Michigan 27, Alabama 20, 1OT

[Tslisher]

At least they've punched the ticket for the event.

Maybe with a little luck they can knock off The Nick.

Very tough opponent. They've done nothing but get better as the season has progressed.

Five years ago, nobody would have thought the last 3 seasons were possible.

Right you are Liney, we are living in the glory days of Michigan football. It feels like the 90’s again, back, to back, to back great teams. Live for this!

[Mike]

The 2023 team might be my all-time favorite.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Well you don't need a pair of binoculars, a camera and a road map to know that...

[lineygoblue]

Don't you have a wedding to get ready for? I mean, with all those girls, SOMEBODY has to be getting married soon ....

[THE_WIZARD_]

Only one daughter left for that buckwheat...and she said it will be a long time before she does...so I'm all yours right now big guy!

[lineygoblue]

Sorry, your legs aren't cute enough for me....

[THE_WIZARD_]

LAIR!!!!!!!

[THE_WIZARD_]

FB_IMG_1702066337733.jpg

[Jeff Buchanan]

Looking at unit match-ups objectively, Alabama's D-Line, especially the edge rushers, grade out by PFF as elite:

Alabama’s DL

Alabama defensive line starters: DT Tim Keenan III, DT Tim Smith, OLB Justin Eboigbe, edge Dallas Turner, DT Jaheim Oatis, edge Chris Braswell

Rotation: DT Damon Payne Jr., DT Jah-Marien Latham, edge Quandarrius Robinson

Sacks: 31

TFLs: 42.5

PFF Run Defense Grade: 91.9

PFF Pass Rush Grade: 87.4

Matchup Takeaway: Dallas Turner, the Crimson Tide’s star edge defender, is projected as a top-10 pick by most early mock drafts, and it’s easy to see why. Turner has been Alabama’s biggest disruptor on defense. He is the Tide’s best pass-rusher and can easily swing a game with his prowess for the big play. Turner is second in the SEC with nine sacks and third in tackles for loss with 13.5.

Michigan's OL

Michigan offensive line starters: LT LaDarius Henderson, LG Trevor Keegan, C Drake Nugent, RG Karsen Barnhart, RT Trente Jones

Rotation: LT Myles Hinton, LG Giovanni El-Hadi, C Greg Crippen, G/T Andrew Gentry, G/T Jeffrey Persi

Sacks allowed: 18

Rushing yards: 2,103

PFF Run Block Grade: 73.1

PFF Pass Block Grade: 70.4

https://www.maizenbrew.com/2023/12/8...rose-bowl-2023

Through Indiana, Michigan was facing 7-8 defenders in the box on > 70% of 1st down plays and 68% of 2nd down plays. This is excluding the red zone and garbage time."

The above is an mogoboard poster responding to an original post (link below). Scroll down to see the response containing this data - there is lot more there than just that in the OP.

https://mgoblog.com/diaries/michigan...n-pass-balance.

A position group that absolutely has to win the LOS for M is a clear miss-match with Alabama. I don't know how to put it any other way. Given the established problems with OL, before Zinter's injury, the resulting re-shuffle has placed just guys on the OL manning up against NFL level players up front for Alabama. It should be a blood bath on offense for M.

The majority argument on mgoboard including the mods who do weekly articles involves the need for M's offense to actually run something close to a 50/50 run/pass distribution of plays. Reasonable posters point out that M shouldn't change who they are and try to implement some kind of air-raid offense but Moore has to call pass plays that allow JJ to get the ball out of his hands in something less than "3 potato." That means Edwards and the TEs have to be featured receivers. When Alabama presents a man defense with Ss rolled up, stop burning downs with run plays. When Alabama sets up in a pure man C1 coverage with LBs dropping into coverage, Moore has to test PA, unleashing Cornelius Johnson, Roman Wilson and Tyler Morris simultaneously into the middle and deep parts of the field.

I'm really doubtful that M can win this game. A history of questionable bowl game prep and highly unimaginative offensive play calling might sink M. Combining this with the mismatch I've noted weighs down on my confidence level.

Alabama 34 - Michigan 28

[THE_WIZARD_]

You have way too much time on your hands...

[Mike]

I hope it’s that close but don’t expect it. Our only hope is to Iowa them to death and win 19-17.

[THE_WIZARD_]

To "Iowa" someone is more like 6-3...

[Jeff Buchanan]

......... or 2-0.

[AlabamAlum]

Michigan, the betting line favorite and highest ranked team in the nation, will saunter into the Rose Bowl and, unless Alabama is replaced with the Chiefs or Eagles, will walk away with a W.

[THE_WIZARD_]

horrible