When Michigan originally hired Jim Harbaugh as head coach in 2015, the Wolverines undoubtedly had visions of consistent excellence. For the most part, those hopes never really materialized in Harbaugh’s first six seasons. Sure, the Wolverines would enjoy 10-win campaigns now and then, but they could never beat Ohio State. As such, high expectations were never met in Ann Arbor.
Last year was finally different. In the most recent iteration of “The Game,” Harbaugh, Aidan Hutchinson and Hassan Haskins ran all over (almost quite literally) the hotshot Buckeyes in a 42-27 shellacking in Ann Arbor. The win gave Michigan its first Big Ten title since 2004, and Harbaugh finally gave the Wolverines a seat at the table of college football’s elite.
While Michigan and Harbaugh have an easy schedule in 2022 and undoubtedly want to build on that with a promising recruiting class — those sparkling results of last fall will be tough to replicate. After all, C.J. Stroud still throws the ball for Ohio State, and you can bet many of the returning Buckeyes have a bad taste in their mouth from that humiliating defeat.
Currently, oddsmakers with Tipico Sportsbook have Michigan at Yes (+450) and No (-649) to reach this season’s College Football Playoff. Those seem like relatively … robust numbers for the Wolverines, honestly. Numbers I’m afraid I have to disagree with. Harbaugh should’ve jumped to the NFL when he still had the chance.
The pick: Michigan to reach College Football Playoff NO (-649), but you might want to wait for a better price later in the season.
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