It took seven seasons, but Michigan finally achieved some major success in the Jim Harbaugh era. Beat Ohio State? Check. Win the Big-10 Championship? Check. Make it to the CFP Playoffs? Check.
That’s the great news. The bad news is that the Wolverines went out with a thud, losing 34-11 to eventual champions Georgia in the semifinals in a game that was 27-3 at the half.
Now the Wolverines are out to prove they are more than a one-year wonder.
They did it with one of the best defenses in the nation, one of the best rushing attacks, and a team that didn’t panic under pressure.
Their steady wins the race approach meant that big offensive plays were few and far between. But they led the entire nation in fewest tackles for losses per game, they led the Big-Ten in rushing, they were terrific on third downs and averaged 443 YPG.
This year as they try to take the next step, they’ll do it with two new co-offensive coordinators, but a mostly in tact offense, that could be a little bit better.
There’s a lot of talent at quarterback and the new featured back is Blake Corum who scored 11 touchdowns and ran for 952 yards in a supporting role last year.
A strong offensive line and a soft opening schedule should give them time to figure things out.
2022 Michigan Wolverines NCAA Football Futures Odds
- Odds to win the 2022-23 NCAA Championship: 40/1
- Odds to win the 2022 Big Ten Conferences: +550
- 2022 Regular Season Win Total: Over 9½ (-130)
- Odds to Make the Playoffs: Yes +450 | No -775
- 2022 Heisman Contenders: JJ McCarthy +8000 , Blake Corum +10000, Cade McNamara +15000 & Donovan Edwards +15000
- Official website: mgoblue.com
- Twitter Account : @UMichFootball
Odds to win the 2022-23 NCAA Championship: 40/1
Whether they can play for a national championship really depends on how well new -yet up and coming- defensive coordinator Jesse Minter can get a revamped defense to gel.
Number two overall pick Aidan Hutchinson along with David Ojabo are off to the pros and with them goes 25 of the team’s 34 sacks and the leadership along the defensive line.
A rotation of solid players must step up on the d-line and the same is true in the secondary with several players leaving.
Given how motivated Ohio State will be to reclaim their crown, it’s hard to back this edition of the Wolverines.
The Verdict: Skip it
Odds to win the 2022 Big 10 Conference: +550
The same obstacle that exists in winning the national championship, also exists in winning the Big 10. Michigan should be in the mix, but they are a half step behind their chief rivals. Ohio State also gets to host the game this year.
The Verdict: Skip it
2022 Regular Season Win Total: Over 9½ (-130)
In spite my being down on their odds to win titles, this team has 10 wins written all over it. The offense will be very good, or possibly even excellent. The defense will figure it out and the soft schedule certainly helps.
They start with four straight home games with the toughest being the last one against Maryland, a team they should beat easily.
They have just four road games overall and no game against Wisconsin this year.
The home slate includes matches against some of their biggest rivals in Penn State and Michigan State. They should get at least a split there. So even if they lose at Ohio State in the season finale, this team still has ten-win potential.
The Verdict: Worth the bet
Odds to Make the Playoffs: Yes +450 | No -775
The yes vote carries the odds of a favorite even though they have to get past Ohio State. As a result, better to skip it.
The Verdict: No -775
2022 Heisman Contenders: JJ McCarthy +8000, Blake Corum +10000, Cade McNamara +15000, Donavan Edwards +15000
One of McCarthy, or McNamara will start the season at quarterback. McNamara is a steady veteran, McCarthy has the higher ceiling, but is just 19 years old. The play book should open up somewhat this year with the return of WR Ronnie Bell who missed essentially the whole season. But this is still a team that relies on the run first for its success.
And speaking of the running backs, it should be a split backfield between Corum and Edwards. As a result, hard to see a path to a Heisman here either.
The Verdict: Best to skip them all
Odds According to Bovada as of August, 2022
Michigan Wolverines 2022 Schedule
| SEASON | |||
| Date | Time | Opponent | TV |
| 3-Sep | 12:00 p.m. | Colorado State* | ABC |
| 10-Sep | 8:00 p.m. | Hawaii* | BTN |
| 17-Sep | 12:00 p.m. | UConn* | ABC |
| 24-Sep | 12:00 p.m. | Maryland | FOX/FS1 |
| 1-Oct | at Iowa | ||
| 8-Oct | 12:00 p.m. | at Indiana | |
| 15-Oct | Penn State | ||
| 29-Oct | Michigan State | ||
| 5-Nov | at Rutgers | ||
| 12-Nov | Nebraska | ||
| 19-Nov | Illinois | ||
| 26-Nov | 12:00 p.m. | at Ohio State | FOX |
Home stadium: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
*Non-conference game – All times are in Eastern time
Bet on the Michigan Wolverines 2022 Season at Bovada Sportsbook.
