Week 2 of the 2024 college football season features an early doozy in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The No. 3 Texas Longhorns’ trip north to take on the reigning national champs, No. 10 Michigan, is the first top-10 vs. top-10 battle of the young CFB season.
Texas-Michigan, which kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on FOX, pits two teams that reached the four-team College Football Playoff in 2023. The Longhorns came up just short of a national championship game appearance, losing to Washington in the semifinals, while Michigan completed a remarkable undefeated season with CFP wins over Alabama and Washington.
Both UT and U-M lost a ton of players to the 2024 NFL Draft. Expectations for this season are significantly higher for Texas, though, thanks largely to the return of star QB Quinn Ewers.
Based on its showing in Week 1, Michigan’s QB situation is one of the worst of any team in the top 25.
Texas vs. Michigan Betting Odds
Below are the odds for Saturday’s game in three markets: the spread, moneyline and total.
| DraftKings | FanDuel | ESPN BET | bet365 | |
| UT spread | -7 (-112) | -7.5 (EVEN) | -7 (-110) | -7 (-115) |
| U-M spread | +7 (-108) | +7.5 (-122) | +7 (-110) | +7 (-105) |
| UT ML | -278 | -275 | -300 | -280 |
| U-M ML | +225 | +220 | +250 | +230 |
| Total | 41.5 (o-110; u-110) | 41.5 (o-112; u-108) | 42.5 (o EVEN; u-120) | 41.5 (o-110; u-110) |
$250 BONUS BETS
DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOK
$1,000 FIRST BET RESET (MUST USE CODE NEWSWEEK)
ESPN BET
UP TO $1,000 BONUS BETS
FANATICS SPORTSBOOK
$1,500 FIRST-BET OFFER
BETMGM
$200 BONUS OR $1,000 FIRST-BET SAFETY NET
BET365
$1,000 FIRST BET
CAESARS SPORTSBOOK
$200 BONUS BETS
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK
Texas vs. Michigan Betting Preview
Texas Longhorns Betting News, Analysis
Few teams in the country could lose the amount of talent to the NFL Draft that the Longhorns did last April and still have title aspirations the following season. But thanks to Ewers and what UT did in the transfer portal, that’s the case for coach Steve Sarkisian’s program, which is in its first season as a member of the SEC.
Last year’s top receivers (Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell and Jordan Whittington), tight end (Ja’Tavion Sanders) and running back (Jonathon Brooks) all left Austin for the draft, but the cupboard is far from bare after the portal additions of WRs Isaiah Bond from Alabama, Matthew Golden from Houston and Silas Bolden from Oregon State.
Ewers and the receiving talent on this roster, plus a veteran O-line anchored by future NFL tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. — who is one of four returning starters on the line — should make this offense one of the best in the nation.
On defense, Texas lost three first-team All-Big 12 players from a year ago (LB Jaylan Ford and D-linemen Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat), but added several starters from the transfer portal, including star DE Trey Moore from UTSA and former Clemson safety Andrew Mukuba.
Michigan Wolverines Betting News, Analysis
Speaking of teams that have to replace a lot from a year ago, Michigan is in its own category as far as roster and coaching staff attrition over the past year. The Wolverines did not just lose most of the stars of last year’s championship-winning squad. They also have a new coaching staff following Jim Harbaugh’s move to Michigan and subsequent hiring of several top assistants, including DC Jesse Minter.
Sherrone Moore, last year’s OC (and interim head coach while Harbaugh was suspended for three games in November) is now head coach, and he promoted QB coach Kirk Campbell to offensive coordinator for this season.
Michigan still has a handful of future draft picks, but most of them are on the defensive side of the ball. The Wolverines offense was a cause for concern entering the season given the QB battle between the inexperienced Alex Orji and former walk-on Davis Warren, with the latter winning the job ahead of the season opener vs. Fresno State.
Michigan will struggle to stay in the top 10 this season if Warren doesn’t improve significantly on his performance against the Bulldogs (15-of-25, 118 yards, 1 TD, 1 int).
The reason Michigan might be tough to beat even if its offense struggles is its defense. Despite losing eight starters from last year’s roster, this unit should be stout again thanks to All-American cornerback Will Johnson and star DTs Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. Michigan also boasts one of the top defensive coordinators in college football in former Ravens and Giants DC Wink Martindale.
Texas vs. Michigan Prediction, Best Bets
The reigning champs have too many holes offensively to pull off the home upset over a Texas team with a new-look — but still loaded — offense of its own.
Points will likely be hard to come by in this game, but at some point, Ewers — who was excellent in an early-season road win over Alabama last September — and the Horns will find a way to manufacture a few scores.
Michigan would need a stunning performance by Warren or Orji to knock off the Longhorns, who we like to win (and cover) in an ugly, low-scoring battle.
Texas vs. Michigan Best Bets
- Michigan -7 (best odds: -110 at ESPN BET)
- Under 42.5 (best odds: -120 at ESPN BET)
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