The wait for Michigan football fans finally ends on Saturday night. U-M will begin the defense of its national championship against Fresno State, a team that won nine games last season.
This isn't like playing Hawaii or Bowling Green. If Michigan football isn't careful or isn't on point, Fresno State is good enough to keep this interesting. Who knows, maybe they can shock the world.
In order to prevent that from happening, Michigan football needs to play well on offense and show everyone why some believe their defense could be the best in college football, just like it was last season.
Michigan football is a 21-point favorite and here are five predictions for the Wolverines and the Bulldogs and a score prediction.
Donovan Edwards hits the century mark
Much of the conversation has centered around the quarterback position and who will start. Davis Warren has been gaining momentum and the program insiders now believe that he'll get the start on Saturday against Fresno State instead of Alex Orji.
I want to see the quarterbacks play well, but people have forgotten about the Michigan football running game. You know that Fresno State is going to stack the box.
However, Michigan is used to that. The offensive line might have a couple of surprise starters but I'm excited about that group and Edwards will break off at least one long run and he'll find the end zone a couple of times in his first game as starting running back since 2022.
Will Johnson opens the season with an interception
Another guy I'm really excited about is Will Johnson, for obvious reasons. The former five-star cornerback has intercepted seven passes over the past two seasons and had picks against Ohio State and in the national championship game.
However, Johnson also said earlier this offseason that he was dealing with injuries in 2023. He wasn't 100 percent and it's going to be scary for offenses for Michigan to have him at full strength.
I don't see Fresno State having much success running the ball. Fresno State has Malik Sherrod, who was just shy of 1,000 yards last season. But the Bulldogs averaged just 3.7 yards per attempt.
With Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, and the rest of the Michigan football defensive line, it's hard for me to see Fresno State getting any movement and the linebackers shoud be free to clean things up.
Fresno State has a stellar quarterback in Mikey Keene. He came up just short of 3,000 yards passing and if the Bulldogs are forced to be one-dimensional, I don't see them being afraid to throw it around.
That will give Johnson ample opportunity to make one of those eye-opening plays he's become famous for the past two seasons.
Both quarterbacks throw touchdown passes
If Davis Warren does win the starting job, it will be due to his superior passing talent. Warren threw the ball better than Alex Orji in the spring game.
Orji is going to have a role in the offense even if he's not the starting quarterback. Offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell said that this offseason and Orji even had a role last season with J.J. McCarthy playing quarterback.
Michigan's wide receiver talent is being underestimated. Tyler Morris was a former top-100 recruit. Colston Loveland is going to be a first-round pick and Semaj Morgan is a star in the making, even though he was only a three-star recruit. There's a reason Jim Harbaugh was at his house doing dishes when he was a recruit.
In terms of Warren, I think he'll throw at least one touchdown pass in his debut. I also think that Orji will find the end zone as a runner. Once Michigan gets into the red zone, it wouldn't shock me to see Orji get a chance and it could be a more of a two-quarterback system.
Orji might run for a touchdown, but I think he'll pass for one too. Fresno State will assume he's going to run and I think Sherrone Moore will have something dialed up.
The defense makes a statement
It might be hard to make a statement against Fresno State on defense but this was a nine-win team last season and they have an offense that's good enough to move the ball on most teams.
However, Michigan football is going to flex its muscle on defense. I don't see the Wolverines giving up in terms of points. Wink Martindale is coaching his first game as defensive coordinator and I don't think he'll hold back that much.
The Wolverines have to get comfortable playing in his system and that's about attacking. I believe the pass rush will be better and when it's all said and done, I think Michigan football holds Fresno State under 14 points, forces two takeaways, and gets five sacks.
This defensive line is as good as any in college football and that will be on full display Saturday.
Semaj Morgan has a day
I have a feeling that we'll see a few explosive plays from Semaj Morgan. There has been talk about him taking a leap all offeason and I'm excited to see how Michigan football gets the ball into his hands.
Truly, Morgan can be a terror in the slot. The Wolverines will probably use more screens, especially with a guy like Colston Loveland out there to block and Morgan will make his way into the end zone on Saturday.
Michigan's receiving group is more dynamic than folks realize and they will make teams tackle them. Tyler Morris had that catch-and-run touchdown in the Rose Bowl. Morgan is dynamic with the ball in his hands and will be an ever better wide receiver.
I feel like 100 total yards (rushing and receiving) is doable for Morgan along with a touchdown in the season opener.
Michigan football vs. Fresno State score prediction
I think Michigan is hungry to prove a point. They know that Fresno State is good enough to make this interesting but I think U-M will be sharp and the Wolverines will dominate the line of scrimmage.
The quarterback play will be good enough and they will cover the spread, 38-13.