Michigan football: ESPN analyst lobbies for No. 1 preseason ranking
Michigan football has plenty of hype heading into the 2023 season, but could it really be a contender for the preseason No. 1 rating? At least one analyst at ESPN believes that the Wolverines should be considered the team to beat heading into the new season.
ESPN’s Rece Davis was on The Paul Finebaum Show this week and made the case for Michigan, who returns much of its roster from a team coming off its second straight Big Ten title and trip to the College Football Playoff.
“In the state of Michigan, they’re asking me if Michigan is going to win the national championship … and at least to start the season, and I believe ranking should be very fluid early. I’m going to have Michigan No. 1 in the preseason,” Davis said. “My biggest reason is they are one of the few contenders who have enough everywhere else and a proven quarterback who I believe is going to be much better. He was already good, but I think he’s going to take a giant step forward, J.J. McCarthy this upcoming season.”
Other teams could make a push on Michigan for the top spot, namely Georgia, the likely preseason favorite. The Bulldogs have won the last two national titles but will be breaking in a new quarterback. Time will tell how a new signal-caller works into a national title-caliber roster.
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“Now, if Georgia comes out and shows that they’re locked in at quarterback, then I’m probably going to move the Bulldogs back to No. 1 pretty quickly,” Davis said. “But at least to start, Michigan has offensive linemen and they’ve added to it through the transfer portal. I think they’ll be good enough on defense, they also helped themselves with a pass rusher on defense, McCarthy and obviously they have two terrific running backs.
“But McCarthy’s the big thing to me. He is potentially an elite player. And if he can take that next step, then I think that gives Michigan a chance. But before the Georgia fans call in and say that I don’t know what I’m talking about … Georgia has a better roster, there’s no question about that. But I want to see the quarterback play and I don’t think that’s too much. Same deal with Ohio State, same deal with Alabama as well.”
Michigan is currently +1000 to win the national championship, according to the most recent odds from FanDuel Sportsbook.
