Week 1: Michigan vs Colorado State 9/3/22 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Michigan Wolverines and Colorado State Rams clash Saturday in week 1 college football action from Michigan Stadium.

The Colorado State Rams will start a new era in 2022 when Jay Norvell takes over after the Rams went 3-9 in 2021, with a 2-6 mark in Mountain West conference play. Norvell made the jump within the Mountain West after a successful tenure at Nevada and brings a lot of pieces with him from Reno. Clay Millen comes with Norvel after looking like the next face under center for Nevada but will now likely be the man in Colorado Springs. A’Jon Vivens and Wolf Pack transfer Avery Morrow will likely be the 1-2 punch in CSU’s backfield while Tory Holton and Melquan Stovell come in from Nevada as well after combining for 108 receptions and over 1,300 receiving yards in 2021. Dante Wright and Ty McCullough will also get their shot to be a difference maker in Colorado State’s aerial offense. On defense, the Rams lose top pass rusher Scott Patchan, but Mohamed Kamara returns and CJ Onyechi comes in from Rutgers to make an instant impact up front. Cam’Ron Carter is back after leading Colorado State with 100 tackles in 2021, while Daquan Jackson also added 84 tackles at another linebacker spot. The secondary for Colorado state is laden with transfers and it’s near impossible to anticipate who we will see in the starter spots until the Rams are actually out on the field.

The Michigan Wolverines will attempt to build on a very solid 2021 campaign, finishing the year at 12-2 overall including an 8-1 mark in Big Ten conference play. The Wolverines ran through the Big Ten and mauled Iowa in the Big Ten title game by a final score of 42-3. The Wolverines received the #3 spot in the College Football Playoffs, falling to eventual National Champion Georgia in the Orange Bowl semifinal by a count of 34-11. There are a ton of options for Michigan, with Cade McNamara the likely front-runner for the starting gig, but JJ McCarthy is also in the mix. The problem for McCarthy is that injuries derailed his spring practice schedule. Davis Warren did have a strong spring though and Alan Bowman also had a decent career at Texas Tech, so there are options under center in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines lost Hassan Haskins in the backfield after rushing for 20 TDs last season, but Blake Corum is back after rushing for almost 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns while Donovan Edwards will likely see an action increase as well this season. Michigan has one of the best receiving groups in the country if they can stay healthy, led by Cornelius Johnson and Ronnie Bell while Erick All and Andrew Anthony will be names to watch as well for Michigan. On defense, there’s bound to be a dropoff after losing guys like Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, but Taylor Upshaw has experience at defensive end while Maxi Smith and Kris Jenkins make up a formidable duo on the inside for Michigan’s d-line. Junior Colson is back at linebacker after finishing 4^th in tackles for Michigan last year while Nikhai Hill-Green is also back after registering 50 tackles last season. The secondary will need retooling as well but there are still some solid options like DJ Turner, who made all-Big Ten last season as well as RJ Moten at safety.

Colorado State is 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games overall and 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games played on turf while the under is 4-1 in their last 5 games played against the Big Ten. Michigan is 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall and 10-1 ATS in their last 11 games played on turf while the under is 4-1 in their last 5 non-conference games.

I get the case to be made for both sides here, as Colorado State’s getting a ton of points with a new lineup but a talented lineup nonetheless. On the other side, Michigan is Michigan and will always be a heavy favorite like this at home in their season opener. That being said, I think I like the over here a bit more. I don’t expect an outright win from Colorado State, but this group that came over with Jay Norvell is good and can really make life tough on a rebuilding Michigan defensive unit that’s going to take time to become cohesive. I also think Michigan’s fully capable of putting up 35 in a half if they want to, but I think we get into the 60s at the very least. Give me the over.