 points per game — 41st best nationally.

Many expect Purdue to fall back into its results from 2016, when it lost the final seven games. And many expect the drop to start against Michigan, the nation’s eighth ranked team and a significant upgrade in competition.

But Michigan struggles to score when it gets into the red zone as witnessed by its kicker attempting 13 field goals in three games. Michigan also ranks in the bottom third nationally in passing at 202 yards per game.

It’s tough to ask a team not prolific in scoring to win on the road by double digits. Expect Purdue to hang around long enough to make things interesting in the second half.

Current Standings: Keefer (9-5-1, $11,755), Granger (6-6, $11,595), Grimala (4-3, $10,495), Brewer (7-8, $8,710)

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21