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Colorado State vs. Michigan Prediction, Odds, Spread and Over/Under for College Football Week 1

By Reed Wallach

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Cade McNamara celebrate a touchdown against Iowa during
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Cade McNamara celebrate a touchdown against Iowa during / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
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After finally breaking through into the College Football Playoff with Jim Harbaugh at the helm, Michigan looks to follow it up with another banner year.

How do you follow that up?

The team enters the season in the top 10 with a pair of talented quarterbacks and dynamic play makers, but also must replace key contributors on the defense. What can we expect from the Wolverines in 2022?

While the team may not make the CFP in 2022, the team has high expectations, including a win total of 9.5 and a layup in Week 1 against Colorado State. How big of favorites are they? Let's look at the odds and give you the tools to make a valuable opening weekend bet:

Colorado State vs. Michigan Odds, Spread and Total

Colorado State vs. Michigan Betting Trends

  • Michigan is 11-14 against the spread (ATS) in non conference games under Jim Harbaugh
  • Michigan is 22-17 ATS at home under Harbaugh
  • Michigan went 10-3-1 ATS last season

Colorado State vs. Michigan Prediction and Pick

The Rams come to Ann Arbor under new head coach Jay Norvell, who comes from fellow Mountain West school Nevada. Norvell brought some of his key players from Reno such as Clay Millen, who is set to start at quarterback.

Norvell was successful at Nevada, but has his hands full against a top 10 opponent in Michigan, but will it be enough for them to cover?

The Wolverines are using a quarterback by committee to start the season as Harbaugh hasn't announced a full time starter after both Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy were part of the CFP team and also need to replace the likes of No. 2 defensive end Aidan Hutchinson on the defense.

Michigan is incentivized to play hard through the game despite a lead as McNamara is set to be the starter this week and McCarthy is the start in Week 2, which is leading me to the over. Colorado State may struggle to stay close, but they can also look to score against a Michigan defense that has to replace so many key contributors. and also have a new defensive coordinator.

I do lean towards the Michigan side given the severe talent gap, but also think this game can go over the total (it's up 4.5 points from open) given that Michigan has only four starters back on D.

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