Middle Tennessee State at Michigan 8/31/19 - College Football Picks & Predictions

The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders visit Michigan Stadium August 31 to play the No. 7 ranked Michigan Wolverines in the college football season opener for both teams.

Middle Tennessee State was 8-6 in 2018 and lost the Conference-USA title game to UAB 27-25. Asher O’Hara takes the reins at quarterback for the Blue Raiders as one of seven new starters. Ty Lee will be the top returning wide receiver. Last season’s leading rusher Chaton Mobley returns and will be backed up by Terrell West. The offensive line lost three starters. Five starters must be replaced on defense. The strength of the defense is its linebacker corps.

Michigan looks to increase its tempo on offense with Shea Patterson returning at quarterback with possibly the best duo in the country at wide receiver in Donovan Peoples-Jones and Nico Collins. The top running back will likely be star recruit Zach Charbonnet. The offensive line will have four starters back and plenty of talent to fill the fifth spot. The defensive line will have new faces, while the linebackers will be the strength with Khaleke Hudson and Josh Uche leading the way.

Asher O’Hara threw for 114 yards and one interception in limited action last season for MTS. Chaton Mobley led the Blue Raiders in rushing with 613 yards and four touchdowns and returns. The top returning wide receiver from 2018 is Ty Lee who last season caught 71 passes for 883 yards and seven touchdowns.

Shea Patterson led Michigan in 2018 with 2,600 yards passing, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The top returning running back is Tru Wilson with 364 yards and one touchdown last season, but expect freshman Zach Charbonnet to see plenty of action. The top returning wide out is Nico Collins with 632 yards and six touchdowns from last season.