After making it through all of the 2024 season with just one head coach, No. 22 Michigan football is back to its interim-coaching ways, with Sherrone Moore beginning a two-game program-issued suspension on Saturday, Sept. 13, against Central Michigan.
The Wolverines host the Chips at Michigan Stadium in their first noon game of the 2025 season, and will have associate coach Biff Poggi calling the shots in place of Moore. U-M played six of its 12 regular-season games in 2023 without then-coach Jim Harbaugh (in a pair of three-game bans) on the sidelines, so this should be a somewhat familiar situation for much of the roster.
It will be quarterback Bryce Underwood’s first game without Moore making the calls, though, as the true freshman looks to rebound from a rough outing against Oklahoma last weekend. Underwood completed just 35.7% of his passes against the Sooners, as the Wolverines’ offense withered without a consistent run game. A whopping 26% of U-M’s total yardage against Oklahoma came on one play: running back Justice Haynes’ 75-yard TD run on the first play from scrimmage in the second half.
Will the Wolverines struggle similarly against the Chips? Four Free Press sports writers chime in on their predictions for Week 3 of the 2025 season.
Tony Garcia
For the first time in his career, Underwood has multiple touchdowns in a game. Michigan hits some big plays in the passing attack, while it is also able to improve its rushing output, surpassing 200 yards on the ground. Both Donaven McCulley and Jordan Marshall score their first touchdowns of the season while Haynes continues his dynamic start to the year. Shouldn’t be much drama to see here. The pick: U-M 38, Central Michigan 10.
Carlos Monarrez
The Biff Poggi era begins! With Sherrone Moore serving the first of his three-game suspension, Michigan’s associate head coach gets to wear the headset in a friendly matchup against the 1-1 Chippewas, who were destroyed last week at Pitt, 45-17, while playing three quarterbacks. Expect a huge day for Bryce Underwood, Justice Haynes and the Wolverines’ defense before the backups get valuable reps. The pick: U-M 40, Central Michigan 9.
Jeff Seidel
The whole goal this week should be to get ready for Nebraska – a game that looms large on Sept.20. Personally, I hope Michigan will open up the offense against CMU and get Bryce Underwood rolling. But on a day when Moore will (probably) be picking apples at the orchard, I suspect this will turn into a boring handoff festival. The pick: U-M 31, Central Michigan 14.
Shawn Windsor
The Bryce Underwood Experience continues back home … during daylight, which should help those who block for him see a little better. It also helps that CMU is not Oklahoma, or even an upper-tier team in the MAC. The Wolverines get right for a week. The pick: U-M 31, Central Michigan 10.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football vs Central Michigan predictions: Who wins in Week 3?
