This is an 8* SIDE WINNER on Michigan.

Yes, Michigan has a big target on its back this year, and teams will be looking to take advantage after the off-season coaching change. Yes, the Wolverines are transitioning to a new QB, but they still possess a Top 5 defense.

I'm not calling for an outright upset or anything, but I do think that the defending champs will, at the very least, keep this one competitive enough long enough to earn a comfortable ATS cover.

Quinn Ewers looked decent in his team's 52-0 win over Colorado State last weekend, going for 260 yards and three TD's. Steve Sarkisian lost four starting WR's from last year so the team is still also adjusting.

Davis Warren was 15 of 25 for 118 yards and a TD in Michigan's 30-10 win over Frenso State. Alex Orji was used sparingly, throwing the ball twice and running five times. We should expect to see more or Orji here as the team likely kept him under wraps on purpose for this difficult home contest.

Admittedly the Longhorns have a dynamic offense, but I say this still-dangerous Michigan defense will prove to play a big role in the final outcome of this one, with everything indeed pointing to a "nail-biter."

I'm grabbing the points, the play is MICHIGAN.

Good luck, NP