Michigan football game-by-game predictions for the 2024 season

Game 4: vs USC (Sept. 21)

Michigan football vs. USC will be a great matchup for college football fans. Just those traditional uniforms on a Saturday afternoon on CBS will be iconic.

The game should be interesting too. Michigan hasn't beaten USC in my living memory and the last two meetings were blowout wins by the Trojans in the Rose Bowl.

Lincoln Riley is being doubted for the first time in his career but I think his program responds. Miller Moss won the job in the bowl season last year at quarterback but I don't see him leading the Trojans to victory.

Again, Michigan will be too tough and too physical in the trenches for USC, which will prove to be the difference as U-M wins the Big Ten opener.

Prediction: Michigan 31, USC 24

Game 5: vs Minnesota (Sept. 28)

The schedule is challenging, but it's game five and Michigan football still won't have play a game outside of the Big House.

Minnesota is a respectable program under P.J. Fleck. Darius Taylor is one of the best running backs in the Big Ten and the defense is always good at taking the ball away.

That worries me with a young quarterback like Alex Orji, but the Gophers can't match up with Michigan football talent-wise. This will be a physical affair but the Wolverines win by three scores.

Prediction: Michigan 34, Minnesota 17