Pregame observations from Michigan Stadium: Two starters out against Colorado State
No. 8 Michigan Wolverines football is set to host Colorado State Saturday afternoon at The Big House. Follow along below for pregame updates from the press box.
Pregame updates: Michigan vs. Colorado State
• 11:50 a.m. — The Michigan band has taken the field.
• 11:49 a.m. — Jim Harbaugh says on the pregame radio show that injured linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green will be back next week for the contest versus Hawai’i.
• 11:48 a.m. — Jim Harbaugh says on the Michigan pregame radio show that the most improved position group this offseason was the interior of the defensive line. He pointed to senior Mazi Smith as one who’s stepped up the most.
• 11:47 a.m. — Jim Harbaugh confirms on the pregame radio show that quarterbacks Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy will both play this week and next week.
• 11:46 a.m. — Jim Harbaugh on J.J. McCarthy on pregame radio show: “He’s been on fire in camp. … I like having good players — the more good players, the better — and I like having two good quarterbacks.”
• 11:45 a.m. — Jim Harbaugh on pregame radio show, discussing Cade McNamara: “He’s playing his best ball. A lot on the line, as you know, and he’s ready to have at it.”
• 11:37 a.m. — The Michigan team broke it down at the middle of the field — to a thunderous applause from the half-full stadium that has fans filing in — before it went back into the locker room for the final time before kickoff.
• 11:35 a.m. — Graduate linebacker Michael Barrett is warming up next to sophomore Junior Colson as a starting middle linebacker during warmups.
• 11:20 a.m. — Michigan junior linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green will miss Saturday’s game. He was questionable all week with a “soft-tissue injury.”
• 11:17 a.m. — Michigan graduate left tackle Ryan Hayes was spotted in street clothes during warmups. Senior offensive lineman Karsen Barnhart is repping with the ones at left tackle during warmups. According to the program, he will not play Saturday.
• 11:02 p.m. — The full Michigan team is on the field for pregame warmups.
Game time, TV channel, how to watch: Michigan football vs. Colorado State Rams
Venue: Michigan Stadium (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Kickoff: 12:06 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Stream: ESPN.com / ESPN App
On The Call: Mark Jones (play-by-play), Robert Griffin III (color) and Quint Kessenich (sideline)
Radio: LEARFIELD Michigan Sports Network, anchored by WWJ 950 AM in the Detroit area, with Doug Karsch (play-by-play), Jon Jansen (color) and Jason Avant (sideline) on the call. Karsch and Jansen are regular contributors to TheWolverine.com. Click here for the full list of radio affiliates to find the station in your area. The radio broadcast can also be streamed through MGoBlue.com.
Series Facts: Michigan and Colorado State have only met once previously, with the Wolverines defeating the Rams 24-14 in the 1994 Holiday Bowl … 2022 marks the 143rd season in U-M football history. The Wolverines have an NCAA-leading 976 victories dating back to 1879 … Michigan has a 116-23-3 record in season openers … This is the first of four straight home games for U-M at Michigan Stadium during the month of September … Michigan is a 30.5-point betting favorite according to oddsmakers.
Betting line: Michigan vs. Colorado State
Michigan opened as a 27.5-point favorite, but the line settled in at 30.5 early in the week. The over/under for total points is 62.
TheWolverine.com predictions
Chris Balas: U-M 41, Colorado State 16 (CSU +30.5, u62)
John Borton: U-M 42, Colorado State 17 (CSU + 30.5, u62)
Clayton Sayfie: U-M 45, Colorado State 10 (U-M -30.5, u62)
Anthony Broome: U-M 49, Colorado State 16 (U-M -30.5, o62)
Doug Karsch: U-M 59, Colorado State 10 (U-M -30.5), o62)
Click here for our full staff predictions article.
Weather report
Weather.com projects it to be 82 degrees and partly cloudy with a 0-percent chance of precipitation and 3 MPH winds out of the SW at noon ET. The temperature is expected to rise to 85 degrees by 4 p.m.
