ESPN’s FPI predicts every game on Michigan’s 2021 schedule

The 2020 season wasn’t kind to Michigan, as they posted a 2-4 record in the shortened campaign. Michigan won its season opener vs. Minnesota but then went 1-4 the remainder of the way.

Heading into the 2021 season, Michigan is being picked to finish fourth in the B1G East behind Ohio State, Penn State, and Indiana according to Sporting News.

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Football Power Index projects that 2021 will be a bounce back season for Michigan. Here is a look at every game on Michigan’s schedule in terms of win probability:

• Sept. 4: vs Western Michigan – 83.5% (W)
• Sept. 11: vs Washington – 61.4% (W)
• Sept. 18: vs Northern Illinois – 92.0% (W)
• Sept. 25: vs Rutgers – 82.6% (W)
• Oct. 2: at Wisconsin – 32.3% (L)
• Oct. 9: at Nebraska– 52.5% (W)
• Oct. 23: vs. Northwestern – 63.4% (W)
• Oct. 30: at Michigan State – 48.2% (L)
• Nov. 6: vs. Indiana – 57.1% (W)
• Nov. 13: at Penn State – 28.0% (L)
• Nov. 20: at Maryland – 61.4% (W)
• Nov. 27: vs. Ohio State – 18.7% (L)

Typically, those win probabilities would have Michigan with an 8-4 record. However, the FPI formula is predicting an overall record of 6.8-5.2, because they expect some of those close games to go against the Wolverines.

Michigan hopes to avoid back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 2008-2009.

Rolando Rosa

Rolando Rosa brings his experience covering college football to Saturday Tradition. Follow him on Twitter @RolandoRosa3.