Full game-by-game predictions (including bowl) for Michigan football this season

Last season, Michigan football team was unranked and coming off a losing season. Now, the Wolverines are the defending Big Ten champions and went to the playoff. Most of the team's offensive weapons are back, but the defense lost two elite pass rushers and its entire starting secondary.

Michigan football will play Colorado State on September 3 in Ann Arbor. Cade McNamara will start at quarterback. Colorado is starting a new regime and overhauled the roster with transfers.

Hawaii lost to Vanderbilt 63-10 last weekend. Michigan and Hawaii are playing each other on September 10 in Ann Arbor. J.J. McCarthy will start for Hawaii.

The game is on September 17 in Ann Arbor. The game will be played against a team that is off to a bad start. Jim Mora's team is struggling to find a starting quarterback. The team didn't play in 2020 and finished with a combined record of 3-21.

Michigan beat Maryland 59-18 in their home game last November. The game will be played on September 24 in Ann Arbor. Mike Locksley's team won seven games last season, including a bowl game.

The first game of the season is on October 1 in Iowa City. The game is a litmus test for the team. Michigan won in some tough environments last season, namely Nebraska and Penn State. This is one of most important games on the schedule.

Michigan plays Indiana on October 8 in Bloomington. The game is a crucial one for Michigan if they lose to Iowa the following week. If they win, it's a trap game ahead of Penn State. Indiana didn't win a Big Ten game last season. Michigan won the last time they played in Indiana in 2020.

Sean Clifford and Penn State are playing Michigan on October 15 in Ann Arbor. Penn Staters lost to Michigan last year, but James Franklin signed a new 10-year contract extension. Clifford threw four touchdown passes in the opener at Purdue, and he also completed just 20 of 37 attempts.

Michigan and Michigan State play each other on October 29 in Ann Arbor. Last year, Michigan lost to Michigan. The game is always a battle between the two teams. Michigan suffered their only regular season loss in East Lansing last year. It hasn't mattered whether Michigan was a playoff team or a mediocre team under Harbaugh.

Rutgers and Michigan are playing each other on November 5 in Piscataway. Rutgers gave Michigan a scare last season. Michigan won the game last year. Michigan has a good record against middling teams in the Big Ten.

Nebraska blew an 11-point lead against Northwestern last weekend. Scott Frost's team plays Michigan on November 12 in Ann Arbor.   The eye test always benefits Frost-era Nebraska teams, but in the end they usually disappoint.

Illinois is the team Michigan plays before Ohio State on November 19 in Ann Arbor. The Illini are off to a good start after beating Wyoming last weekend. They play Indiana on Friday night in Week 2.

Michigan and Ohio State are playing each other on November 26 in Columbus. The game is at the Horseshoe. Michigan won The Game. Ryan Day talked about dropping 100 on Michigan. Michigan will not be going in scared. It would be one of the best wins in program history if Michigan found a way to pull an upset.

Michigan football is going to play in the Rose Bowl on January 2 in Pasadena. The team needs to finish 10-2 to be eligible for the College Football Playoff. Utah and Oregon are the best bets to vie for that final playoff spot. Alabama and Georgia are strong bets for returning to the playoff this season. If they finish the season 11-1, they will probably set up a rematch in conference title game.