Jim Harbaugh has left a lasting impact at every level of football he's been involved in. He made his mark with the Stanford Cardinal in Palo Alto, led the San Francisco 49ers to success over four seasons, and recently returned the Michigan Wolverines to national prominence, winning the national championship. Unfortunately for the folks in Ann Arbor, Harbaugh returned to the NFL this past offseason, leaving the huddle without a bulk of last year’s championship roster. That said, this is the University of Michigan, and the cupboard is far from bare. The question now is whether Sherrone Moore and his retooled staff can get the program back into the College Football Playoff to defend their title. What we are concerned with here is whether the team will have enough to exceed or fall short of their win total odds, which are currently set at 9 at the online sportsbook, with heavy juice on the under. This suggests that the college football betting market isn’t optimistic about the Maize and Blue making a fourth straight CFP appearance.
College Football Season Wins Odds
Michigan Wolverines 2024-25 Regular Season Win Total Odds
Michigan Over 9 Wins +130
Michigan Under 9 Wins -160
A Case for the Over: The defense may only be returning four full-time starters from last year’s dominant unit, but the holdovers are among the best in the nation at their respective positions. Mason Graham will be the key figure on the defensive line, aiming to build on a season where he recorded 23 solo tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks. His efforts were crucial in helping the Wolverines limit opposing running games to just 90.0 yards per game (No. 6). Kenneth Grant, a formidable run-stuffer, will also contribute. While the defensive line focuses on stopping the run, the pass rush will be driven by the linebacker duo of Josiah Stewart and Derrick Moore, who combined for 72 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and nearly 15 tackles for loss. The secondary, led by Will Johnson—arguably the best lockdown cornerback in the country—will spearhead what is expected to be another outstanding defense. Backups and transfer portal additions will support new defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, who brings 20 years of NFL experience back to the collegiate landscape. If this unit can dominate early in the season and give the retooled offense time to find its rhythm, Michigan will be well-positioned to exceed its win total odds for the fourth straight year.
A Case for the Under: The loss of a quarterback the caliber of J.J. McCarthy would be challenging for any offense to overcome. Michigan faces this challenge with only one full-time starter returning. Fortunately, that starter is TE Colston Loveland, who had an impressive sophomore campaign with 649 yards and 4 TDs on 45 receptions. Donovan Edwards will step in for the departed Blake Corum, but again, his 1,362 scrimmage yards and 28 overall touchdowns will be sorely missed out of the backfield. The biggest concern, even more significant than QB Alex Orji's lack of collegiate experience, is the need to replace all five offensive linemen from last season’s stellar unit. That line paved the way for 4.5 yards per carry and allowed just 1.3 sacks per game. The offensive line is the life blood of any offense, and Michigan’s line has undergone a complete transfusion. While the talent is high, with players getting reps last season either at Michigan or with other programs, it will take time for the new line to gel. Time is a luxury Michigan doesn’t have if they aim to achieve a double-digit win tally and exceed the futures betting market’s expectations.
2024-25 Michigan Wolverines Schedule
| DATE | OPPONENT |
| Aug 31 | vs. Fresno State |
| Sep 7 | vs. Texas |
| Sep 14 | vs. Arkansas State |
| Sep 21 | vs. USC |
| Sep 28 | vs. Minnesota |
| Oct 5 | at Washington |
| Oct 12 | OFF |
| Oct 19 | at Illinois |
| Oct 26 | vs. Michigan State |
| Nov 2 | vs. Oregon |
| Nov 9 | at Indiana |
| Nov 16 | OFF |
| Nov 23 | vs. Northwestern |
| Nov 30 | at Ohio State |
While the outlook may seem grim with so many new faces aiming to replicate last season's success, Michigan still possesses the talent and coaching to stay in the College Football Playoff discussion, provided the breaks fall their way early on. That home game against Texas is one of three matchups linemakers currently have the Wolverines lined as underdogs in the “Game of the Year” college football betting lines. The other two are against Oregon and at Ohio State. If Michigan loses each of those games, the best outcome CFB bettors can hope for is a push on the win total odds if optimistic about Michigan cashing over tickets at an attractive plus-money rate of return. With games also lined up against USC, at Washington, at Illinois, and Michigan State, and the target squarely on the Wolverines' back, I’ll take a cautious approach and lay the chalk on the under.
College Football Win Total Prediction: Michigan Wolverines Under 9 Wins
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