Picking the game

Tony Garcia: Don’t expect any crazy numbers on offense, as the Wolverines will likely keep things balanced, get everybody involved and get out of Week 1 as healthy as possible while ironing out the remaining position battles. They will let Corum score the first touchdown, however. The pick: U-M 47, East Carolina 7.

Carlos Monarrez: The only hope East Carolina has of keeping this “game” close is for the Big House scoreboard to go haywire when Michigan’s pay-as-you-go dial-up internet service fails again. At least you can say you were there for the start of the Jesse Minter era, then skedaddle after “Mr. Brightside,” when the Wolverines should be up by 30. The pick: U-M 42, East Carolina 10.

Rainer Sabin: Jim Harbaugh won’t be on the sideline as he begins serving a three-game school-imposed suspension.

Then again, he doesn’t really need to be there to watch his mighty Michigan team beat up on a weak opponent that just overhauled its roster. The Wolverines’ cast of star players could probably coach themselves to a victory in a game that could serve as an introduction to a special season in Ann Arbor. The pick: U-M 48, East Carolina 7.

Jeff Seidel: No Harbaugh, no problem. Michigan should have three goals in this game: 1) limit the number of carries by the stud running backs; 2) Get the passing game going for later in the year; 3) Don’t show any tendencies. Shouldn’t be a problem. The pick: U-M 46, East Carolina 6. Shawn Windsor: Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has the main headset as the Wolverines open their season without the usual fella. Not only is U-M more talented than East Carolina, it’ll be especially motivated to win for both Minter and his boss, Jim Harbaugh, who will be presumably watching from somewhere not too far away. The pick: U-M 38, East Carolina 16.