Jace’s Thoughts:
For the third straight year, Michigan finds itself in the College Football Playoff. The first two visits were not kind to the Wolverines. A drubbing at the hands of Georgia. An upset against TCU.
If Michigan wants to advance to their first national championship game since 1998, they’ll have to do it in the same place that title was won – the Rose Bowl.
Here are the two matchups that will determine the outcome:
Michigan O-Line v. Alabama Pass Rush
The loss of All-American Zak Zinter cannot be overestimated. This is now the second consecutive year that Michigan enters the semi-finals without an All-American starter (Blake Corum, 2022). Alabama has a dynamic duo in Chris Braswell and Dallas Turner that will be a top tier test for Michigan’s offensive line. While the OL proved solid against JTT and Ohio State’s vaunted defense, they struggled in pass protection against both Penn State and Iowa. If the Crimson Tide are causing havoc for McCarthy, it will prove difficult for Michigan to win.
Michigan Defense v. Jalen Milroe
Jalen Milroe is – by far – the most dangerous quarterback Michigan has faced to date (I know you assumed it was Deacon Hill, but no). Milroe is not afraid to take his shots deep and is just as dangerous with his legs. For their part, Michigan has the #2 secondary in the nation and the #2 turnover margin in the nation (+17). They kept Marvin Harrison Jr. at bay, even without Will Johnson for much of the second half (Johnson looks to be healthy for the Rose Bowl, fwiw.) Expect Alabama to get shots to Isaiah Bond & Co. but for Michigan to force Milroe to use his legs. The role of Junior Colson and Michael Barrett in an (official or unofficial) spy capacity cannot be overstated.
Neat-o. So what’s gonna happen?
I expect Alabama to get their chunk plays. But I have a lot of faith in Michigan’s sound defensive scheme and talented playmakers. Michigan’s defense is simply too good for a team that has been held under 28 points SEVEN TIMES this season (Texas, USF, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Auburn, and Georgia). Michigan has a better defense than any of those teams – in some cases by a vast margin (*cough* Arkansas *cough*).
On the offensive side of the ball, Michigan has a ton of weapons. Michigan has shown the ability to beat teams with both a consistent, seven-minute bludgeoning as well as chunk plays. An offense that dynamic has been impossible for any team not named Penn State to contain. Also, keep an eye on Colston Loveland, who is touted – both by Alabama and Loveland himself – to be a mismatch for the Tide.
In the end, Michigan proves why they earned the #1 seed in the playoffs. On to Houston.
MICHIGAN 34 Alabama 24
JP’s Thoughts:
JP’s Thoughts
Bowl Week: Michigan
There’s an old saying that maybe you’ll remember, it goes a little something like this.
“Haters gonna hate”
And hate I’m gonna.
As someone who normally despises the letters SEC and involuntarily gags when I hear a Roll Tide, on January 1st, you will have never met a bigger Alabama fan than myself.
Call it salt, call it whatever you want.
Watching Michigan lose will forever bring me joy.
And I hope that I get to experience that joy when they face off against Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide in the Rose bowl.
This feels like last years OSU-Georgia game, whoever wins this one will bring home the title.
and one thing I’ve learned throughout my lifetime is this…
Never bet against Saban.
Alabama 31 Michigan 27
