Last year, the Michigan Wolverines accelerated their progress under first-year coach Jim Harbaugh faster than the national prognosticators thought they would. However, can they challenge for a Big Ten title this year? That may be a little much, with Ohio State and Michigan State both in their division. Let’s take a look at what we can expect from the blue-and-maize in this college football betting preview.
Michigan Wolverines College Football Betting Preview
The Wolverines went with the ground game last year, and even though they only came in 83rd in the NCAA, they got key first down when they needed to. Four starters return from their offensive line, and they should open plenty of holes for a set of tailbacks who aren’t stars but are good enough to keep moving the sticks. Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh, a pair of fifth-year seniors, key the receiving corps, so now they just need to figure out which quarterback is going to be calling signals. When the Wolverines lost last year, though, they gained fewer than 100 yards on the ground (Utah – 76 yards, Michigan State – 62 yards, Ohio State – 57 yards). The Wolverines did finish #9 in the county in time of possession, which is indicative of a strong defense as well as a pounding offense.
Michigan Wolverines Odds to Win the 2017 College Football Championship:+700
Michigan Wolverines Odds to Win the 2016 Big 10 Conference Championship: +125
Defensive coordinator Don Brown comes to town after making Boston College’s defense the top-ranked unit in the nation — and the Wolverines already have a locker room full of talent. Last year they were #4 in the NCAA in total defense and #1 in pass efficiency. They did lose three starters at linebacker, and the lack of depth here is the only reason to pause on the defensive side of the ball. However, Jabrill Peppers could move down from his safety position. The defensive line should be terrific again, led by tackle Chris Wormley. Cornerback Jourdan Lewis will key a talented secondary. The biggest issue on defense for the Wolverines — that new linebacker corps — will be the biggest worry. They lost Joe Bolden, Desmond Morgan and James Ross. Ben Gedeon is the projected starter at inside linebacker, but now the team needs to beasts to emerge at the outside linebacker positions.
The Wolverines struggled to get takeaways last year. They only recovered two fumbles all year, one against Oregon State and the other against Penn State. Boston College took the ball away 23 times last year, so maybe Brown’s system will involve going after the ball a little bit more.
So who WILL that quarterback be? Wilton Speight sits atop the depth chart right now, but there is also transfer John O’Korn from Houston and recruit Shane Morris. None of these three were dazzling in the spring, but you don’t have to be a terrific quarterback to guide this offense — you just need to be able to complete passes in the clutch and manage the game.
So how will this season go? It’s nice to open with five straight home games and then head to hapless Rutgers in Week 6, so there’s really no reason not to think the Wolverines will be 6-0 at their bye. After the off week things get a little more interesting, with games at Michigan State, Iowa and Ohio State, but that’s the cost of membership in the Big Ten. I see Michigan dropping all three of those road games but still posting a respectable 9-3 season in a tough conference.
