Michigan Wolverines:
After winning three consecutive Big Ten titles and capping off the run with a 15-0 national-championship masterpiece, the Wolverines were stripped down by the NFL this spring. Michigan had 13 players picked, the most of any college program, and also lost coach Jim Harbaugh to the Chargers. The roster was not stripped bare, but only seven players who started return for new coach Sherrone Moore, who draws a tougher schedule that includes a trip to Ohio State. A playoff appearance is possible, but don’t count on Moore to work a miracle.
Offense
The key to Michigan being a surprise team, if you will, is redshirt sophomore quarterback Alex Orji. J.J. McCarthy went 27-1 as the starter, so the drop-off in experience is drastic. Orji is a talented runner and is technically in a battle with four others for the starting job in August camp, but he’s the clear favorite. Running back Donovan Edwards and tight end Colston Loveland are the top returning veterans. The offensive line is unproven and the wide receivers are young, so Michigan’s run-heavy offense is going into the season as a mystery.
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Defense
This is not going to be the nation’s No. 1 scoring defense (10.4 PPG) again, but it will be solid against the run with Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Josaiah Stewart and Derrick Moore on the line and Jaishawn Barham at middle linebacker. Will Johnson is one of the Big Ten’s top cornerbacks. Wink Martindale, a longtime NFL coordinator, takes over after Harbaugh took Rick Minter with him to the Chargers. The defense will be strong enough to keep the Wolverines in almost all games.
Outlook
It will obviously help an inexperienced team to have five home games to start the season, but Fresno State is no cupcake for an opener and Texas will be favored in Ann Arbor in the second week. The Wolverines also host USC and Oregon and face Washington and Ohio State on the road. If Michigan loses to all three top-five preseason opponents (the Longhorns, Ducks and Buckeyes), that makes a 9-3 finish the ceiling. With Harbaugh and both coordinators gone, in addition to a stunning number of departed star players, there are too many new faces to assume the Michigan machine will keep cranking out wins. The only way to look is Under 9 wins.
Pick: Under 9 Wins
