Not many are expecting much out of Michigan football in 2027, even with a new coach in Kyle Whittingham leading the charge. But Whittingham has shown he can do more with less, what will it be like when he has more to do more with?
As CBS Sports’ Chip Patterson put together the top storylines across college football, he had little to say about the Wolverines. But, when it came to putting odds on the teams that have the best chances to win the national championship, Michigan was on the list, albeit as a ‘second-tier’ team, behind only Week 2 opponent Oklahoma, which Patterson gave 27-1 odds.
Here’s what he had to say about Michigan:
Michigan (33-1): What Kyle Whittingham needs in Year 1 is for offensive coordinator Jason Beck and quarterback Bryce Underwood to find a common language that helps the gifted sophomore unlock a new level of production and consistency. Michigan’s floor is a team that plays great defense and runs the ball effectively, but that might not be enough to make the CFP.
While it wasn’t a season where Michigan won the national championship, the Wolverines likely had longer odds in 2021, and that year, the maize and blue shocked everyone by going 11-1 in the regular season, winning the Big Ten, and making the four-team College Football Playoff semifinal, where they lost to eventual national champion, Georgia. If Whittingham can maximize the talent in Ann Arbor, Michigan could have another surprise season, though the schedule this year is much more difficult than many previous iterations.
Naturally, rival Ohio State has the best odds at 11-2, and Michigan also faces Indiana (fourth-best), and Oregon (fifth-best). Oklahoma has the 13th-best odds, while the Wolverines are No. 14.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football gets surprising national title odds
Reporting by Isaiah Hole, Wolverines Wire / Wolverines Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
