NCAA Football
2025-09-13 - Central Michigan at Michigan Wolverines
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : College Football Week 3
Saturday 13th September 2025 - Scheduled 12pm
5pm (British Time)
Preview
It was a really disappointing season as defending National Champions and the Michigan Wolverines (1-1) are trying to bounce back from a defeat at the Oklahoma Sooners in Week 2. They finished with an 8-5 record in 2024, but the Wolverines were the last team to beat the Ohio State Buckeyes and the fans will be demanding they find a way to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff this time around.
Losing to the Sooners stings, but the Michigan Wolverines do have a schedule that will give them a chance to prove they are worthy of having a spot in the twelve team Playoff later in the year.
Michigan have a big game coming up at the home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, but the defeat last week should have refocused the team, even if Head Coach Sherrone Moore is serving the first of a two game suspension. He will be watching on and looking for a reaction from his team.
The Wolverines look to be facing a good opponent in the Central Michigan Chippewas (1-1) who are in the first year under a new Head Coach having finished 4-8 last season. The blowout loss at the home of the Pittsburgh Panthers is a reminder that it will take time to learn the methods of Matt Drinkel, a Head Coach who wants his team to run the ball and set things up from there.
It was a real problem for the Chippewas in that defeat to the Panthers and they are not expected to have a lot of joy going up against this Michigan Defensive Line. Despite the defeat last week to the Sooners, Michigan played well on this side of the ball and they have the strength and power up front to close down the running lanes and force Central Michigan to take to the air.
Rod Moore could be back to play some snaps in the Secondary after a serious injury suffered last season and that is going to be a boost for the Wolverines. They are also facing a Central Michigan team giving all of their Quarter Backs a chance to impress and the Wolverines should be able to contain much of the Offensive threat over the course of the four Quarters to be played.
This game also gives the Wolverines a chance to open up the playbook Offensively as they look to find some rhythm on this side of the ball.
The Offensive Line should be able to have their way against the Chippewas Defensive Line and that is going to open things up for the Michigan Wolverines and their young Quarter Back. The likelihood is that Michigan will rip off some big gains on the ground and that should really give Bryce Underwood an opportunity to show why he was so heavily recruited ahead of his College career.
Bryce Underwood found it tough against the Sooners, but this is a much weaker Secondary and the Quarter Back should be playing from manageable field positions.
This is the biggest spread that Michigan will have faced since Jim Harbaugh returned to the NFL, and they failed to cover as a 20+ favourite on two occasions last season. The Wolverines also failed to cover as a big home favourite in the win over New Mexico in Week 1, but the Chippewas were well beaten by the Panthers and could struggle to stick with the angry hosts in Week 3.
Prediction
Lay the points with the home favourite as they look to bounce back from a Week 2 loss.
The Pick :
Michigan Wolverines 44-13 Central Michigan
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Michigan Wolverines - 27.5 Points at -111 with BetOnline
