The Michigan Wolverines and Colorado State Rams meet for the second time in college football history on Saturday. Michigan and Colorado State square off for the first time since 1994, and the meeting is the season opener for both teams. Michigan Stadium hosts the proceedings in Ann Arbor, and Michigan was 12-2 on the way to the Big Ten title last season. Colorado State finished 3-9 and hired a new head coach in Jay Norvell.
Kickoff is at noon ET. The Wolverines are 31-point favorites in the latest Michigan vs. Colorado State odds from Caesars Sportsbook. The over/under for total points is up to 61.5 after opening at 57. Before finalizing any Colorado State vs. Michigan picks, you need to see the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past six-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,600 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It enters Week 1 of the 2022 college football season on a 45-32 run on all top-rated college football spread and money-line picks that dates back to 2021. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Colorado State vs. Michigan and just locked in its picks and CFB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Now, here are several college football odds and betting lines for Michigan vs. Colorado State:
- Michigan vs. Colorado State spread: Michigan -31
- Michigan vs. Colorado State over/under: 61.5 points
- Michigan vs. Colorado State money line: Michigan -15000, CSU +2200
- CSU: The Rams ranked near the top of FBS with 39 sacks in 2021
- MICH: The Wolverines are coming off a Big Ten title and a 12-win season
- Michigan vs. Colorado State picks: See picks here.
Why Colorado State can cover
The Rams have an overhauled roster and a new leader at the top in Norvell. The new head coach arrives from Nevada where he reached four bowl games and posted a 33-26 overall record across five seasons. Norvell is a noted program builder, and he also brings considerable talent with him from his previous stop via the transfer portal. Quarterback Clay Millen is a former four-star prospect, and he is set to take the helm at the position for Colorado State.
Norvell also brings Tory Horton and Melquan Stovall from Nevada at the wide receiver position, with Horton producing 659 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season and Stovall adding 56 catches for 643 yards. Colorado State also returns its top two wide receivers from 2021 in Dante Wright and Ty McCullouch, rounding out what could be an impressive offensive group from a talent perspective. The Rams are also facing a Michigan defense that projects to be weaker than it was in 2021 after the loss of three of the top 45 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft on that side of the ball.
Why Michigan can cover
Michigan's offense projects to be excellent in 2022 after a strong 2021 performance. The Wolverines ranked in the top three of the Big Ten in total offense and scoring offense last season, and Michigan's rushing attack led the Big Ten in yards and touchdowns. Michigan's offensive line projects to be elite in 2022 after allowing only 14 sacks all of last season, and the Wolverines return a pair of strong quarterbacks to go along with a diverse and talented group of skill players. On the other end, the defense should also be potent, even after losing high-end talent to the NFL.
Michigan led the Big Ten in scoring defense last season and swallowed up opponents in the passing game, allowing a 55.9% completion rate, only 6.0 yards per attempt, and only 13 passing touchdowns. Opponents also generated only 3.5 yards per carry against Michigan last season, and Colorado State has floundered in the recent past. The Rams are just 11-29 in the last four seasons, and Colorado State lost and failed to cover the spread in the final six games of the 2021 campaign. Colorado State is also on a 22-game losing streak against AP-ranked opponents.
How to make Colorado State vs. Michigan picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the point total, with neither team projected to have an 80-yard rusher. The model also says one side of the spread hits in 70% of simulations. You can only see the model's Colorado State vs. Michigan pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Colorado State vs. Michigan? And which side of the spread hits in 70% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Colorado State vs. Michigan spread you need to jump on Saturday, all from the model that has crushed its college football picks, and find out.