Michigan vs. UNLV picks, predictions: College football Week 2 computer picks, betting odds, lines

Expert computer picks and predictions for Michigan vs. UNLV as the Week 2 college football schedule kicks off in the Big Ten on Saturday

Jim Harbaugh will serve his second self-imposed suspension out of three games he won't be on the sideline for as defending Big Ten champion Michigan welcomes UNLV to the Big House in college football's Week 2 action on Saturday.

Michigan fared well enough without him in the 2023 debut, beating East Carolina 30-3 thanks to a surefire connection between quarterback J.J. McCarthy and wide receiver Roman Wilson, a dynamic duo who connected on three touchdown plays.

UNLV introduced new head coach Barry Odom with a convincing 30-point win over Bryant in the opener thanks to a strong rushing performance in which the Rebels' backs scurried for 283 yards on the ground, including a 19-yard touchdown run by quarterback Doug Brumfield, a dual threat working behind center.

What do the experts think of the matchup? Let's see how the College Football Power Index computer prediction model projects the game.

Michigan vs. UNLV picks, predictions

Michigan vs. UNLV picks, predictions / USA Today Images

Michigan odds: The computers are expectedly siding with the Wolverines, who have the convincing 98.4 percent chance to win the game outright, according to the index models that pick winners by simulating games 20,000 times.

UNLV odds: That leaves the Rebels with the outside 1.6 percent shot to pull off the upset, according to the latest index simulations.

Point spread: Michigan comes into the game as 37.5 point favorites against UNLV, according to the lines from SI Sportsbook. Track it live

Total: 57.5 points

Moneyline: Michigan N/A | UNLV +1200

Michigan predictions: The Wolverines rated as the No. 7 team on the index's 133 college football rankings based on a projected per-game scoring margin of 20.5 points against average opponents. FPI also projects Michigan will win 9.9 games this season and has a 15.4 percent shot at winning the Big Ten, behind Ohio State.

UNLV predictions: The index ranks the Rebels as the No. 116 team nationally and projects it will be 11.4 points worse than an average opponent on a neutral field, estimated to win 5.5 games this season.

Michigan vs. UNLV schedule

When: Sat., Sept. 9
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET, 12:30 p.m. PT
TV: CBS network
Stream: fuboTV (Try for free)

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College Football Power Index

Football Power Index (FPI) college football rankings and computer prediction model are a measure of team strength that predicts a team’s future performance.

Rankings and scores predictions are based on 20,000 simulations of a team’s season, using a combination of analytics, including scores to date, quality of opponents, and a team’s schedule.

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College football rankings

According to AP top 25 poll

1. Georgia (58)
2. Michigan (2)
3. Alabama
4. Florida State (3)
5. Ohio State
6. USC
7. Penn State
8. Washington
9. Tennessee
10. Notre Dame
11. Texas
12. Utah
13. Oregon
14. LSU
15. Kansas State
16. Oregon State
17. North Carolina
18. Oklahoma
19. Wisconsin
20. Ole Miss
21. Duke
22. Colorado
23. Texas A&M
24. Tulane
25. Clemson

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