Michigan football is headed back to the College Football Playoff and here are some early predictions that concern the Wolverines.
College football bowl games will start this week but unfortunately, we still have nearly three weeks to wait for Michigan football to face TCU in the College Football playoff.
The focus of the last week has been the transfer portal, recruiting, and the postseason awards (Blake Corum got screwed) but there hasn’t been as much talk about TCU.
We took an early look at the matchup last week and it’s going to be an exciting game. Max Duggan finished as the Heisman Trophy runner-up and this TCU is better than people think.
Michigan football is a solid favorite to start but that doesn’t matter. Michigan was a double-digit favorite against Illinois and needed a last-second field goal to win.
TCU’s defense isn’t great though. The Horned Frogs allowed 4.1 yards per rushing attempt this season and 25 points per game which ranks 58th in the FBS.
Michigan football, for the record, is ranked 7th in the FBS in scoring (40.1) while the defense is ranked fifth after allowing 13.4 points per game.
We’ll have plenty of time to delve deep into the playoff matchup with TCU. But here are some early predictions on what we think will happen in the 2022-23 College Football Playoff.
Michigan football will beat TCU
TCU is a good team. Really good. The Horned Frogs beat every team they faced this season (1-1 record against Kansas State) and only Michigan and Georgia can say that.
Duggan is a veteran who wasn’t even expected to start this season. He started the second game after an injury and nearly won the Heisman. Even Jim Harbaugh praised his competitiveness after the Big 12 title game because how could you watch the game and not admire this kid?
He’s a warrior. But Michigan football is a team on a mission. Kansas State beat TCU because it played better in the trenches and that’s an area the Wolverines should have an edge.
Michigan has the best offensive line in the country, one of the best run defenses, and a pass rush that should be full-go with Mike Morris.
TCU is going to score and I think it will be close throughout. However, I see Michigan pulling away in the second half.
The offensive and defensive lines will wear down the Horned Frogs and I’m going to say Michigan winds up winning by 10 thanks to a late interception and a Jake Moody field goal.
If it happens, it would be the first time since 1997 that Michigan has had a chance to play for a national title and the first time ever in the BCS era and beyond.