2008 Michigan Wolverines Betting Odds and Schedule

The 2008 Michigan Wolverines will be without head coach Lloyd Carr this college football betting season as West Virginia’s former coach Rick Rodriguez will lead the Wolverines in 2008. Another loss to the Wolverines lineup will be quarterback Ryan Mallet who decided to sit out this year in order to transfer to Arkansas. The team will still be returning a total of 13 starters that finished the season 9-4 overall and 6-2 in the Big 10 but will struggle trying to fill the positions left by quarterback Chad Henne, running back Mike Hart, offensive tackle Jake Long, wide receiver Adrian Arrington and wide receiver Mario Manningham.

During the 2007 season, Michigan went 7-5 against the spread in college football odds and 5-7 in over/unders. The Wolverines averaged 207.4 passing yards and 166.1 rushing yards per game while holding opponents to 179.7 passing yards and 150.8 rushing per game. College football betting odds to win the 2008-2009 BCS National Championship at online sportsbooks have the Michigan Wolverines +5000 and +750 in college football odds to win the Big 10 Conference. College football odds for 2008-2009 regular season wins on Michigan at sportsbooks have the Wolverines at 8, +140 over and -180 under. Vegas odds to win the 2009 BCS National Game have the Michigan Wolverines at 40/1.

2008 Michigan Wolverines Offense

Rodriguez has plans to make the offensive unit a power house in the Big 10 once he is able to recruit his style of players but for the 2008 season, he only has 3 returning starters to work with. Redshirt freshman Steven Threet is the logical candidate at quarterback but don’t expect much from him early in the season. Michigan will have a 3 man rotation at the running back position with Brandon Minor, Kevin Grady and Carlos Brown but if they will have holes to run through is still undetermined with only right guard Stephen Schilling returning. The receiver positions will have some experience when junior Greg Matthews, sophomores Junior Hemingway and Toney Clemons take the field.

2008 Michigan Wolverines Defense

The only realistic way that the Wolverines will win any games covering the college football odds this season will be because of its defense that returns 8 starters. The defensive line will return all 4 starters including defensive ends Brandon Graham and Tim Jamison as well as senior tackles Terrance Taylor and Will Johnson. The secondary will look to make a drastic improvement with 3 returning starters who finished the 2007 college football betting season ranked 8th in passing yards allowed. Look for Stevie Brown to hold down the free safety position with backup from corners Donovan Warren and Morgan Trent.

2008 Michigan Wolverines Prediction

They say that defense wins championships but as good as the Wolverines defense will be this year, we just don’t see that happening and to be honest, you should expect to see the Wolverines at the bottom of the Big 10 conference. The 2008 Michigan Wolverines could pull off a few stunners this year starting with Wisconsin on September 27th but with a depleted squad and new head coach, don’t expect much more than a 7 or 8 win season.

2008 Michigan Wolverines Schedule