The Fresno State Bulldogs make the trip to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to take on the ninth-ranked Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, August 31, at 7:30 PM ET. The Wolverines are favored with a point spread at -21.0 (-115).
The Bulldogs' record last season was respectable, 9-4, and they are confident in themselves heading into this year. They went 4-4 in the Mountain West Conference and were 3-3 on the road overall.
Tom Skipper takes over for coaching and brings forth a unique style. He will have Mike Keene back as quarterback, so this should make the transition more accessible for the offense.
Keene had 24 touchdowns but also had a lot of relief from Malik Sheerer gaining slightly under 1,000 rushing yards. They must make big plays in critical matchups and help carry the load offensively.
The defense was a toss-up whenever they faced stronger teams. They looked solid in several instances to hold opponents back, but they struggled against better offensive teams.
The Wolverines are coming from the National Championship season with a 34-13 win over the second-ranked Washington Huskies. They also went 15-0 overall and 9-0 in the Big 10 East (7-0 at home).
With that being said, this is an entirely different-looking team. Head coach Jim Harbaugh moved on to the NFL, and they no longer have JJ McCarthy as their starting quarterback. Now, they have Alex Orji as the projected starter, but there is talk of having multiple players to fight for this position.
Tyler Morris is a talented wide receiver who is also expected to be a kick returner. The offense does not really have huge playmakers, but it can steadily rack up points over the course of the game. As for the defense, it still has a healthy core from last season.
Both exciting defensive tackles, Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant are back in the lineup. With their experience, they can help lead this defensive unit. This should bode well for most of their games until they figure out their offense.
MyBookie offers the college football betting odds you need for the Fresno State Bulldogs vs. Michigan Wolverines showdown, favoring the Wolverines. They are currently 21.0-point favorites to find success at home. Will they be able to set the tone early, or can the Bulldogs make a run in the first half?
Market insights suggest the Wolverines have an 89.0 percent likelihood of winning. They have an excellent case for victory, but their offense could struggle early. Look for the Wolverines to have a competitive defense and eventually break away late in the game to cover the spread.
