Too early Michigan football 2023 game by game predictions

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While outside pundits will surely rip Michigan football for playing another non-conference schedule with three Group of Five programs, East Carolina was at least a solid team in 2022 at 8-5. Its losses were to NC State, Navy, Houston, Tulane and Cincinnati, meaning it beat all the teams it needed to and lost to the ones it needed to.

However, the Pirates lost quarterback Holton Ahlers, who passed for over 3,700 yards in 2022. Still, ECU prefers to throw the ball, though its defense is certainly lacking and ranked in the bottom quarter this past season.

Prediction:Michigan 52, East Carolina 13

Photo: Isaiah Hole

UNLV returns to The Big House for the first time since 2015, and the Rebels weren’t exactly stellar in 2022. After starting 4-1, they lost six straight before beating in-state rival Nevada 5-7. UNLV wasn’t particularly good on either side of the ball, and of the three non-conference foes, this should be the easiest. Expect many players to get a chance to make the Wolverines game.

Prediction:Michigan 48, UNLV 3

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Bowling Green finished 6-7, but lost to New Mexico State in a bowl game. Coached by a Michigan man, former QB Scot Loeffler and former Wolverines safeties coach Erik Campbell on staff, this is going to be nostalgic. Last season, the Falcons beat Marshall, which beat Notre Dame. So there is some swagger in this team, but it should be another superior opponent. Michigan sees a familiar face: Connor Bazelak transfers from Indiana.

Prediction: Michigan 55, BGSU 10

Photo: Isaiah Hole

Rutgers has played Michigan tough the last two and a half years, but the Maize and Blue pulled away in the second half of last year’s game. The Scarlet Knights have a strong defense and a terrible offense. While RU could enter this game full of confidence depending on how the early schedule plays out (Northwestern, Temple, Virginia Tech), it’s outmatched. Still, so was the 2021 team, but the game was tight in the end.

Prediction:Michigan 31, Rutgers 17

Photo: Isaiah Hole

Michigan is the reigning Bussin’ Bowl winner, but must travel to Lincoln to face a Cornhusker team that has been rebuilt under new head coach Matt Rhule. He brings talent, but there’s no telling how quickly he can turn it around. Still, this is Michigan’s first road game of the season, where anything can happen.

Prediction:Michigan 35, Nebraska 21

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This will likely be the Wolverines’ first real test this season, but Minnesota will likely take a step back after losing Tanner Morgan and Mo Ibrahim. Regardless, it will be tough, and it will be the first time the Wolverines have played in front of a packed house in Minneapolis since the 2015 win. Regardless, this is likely to be something of a statement game for the Maize and Blue. .

Prediction:Michigan 42, Minnesota 17

Photo: Isaiah Hole

Indiana has often played Michigan tough, but it does so more often in Bloomington than in Ann Arbor. It breaks in a new quarterback and other key pieces, but it likely already has big losses: the season opener vs Ohio State should set the tone early.

Prediction:Michigan 38, Indiana 10

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Michigan can’t possibly accept MSU very seriously considering what happened in the aftermath of last year’s game. While we’ve seen Michigan get complacent at times in this rivalry, don’t expect that this year. The Spartans are likely outmatched everywhere, but Mel Tucker will do whatever it takes to avenge a brutal loss in Ann Arbor in 2022.

Prediction:Michigan 45, MSU 13

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In the 2022 Big Ten Championship Game rematch, Purdue will enter head coach and quarterback Aidan O’Connell without Jeff Brohm. Still, Ryan Walters, a new coach coming on board after a successful stint as Illinois’ defensive coordinator, slowed the Wolverines last year. The question is: Does he have the personnel to produce a similar result?

Prediction:Michigan 28, Purdue 14

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The good news for Michigan is that it’s too late in the season for this to be a night game unless the Wolverines settle for something they won’t. The bad news is the new talent Nittany Lions working, like QB Drew Allar, have practically gone through the entire season and aren’t too inexperienced at this point. Happy Valley is one of the toughest places to play in the country, but Jim Harbaugh has two wins in four attempts there. While Penn State has relatively equal talent, we saw how that worked out last year.

Prediction:Michigan 35, Penn State 31

Photo: Isaiah Hole

This is yet another trap game of the season for the Wolverines, and the second to penultimate regular season game in College Park. Maryland returns QB Taulia Tagovailoa, who gave the Wolverines big last year. However, the last time Michigan traveled to Maryland, it won easily. But the same thing didn’t happen at Ohio State last year, so there’s no telling what will happen.

Prediction:Michigan 42, Maryland 28

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Donovan Edwards is still running. And God willing, Michigan will have a healthy Blake Corum available this time around. Ohio State’s defense didn’t hold up to scrutiny last year, despite the hiring of Jim Knowles to “fix” that side of the ball. Michigan returns most of its talent, while OSU loses star QB CJ Stroud, who never beat the Wolverines. Regardless of who is at the helm for the Buckeyes, they will have all the pressure, and with this one at home, Michigan will extend its winning streak to three straight.

Prediction:Michigan 48, Ohio State 20