Colorado State vs Michigan Odds & Picks

• #8 Michigan is a 30-point home favorite over Colorado State on Saturday
• The teams have met only once before with Michigan winning the 1994 Holiday Bowl
• A look at the Colorado State vs Michigan odds can be found below with a pick

The #8 Michigan Wolverines will try to build off the momentum they gained last season when they host Colorado State at 12:00 pm ET Saturday in the season-opener for both teams at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

Michigan went 12-2 a year ago while winning its first Big Ten title since 2004 and making its first-ever appearance in the CFP. Colorado State made a coaching change after going 3-9 in 2021 under Steve Addazio, bringing in Jay Norvell from Mountain West Conference rival Nevada.

Colorado State vs Michigan Odds

Odds as of August 31st at Barstool Sportsbook.

In a game that will be broadcast by ABC, Michigan is a 30-point favorite after opening at -28. The weather forecast calls for a high of 88 degrees, partly sunny, southwest wind at 9 mph and a 20% chance of precipitation.

Michigan has a 99.01% expected win probability as a -10000 favorite on the moneyline. The Wolverines have +5000 national championship odds.

Colorado State Betting Trends

Norvell brought 11 of his players to Colorado State from Nevada through the transfer portal. Included in that group is quarterback Clay Millen and wide receivers Melquan Stovall and Tory Horton.

Clay Millen with a 40-yard dime to Melquan Stovall. Great throw & a phenomenal grab. pic.twitter.com/TvjmaZ4ke6

— Justin Michael (@JustinTMichael) April 9, 2022

Millen threw just two passes last season as a freshman as he was Nevada’s third-string quarterback. However, he will run the Colorado State offense this season, which could use an upgrade after the Rams averaged just 23.7 points a game in 2021.

Stovall was Nevada’s second-leading receiver last season with 56 catches for 643 yards and one touchdown. Horton had 52 receptions for 659 yards and five TDs.

Millen will be operating behind an all-new line. Thus, it might take time for the offense to jell.

Colorado State returns six starters on each side of the ball, including linebacker Cam’Ron Carter.

𝙎𝘼𝘾𝙆𝙀𝘿 🔥

Can always count Cam’ron Carter to come up 𝗕𝗜𝗚.#RamClash 🤜🤛 pic.twitter.com/Usqa56itbJ

— Colorado State Football (@CSUFootball) November 8, 2020

Carter was a bright spot in an otherwise dismal 2021 season for the Rams. He led the team with 100 tackles and registered six sacks.

Michigan Betting Trends

Cade McNamara will start at quarterback for Michigan after leading it the Wolverines to the CFP last season, where it lost to eventual national champion Georgia in the semifinals. However, that doesn’t mean McNamara is necessarily coach Jim Harbaugh’s QB1.

Harbaugh plans to start McNamara on Saturday then have J.J. McCarthy start against Hawaii the following week. The competition could continue through the early weeks of the season.

5 days till 〽️Football.

No. 5 on our list of 2021 TOP PLAYS.

Cade McNamara hits true freshman Andrel Anthony in stride for the EXPLOSIVE 93-yd TD. pic.twitter.com/sjKNOVkb1Y

— MaizeandGoBlue (@maizeandgoblue) August 29, 2022

Last year, McNamara completed 62.4% of his passing attempts for 2,576 yards and 15 touchdowns with six interceptions. McCarthy missed spring practice with a shoulder injury but will be available to play against Colorado State.

McNamara has plenty of familiar targets back in wide receivers Cornelius Johnson, Roman Wilson and Ronnie Bell along with tight end Erick All.

Johnson had a team-high 40 catches last year for 627 and three touchdowns. The explosive Bell sustained a season-ending knee injury in last year’s opener.

Michigan has nine returning offensive starters. Though the Wolverines lost top rusher Hassan Haskins to the NFL, Blake Corum is back after running for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.

“@blake_corum is a Human Joystick” -Trevor Sikkema #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/2FUcPlOq3u

— MGo🫘 (@MJoeBean) July 28, 2022

Michigan may have to lean on the offense early in the season as the defense returns just four starters. However, defensive end Mike Morris draws favorable comparisons to Aidan Hutchinson, who finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting last season then was selected second overall in the NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.

Colorado State vs Michigan Prediction

There is scant history between the two schools. In the lone matchup, Michigan prevailed 24-14 in the 1994 Holiday Bowl.

Michigan’s offense shouldn’t show much rust on opening day considering its experience. Conversely, Colorado State is starting a new quarterback and has a new line. The Wolverines are the way to go here.

Pick: Michigan -30 (-112)