It's the season's first top-10 matchup, with a pair of last season's College Football Playoff participants — both of whom are contenders again this year — facing off in Ann Arbor as No. 9 Michigan football hosts No. 3 Texas (noon, Fox). Several Free Press sports writers make their picks between the maize and blue and the burnt orange:

Michigan football vs. Texas predictions

SCOUTING THE LONGHORNS: Michigan football faces No. 3 Texas in top-10 showdown

Tony Garcia

The rain looks like it may hold off, but it's going to feel like a crisp fall day in Ann Arbor with a high around 60 degrees. Derek Jeter will be on hand as honorary captain for Michigan while Matthew McConaughey is expected to make an appearance and represent Texas. ESPN's "College GameDay" and Fox's "Big Noon Kickoff" will add to an incredible environment as the defending national champions try to make an early season statement and fall just short. The pick: Texas 23, U-M 19.

Carlos Monarrez

Well, that was fun. The undefeated run ends for the Wolverines against the third-ranked Longhorns — and it isn’t pretty. Texas annihilated Colorado State, 52-0, behind Heisman Trophy candidate Quinn Ewers, and the defense held the Rams to 25 passing yards at halftime en route to a 31-0 lead. Michigan’s vaunted defense will be tested by Ewers, but if we see backup Arch Manning under center at any point, you know things have gotten out of hand. The pick: Texas 27, U-M 17.

Rainer Sabin

It’s hard to pick against a team that hasn’t lost at home since November 2020.  But the reigning national champions don’t look nearly as formidable as they did the past three years, when they went 40-3, became the kings of the Big Ten and reached the summit of college football. An underwhelming performance in a Week 1 victory over Fresno State revealed some vulnerabilities that a strong Texas team can exploit. The Longhorns, who reached the College Football Playoff last season, appear more complete after blasting Colorado State, 52-0, in their opener.

With star quarterback Quinn Ewers and a fleet of speedy receivers, Texas has enough firepower to pierce Michigan. Don’t forget this is the same program that a year ago went into Tuscaloosa in Week 2 and left with a victory over Nick Saban’s last Alabama squad. That win over the then-No. 3 Crimson Tide proved Texas was indeed back. And now the Longhorns want to show the world they’re not going away anytime soon by taking down the champs. The pick: Texas 27, U-M 17.

Jeff Seidel

Michigan will try to slow the game down by running the ball, and its defense is the only thing that will keep the Wolverines in this game. If Michigan’s defense can score — maybe getting another pick-six — or if the Wolverines can get a massive special teams play, yes, they have a shot. But that seems unlikely: Texas has too much speed and talent, and Michigan has too much improving to do on offense to pull off such an early upset. The pick: Texas 20, U-M 14.

Shawn Windsor

The Longhorns have the playmakers on offense and the better quarterback, and their defense should be better from a year ago. U-M's defense will keep the Wolverines in the game all the way through, and the offense will do almost enough with a couple of touchdowns and three field goals. The pick: Texas 27, U-M 23.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football predictions for Week 2 vs. Texas: Who'll roll?