{"id":31311,"date":"2024-08-28T15:35:52","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T19:35:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/?p=31311"},"modified":"2024-08-28T16:35:11","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T20:35:11","slug":"fresno-state-vs-michigan-prediction-picks-and-best-bets-for-college-football-week-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/college-football\/fresno-state-vs-michigan-prediction-picks-and-best-bets-for-college-football-week-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Fresno State vs Michigan: Prediction, Picks and Best Bets for College Football Week 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In the opening week of college football, the Fresno State Bulldogs will face off against the Michigan Wolverines in what promises to be an intriguing matchup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Michigan, the reigning national champions, are expected to face some challenges this season due to significant roster changes and turnover. Despite these uncertainties, the Wolverines are heavily favored in this matchup, while Fresno State comes in as a considerable underdog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Steve Merill runs through the game in depth &#8211; check out the full video below.  For more expert picks from Steve Merill, check out his hot picks page. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/profile\/steve-merril\">Get Steve Merill&#8217;s Picks!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br>Game Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Michigan Wolverines, coming off a dominant national championship run, enter this season with several question marks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The departure of key players and head coach Jim Harbaugh&#8217;s absence have led many to believe that Michigan may not replicate last year&#8217;s success. However, this perceived decline might serve as motivation for the Wolverines, making them a dangerous opponent in their season opener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fresno State, on the other hand, is a team with offensive potential, led by a returning quarterback and experienced players. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, their lack of a strong running game could make them one-dimensional against Michigan&#8217;s stout run defense. This could spell trouble for the Bulldogs, especially if they become too reliant on their passing game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><div  style=\"display: block; margin: 0px auto;\"  id=\"_ytid_63436\"  width=\"870\" height=\"489\"  data-origwidth=\"870\" data-origheight=\"489\" data-facadesrc=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A2mwxVet7P0?enablejsapi=1&#038;origin=https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=1&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;rel=0&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autohide=2&#038;hl=en_US&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;disablekb=0&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__ epyt-facade  epyt-is-override  no-lazyload\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-spai-excluded=\"true\" class=\"epyt-facade-poster skip-lazy\" loading=\"lazy\"  alt=\"Fresno State vs Michigan Prediction, Picks and Best Bets | College Football Picks Week 1\"  src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/A2mwxVet7P0\/maxresdefault.jpg\"  \/><button class=\"epyt-facade-play\" aria-label=\"Play\"><svg data-no-lazy=\"1\" height=\"100%\" version=\"1.1\" viewBox=\"0 0 68 48\" width=\"100%\"><path class=\"ytp-large-play-button-bg\" d=\"M66.52,7.74c-0.78-2.93-2.49-5.41-5.42-6.19C55.79,.13,34,0,34,0S12.21,.13,6.9,1.55 C3.97,2.33,2.27,4.81,1.48,7.74C0.06,13.05,0,24,0,24s0.06,10.95,1.48,16.26c0.78,2.93,2.49,5.41,5.42,6.19 C12.21,47.87,34,48,34,48s21.79-0.13,27.1-1.55c2.93-0.78,4.64-3.26,5.42-6.19C67.94,34.95,68,24,68,24S67.94,13.05,66.52,7.74z\" fill=\"#f00\"><\/path><path d=\"M 45,24 27,14 27,34\" fill=\"#fff\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div><\/div><span itemprop=\"video\" itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/VideoObject\"><meta itemprop=\"embedUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A2mwxVet7P0\"><meta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"Fresno State vs Michigan Prediction, Picks and Best Bets | College Football Picks Week 1\"><meta itemprop=\"description\" content=\"If you are looking for a College Football Week 1 betting preview with picks and predictions for the Fresno State vs Michigan matchup, we have you covered! Our college football handicapping experts discuss this matchup from a sports betting perspective, sharing their picks and predictions vs. the current odds. #collegefootballprediction #collegefootballpicks #cfbpicks \ud83d\udcc5 Game Day Alert: Fresno State Bulldogs vs Michigan Wolverines College Football Week 1 Betting Preview \ud83c\udfc8 Get ready for an exciting college football showdown as the Fresno State Bulldogs take on the Michigan Wolverines on August 31, 2024! This thrilling matchup will take place at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, MI, home of the Wolverines. \ud83d\udd39 Game Details: Date: August 31, 2024 Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI Kickoff Time: 7:30 PM ET \/ 4:30 PM PT \ud83d\udcfa How to Watch: NBC \ud83d\udcca Current Spread &amp; Total: Spread: Michigan Wolverines -21 Total: 45.5 points \ud83d\udd0d Interesting Facts: Fresno State Bulldogs are known for their fierce competitiveness in the Mountain West Conference and have a storied history of strong performances. Michigan Wolverines hold one of the most successful programs in college football history with numerous Big Ten titles and national championships. \ud83d\udce2 Follow the Teams on Twitter: Fresno State Bulldogs: &#064;FresnoStateFB #GoDogs Michigan Wolverines: &#064;UMichFootball #GoBlue Don\u2019t miss out on the action as these two powerhouse teams collide in what promises to be an electrifying game! \ud83d\ude80 #FresnoState #MichiganWolverines #CollegeFootball #GameDay #FootballFans \ud83d\udc4d Make sure to SUBSCRIBE to WagerTalk TV; \ud83d\udd14 CLICK the Bell and never miss an episode! \ud83c\udfc8 More Free College Football Picks: https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/free-sports-picks\/college-football \ud83e\udd11 Free Sports Picks: https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/free-sports-picks \ud83d\udcca Live Odds: https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/odds \ud83d\uddde\ufe0f News: https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news \ud83d\udc4d Stay connected with WagerTalk \ud83d\udcfa YouTube: https:\/\/wt.buzz\/tv \ud83d\udc4d Facebook: https:\/\/wt.buzz\/fb \ud83d\udc26 Twitter: https:\/\/wt.buzz\/tw \ud83d\udcf8 Instagram: https:\/\/wt.buzz\/ig \ud83d\udcf0 Reddit: https:\/\/wt.buzz\/rd \u2764\ufe0f iHeart Radio: https:\/\/wt.buzz\/iheart \ud83c\udf4e Apple Podcasts: https:\/\/wt.buzz\/ap \ud83d\udccc Pinterest: https:\/\/wt.buzz\/pin\"><meta itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/A2mwxVet7P0\/0.jpg\"><meta itemprop=\"duration\" content=\"PT5M3S\"><meta itemprop=\"uploadDate\" content=\"2024-08-28T15:19:38Z\"><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Team Analysis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Michigan Wolverines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Michigan is favored by 21 points, a reflection of their overall talent and the expectation that they will handle Fresno State with relative ease. The Wolverines&#8217; defense has been a cornerstone of their success, particularly against the run. While their offense might start slowly due to the offseason changes, Michigan is expected to pull away as the game progresses, covering the spread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fresno State Bulldogs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Fresno State comes into this game as a 21-point underdog with a +900 moneyline, indicating the long odds of an upset. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although they possess a capable offense, their lack of a running game could hinder their ability to challenge Michigan effectively. Historically, Fresno has struggled when stepping up in competition, which suggests they might not be ready to handle a team of Michigan&#8217;s caliber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"love-what-you-see-sign-up-for-a-free-wager-talk-account\">Love What You See?  Sign Up for a Free WagerTalk Account!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/signup\">Sign up to receive game-day updates, late breaking releases, free picks, best bets<\/a>, exclusive betting features, pay per game and package access, contests, community networking, award-winning content and much more. Get your account today &#8211; it&#8217;s FREE!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Becoming a member of Wagertalk.com is 100% FREE with NO OBLIGATION or CREDIT CARD REQUIRED! Upon sign-up, you get instant access to our community and special offers and free picks. Sign up to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/signup\">WagerTalk now!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/signup\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/http___cdn.taboola.com_libtrc_static_thumbnails_1702f98a90dd3f14c3dc525e510cd8bb.webp\" alt=\"best football bets\" class=\"wp-image-30557\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/http___cdn.taboola.com_libtrc_static_thumbnails_1702f98a90dd3f14c3dc525e510cd8bb.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/http___cdn.taboola.com_libtrc_static_thumbnails_1702f98a90dd3f14c3dc525e510cd8bb-300x188.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prediction and Best Bet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Given Michigan&#8217;s motivation to prove doubters wrong and Fresno State&#8217;s potential struggles against a top-tier defense, the Wolverines are likely to dominate this game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The analyst&#8217;s pick from the video is to bet on <strong>Michigan -21 points<\/strong>. Despite some early offensive sluggishness, Michigan is expected to cover the spread, especially considering their preparation and focus for this home opener. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This game is a classic example of an elite team aiming to make a statement against a lower-ranked opponent. While Fresno State may have talent, they are unlikely to keep pace with a motivated Michigan squad looking to silence critics and start their season strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>**************************************************<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Looking for more free sports picks and sports betting tips?<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong>Latest Betting Odds and Public Action: <\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/wt.buzz\/odds\" data-schema-attribute=\"\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vegas lines<\/a> updated in real time, including who the public is betting on<\/span>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Last Minute Handicapping Advice<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">: Check out our extensive library of <\/span><a style=\"font-size: 12pt;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/sports-betting-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">handicapping tips<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"> and advice from professional Vegas handicappers (we also recommend taking the time to look over our <\/span><a style=\"font-size: 12pt;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/videos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sports betting tips video library<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Want an expert opinion?<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"> Check out the latest <\/span><a style=\"font-size: 12pt;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/free-sports-picks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Free Sports Picks<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"> and <\/span><a style=\"font-size: 12pt;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/picks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Best Bets<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"> from our team of expert sports handicappers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Make sure to bookmark all the above!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the opening week of college football, the Fresno State Bulldogs will face off against the Michigan Wolverines in what promises to be an intriguing matchup. Michigan, the reigning national champions, are expected to face some challenges this season due to significant roster changes and turnover. Despite these uncertainties, the Wolverines are heavily favored in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":31312,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[6119,11076,5239,5226,11074,1497,1088,1890,11067,1498,11068,5213,5214,11073,11071,11072,11075],"class_list":["post-31311","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-college-football","tag-cfb-picks","tag-cfb-week-1-bets","tag-college-football-best-bets","tag-college-football-bets","tag-college-football-betting-picks","tag-college-football-free-picks","tag-college-football-picks","tag-college-football-picks-today","tag-college-football-prediction","tag-college-football-predictions","tag-college-football-week-1-bets","tag-college-football-week-1-picks","tag-college-football-week-1-predictions","tag-fresno-state-vs-michigan-picks","tag-fresno-state-vs-michigan-prediction","tag-fresno-state-vs-michigan-predictions","tag-michigan-vs-fresno-state"],"basic_html":"\n<p>In the opening week of college football, the Fresno State Bulldogs will face off against the Michigan Wolverines in what promises to be an intriguing matchup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Michigan, the reigning national champions, are expected to face some challenges this season due to significant roster changes and turnover. Despite these uncertainties, the Wolverines are heavily favored in this matchup, while Fresno State comes in as a considerable underdog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Steve Merill runs through the game in depth - check out the full video below.  For more expert picks from Steve Merill, check out his hot picks page. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br>Game Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The Michigan Wolverines, coming off a dominant national championship run, enter this season with several question marks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The departure of key players and head coach Jim Harbaugh's absence have led many to believe that Michigan may not replicate last year's success. However, this perceived decline might serve as motivation for the Wolverines, making them a dangerous opponent in their season opener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Fresno State, on the other hand, is a team with offensive potential, led by a returning quarterback and experienced players. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>However, their lack of a strong running game could make them one-dimensional against Michigan's stout run defense. This could spell trouble for the Bulldogs, especially if they become too reliant on their passing game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<iframe src='https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A2mwxVet7P0?origin=https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com'><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Team Analysis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Michigan Wolverines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Michigan is favored by 21 points, a reflection of their overall talent and the expectation that they will handle Fresno State with relative ease. The Wolverines' defense has been a cornerstone of their success, particularly against the run. While their offense might start slowly due to the offseason changes, Michigan is expected to pull away as the game progresses, covering the spread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fresno State Bulldogs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Fresno State comes into this game as a 21-point underdog with a +900 moneyline, indicating the long odds of an upset. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Although they possess a capable offense, their lack of a running game could hinder their ability to challenge Michigan effectively. Historically, Fresno has struggled when stepping up in competition, which suggests they might not be ready to handle a team of Michigan's caliber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"love-what-you-see-sign-up-for-a-free-wager-talk-account\">Love What You See?  Sign Up for a Free WagerTalk Account!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/signup\">Sign up to receive game-day updates, late breaking releases, free picks, best bets<\/a>, exclusive betting features, pay per game and package access, contests, community networking, award-winning content and much more. Get your account today - it's FREE!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Becoming a member of Wagertalk.com is 100% FREE with NO OBLIGATION or CREDIT CARD REQUIRED! Upon sign-up, you get instant access to our community and special offers and free picks. Sign up to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/signup\">WagerTalk now!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/signup\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/http___cdn.taboola.com_libtrc_static_thumbnails_1702f98a90dd3f14c3dc525e510cd8bb.webp\" alt=\"best football bets\" class=\"wp-image-30557\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prediction and Best Bet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Given Michigan's motivation to prove doubters wrong and Fresno State's potential struggles against a top-tier defense, the Wolverines are likely to dominate this game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The analyst's pick from the video is to bet on <strong>Michigan -21 points<\/strong>. Despite some early offensive sluggishness, Michigan is expected to cover the spread, especially considering their preparation and focus for this home opener. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>This game is a classic example of an elite team aiming to make a statement against a lower-ranked opponent. While Fresno State may have talent, they are unlikely to keep pace with a motivated Michigan squad looking to silence critics and start their season strong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>**************************************************<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Looking for more free sports picks and sports betting tips?<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Make sure to bookmark all the above!<\/em><\/p>\n","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31311","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31311"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31311\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31317,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31311\/revisions\/31317"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31312"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31311"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}