ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) predicts the outcomes of every game in college football each week. The predictions for Week 2 have been released, including the matchup between Texas and Michigan.
For this matchup between the SEC newcomer and the defending champions, FPI strongly favors the Longhorns. FPI gives the Longhorns a 73.9% chance to win the matchup. This gives the Wolverines just a 26.1% chance to begin the 2024 season with a 2-0 record.
In Week 1, the Longhorns dominated against the Colorado State Rams. Quinn Ewers threw for 260 yards with 3 touchdowns. Prized prospect Arch Manning even got to play, throwing for 95 yards and 1 TD.
The Longhorn defense was even more impressive than the offense, holding the Rams to just 74 passing yards. On the day, the Rams managed just 192 total yards of offense and failed to score.
For the Wolverines, things weren’t quite as easy. The Wolverines started off slowly, going into halftime with a 10-3 lead over their Mountain West opponent Fresno State.
In the 4th quarter, though, the Wolverines stepped it up. The team would add 17 points to come away with a 20-point win. Colston Loveland had a big day through the air with 8 receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Star running back Donovan Edwards struggled, however, taking 11 carries for just 27 yards. He did score on a short reception but was otherwise outclassed by teammate Kalel Mullings in the backfield.
In the FPI standings, the Longhorns remain in the 3rd spot after the impressive victory. The Wolverines, however, tumbled down 3 spots after the shaky Week 1 performance.
It will be interesting to see if the Wolverines can bounce back against a much tougher opponent in Week 2. The Longhorns, meanwhile, will hope to keep the momentum rolling.
Bryce Lazenby covers college football for Saturday Down South. A Nashville native, his previous stops include FanSided, Dimers, and The Leaf-Chronicle.
