Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Michigan Wolverines Picks and Prediction for Saturday, September 13th
The Central Michigan Chippewas (1-1, 1-1 ATS, 1-1 O/U) take on the Michigan Wolverines (1-1, 0-2 ATS, 1-1 O/U) in a state rivalry showdown on Saturday afternoon, and we have the prediction. The Chippewas were dealt a loss by Pittsburgh last week. The Wolverines were charged with a road defeat against Oklahoma in their second game of the season.
Can Michigan take this one by more than 28 points on Saturday? Check out the Chippewas vs. Wolverines prediction. When it comes to college football selections, our NCAAF Predictions are stellar.
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Central Michigan Dealt First Loss of Season
The Central Michigan Chippewas are seeking their second win of the young season. The squad enjoyed a great opener, posting a 16-14 upset road win against San Jose State in a clash that had the Chippewas marked as huge 14-point dogs. They remained on the road last week against another tough opponent and dropped a 45-17 decision against Pittsburgh of the ACC. They were 21.5-point dogs. The Chippewas are not considered contenders in the MAC this season.
CMU has used three different QBs. Joe Labas has seen most of the action under center. The senior QB was sharp in the defeat last week, converting 78% of his passes. He has amassed 145 passing yards with one TD in two games. Jadyn Glasser went 7 for 9 for 78 yards in his season debut last week. Nahree Biggins has been a threat on the ground. The senior running back has recorded 112 yards. Trey Cornish also has 112 rushing yards.
Central Michigan lost most of its top receivers from last season. DeCorian Temple made five catches last season and already has brought in five receptions for 36 yards. The Central Michigan offense has been stagnant. They posted 351 yards in the opener and only managed 217 yards last week.
The Chippewas' defense was outstanding against San Jose State, keeping them to 353 yards on the road. They struggled as expected last week and have conceded an average of 423 yards per game in two games. Dakota Cochran is a key player on defense. The senior linebacker has made 11 tackles. The pass defense has been a weakness, ranking 130th. The rush defense has been stingy, ranking 45th.
Central Michigan averaged 22.6 points last season and 16.5 points this season, ranking them 117th. They squandered an average of 29.7 points last year and have surrendered an average of 29.5 points this season, ranking them 106th.
Michigan Seeks Rebound After Road Defeat
The Michigan Wolverines are eager to get back into action on Saturday. Michigan won its season opener in a 34-17 triumph against New Mexico, but did not cover the mammoth 35-point spread. Next, the Wolverines headed on the road and were charged with a 24-13 road loss against a ranked Oklahoma squad. The Wolverines were four-point dogs in that one. The offense is expected to be better than last season, but it had no answer for the Sooners' defense last week. They dropped to #23 in this week's edition of the AP Top 25.
There is a ton of excitement surrounding Michigan QB Bryce Underwood. The freshman was outstanding in the win against New Mexico, recording 251 passing yards. Underwood was not as dangerous against a tough defense last week, netting 142 passing yards. This totals to 393 passing yards with one TD and no picks on the young season.
Justice Haynes is poised for a big season. The junior RB has been dominant, posting 159 rushing yards in the opener and 125 rushing yards against Oklahoma, resulting in 245 yards in two games. Marlin Klein only had 108 receiving yards in 2024 and already has 93 yards in one game. He did not play last week due to an ankle injury and is questionable. Semaj Morgan is the leading returning receiver from last year. The junior wideout has five receptions for 52 yards. The Michigan offense has averaged just 370 yards in two games.
The Wolverines' defense is the strength of the team. They had two players drafted in the 1st round to the NFL, but have plenty of returning players and new transfers. Ernest Hausmann led the team in tackles last year, and the senior linebacker has 19 combined tackles this season. The Wolverines conceded 450 yards last week and an average of 337 yards in two games. The pass defense struggled last week, giving up 270 passing yards. The pass defense is 98th after two games, and the rush defense has been strong, coming in at 39th.
Michigan posted an average of 22 points last season and has averaged 23.5 points in two games, ranking them 95th. They held opponents to 19.9 points last year and have conceded an average of 20.5 points in two games, placing them 65th.
Central Michigan vs. Michigan Pick
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Earle Sports Bets | +2,298.00 |
| 2 |  Ross Benjamin | +1,840.00 |
| 3 |  Rob Vincilleti | +1,757.00 |
| 4 |  David Hess | +1,745.00 |
| 5 |  Dan Kaiser | +987.00 |
Central Michigan vs. Michigan Spread Pick
- Michigan Wolverines -28 (5 units)
The Central Michigan Chippewas are not ready to be a competitor in the MAC this year, as they were voted to finish ninth in the conference poll voted by coaches. They lost by 28 points against Pittsburgh last week. The Michigan Wolverines are not happy after losing last week, but it was on the road against a ranked Oklahoma squad.
Furthermore, the Central Michigan offense was a huge weakness last season and has only managed 16 and 17 points in two games this season. The Wolverines' defense has yet to really find a groove, but it is better than seen so far. The unit did keep New Mexico to only 217 total yards in the opener. Offensively, Michigan should thrive. Bryce Underwood is a five-star QB and is up against a Chippewas pass defense that was among the worst in the country last year and has been just as bad this season. They are squandering an average of 324 passing yards in two games, pegging them at 130th.
Central Michigan vs. Michigan Over/Under Pick
- Under 42.5 (5 units)
I expect this one to go under. Central Michigan does not have a proven offense. They have opted heavily for the run, which should result in extended drives. Also, Central Michigan's best chance to generate points is on the ground, but they are up against a stingy Wolverines rush defense that is ranked 38th.
In addition, the Michigan offense was kept in check last week, managing just 288 total yards. The offense has yet to prove it is better than last season. The Chippewas only conceded 14 points on the road against San Jose State in the opener. Also, Michigan has opted for more running plays after two games, and the Chippewas' rush defense has been a strength, ranking 45th. The under is a convincing 5-1 in the Chippewas' past six games.
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