Make Your Pick: Michigan vs. Bowling Green

Michigan will look to improve to 3-0 this weekend as it hosts the Bowling Green Falcons.

Michigan has had two pretty easy wins over ECU and UNLV, and this week's game against Bowling Green should make No. 3. The Wolverines are favored by a massive 40.5 points over Bowling Green, which is a larger spread than the first two games. Michigan hasn't covered yet, and might not again, but the Wolverines are expected to roll the Falcons. Here's how we see it playing out.

Chris Breiler

The No. 2 Michigan Wolverines will finish out the non-conference portion of their schedule on Saturday night at home against Bowling Green. My gut tells me it will be another efficient performance from JJ McCarthy and that senior wideout Roman Wilson will continue to shine.

The biggest question for me is whether or not Donovan Edwards will finally find his footing. Edwards had just nine yards on six attempts against UNLV, and his season total after two weeks is pretty far off from what most expected entering the 2023 campaign.

The Wolverines win another one convincingly, and Donovan Edwards goes off for 125+.

Michigan 41, BGSU 6

Brandon Brown

We've seen a very similar approach and outcome during the first two weeks of the season and I think it continues into week three. Jim Harbaugh isn't back yet, so this week it'll be Sherrone Moore running the show. I think that means a continued focus on running the ball, even though it hasn't been overly effective, plenty of controlling the clock and not many deep shots downfield. It'll likely be another offensive approach that will work just fine right now, but would not against the likes of Penn State or Ohio State.

On defense, I expect more of the same as well. While the starters are in, they'll dominate and keep Bowling Green off the scoreboard, and then later on in the game, with third and fourth stringers, walk ons and freshmen in the game, Bowling Green will score some meaningless points.

All in all, it'll feel like Groundhog's Day. The game won't be that exciting, it probably won't have too many big, splash plays and then U-M will be 3-0 after another 30-plus point win. This prediction isn't a knock on the team or its potential, but rather a realization that the coaches are just fine playing inferior opponents this way in order to keep the roster healthy.

Michigan 42, Bowling Green 7

Trent Knoop

The Wolverines have yet to cover the large spread so far this season, but I think that may end on Saturday night. Michigan wants to get its run game rolling before Big Ten play begins and the Wolverines have the chance to get that done agains the Falcons. BGSU ranks 102nd in the nation in run defense and the Falcons’ pass defense isn’t much better. I think J.J. McCarthy keeps doing his thing and between Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards — the Michigan run offense does its thing too.

Michigan 48, Bowling Green 3