Rutgers at Michigan Week 4 College Football Matchup Rutgers at Michigan Matchup - Week 4
Sat, Sep 25 2021 · Week 4 · 🏟 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI · Turf · 107,601 cap
Rutgers✈ 495 miSame TZ
Away
13 20
Final
Home
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Rutgers
11
Michigan
39
P&R Line Michigan -28.5
P&R Total O/U 49.5
Confidence 86 High
Vegas Michigan -20 · O/U 50.0
Matchup Prediction
Michigan has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Michigan entering this game.
Momentum Control
71.6%
Michigan wins
Solid
Game Control
67.1%
Michigan wins
Solid
Vegas Spread
Michigan -20
O/U 50.0
teamrankings
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → Michigan · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
🏠 Michigan 4th straight Home Game
Rutgers 2021 Schedule
Rutgers's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4Rutgers vs Temple-14.0W61–1452.0W61–14OY
Sat 9/11Rutgers at Syracuse-2.5W17–750.5W17–7UY
Sat 9/18Rutgers vs Delaware-20.0W45–1345.0W45–13OY
Sat 9/25Rutgers at Michigan+20.0L13–2050.0L13–20UY
Sat 10/2Rutgers vs Ohio State+15.0L13–5258.0L13–52ON
Sat 10/9Rutgers vs Michigan State+4.5L13–3150.0L13–31UN
Sat 10/16Rutgers at Northwestern-2.5L7–2145.0L7–21UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/30Rutgers at Illinois-1.5W20–1441.5W20–14UY
Sat 11/6Rutgers vs Wisconsin+13.0L3–5237.5L3–52ON
Sat 11/13Rutgers at Indiana+6.5W38–342.5W38–3UY
Sat 11/20Rutgers at Penn State+14.0L0–2844.5L0–28UN
Sat 11/27Rutgers vs Maryland-2.0L16–4053.0L16–40ON
Fri 12/31Rutgers vs Wake Forest+17.0L10–3863.0L10–38UN
Michigan 2021 Schedule
Michigan's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4Michigan vs Western Michigan-16.5W47–1465.5W47–14UY
Sat 9/11Michigan vs Washington-6.5W31–1047.5W31–10UY
Sat 9/18Michigan vs Northern Illinois-27.5W63–1054.5W63–10OY
Sat 9/25Michigan vs Rutgers-20.0W20–1350.0W20–13UN
Sat 10/2Michigan at Wisconsin+2.0W38–1743.5W38–17OY
Sat 10/9Michigan at Nebraska-2.5W32–2950.5W32–29OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/23Michigan vs Northwestern-23.5W33–751.5W33–7UY
Sat 10/30Michigan at Michigan State-4.0L33–3750.5L33–37ON
Sat 11/6Michigan vs Indiana-20.5W29–751.0W29–7UY
Sat 11/13Michigan at Penn State-2.5W21–1748.0W21–17UY
Sat 11/20Michigan at Maryland-16.0W59–1858.5W59–18OY
Sat 11/27Michigan vs Ohio State+6.5W42–2763.5W42–27OY
Sat 12/4Michigan vs Iowa-12.0W42–343.5W42–3OY
Fri 12/31Michigan vs Georgia+7.5L11–3447.0L11–34UN
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2021 season
Michigan PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Michigan
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Rutgers
+0.178
Michigan
+0.496
Michigan Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Rutgers
+0.203
Michigan
+0.751
Michigan Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Rutgers
0.172
Michigan
0.165
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Rutgers Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Rutgers
+6.442
Michigan
+7.682
Michigan Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Rutgers
+0.775
Michigan
+0.864
Michigan Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Rutgers
69.6
Michigan
68.9
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Michigan Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2021 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Michigan Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Rutgers
-2.0
Michigan
18.3
Offense Rating
Rutgers
13.9
Michigan
24.2
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Rutgers
15.9
Michigan
5.9
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Michigan Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Rutgers #126
1.50
Michigan #18
3.33
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Rutgers #94
0.00
Michigan #27
0.00
Michigan +1.83
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 71.6% of games historically
Based on 3 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Michigan Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Rutgers #1
82.1
Michigan #1
94.5
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Rutgers #103
5.5
Michigan #5
2.8
Michigan +12.4
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 67.1% of games historically
Based on 3 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
Tie
1 — 1 sequences
✗ Predicted incorrectly
GC Battle
Michigan
95.5 — 2.3 GC score
✓ Predicted correctly
Game Result
Michigan won by 7
✓ Model called it
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Michigan with a moderate edge in both. This is the strongest ATS signal in our backtest: teams in this situation have covered 55.8% of the time (n=113).

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Rutgers
Greg Schiano #1
6–6 (50%) · Yr 2 at school
OC Sean Gleeson Yr 1 #1
DC Robb Smith Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Michigan
Jim Harbaugh #1
52–22 (70%) · Yr 7 at school
OC Josh Gattis Yr 1 #1
DC Mike Macdonald Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself