Michigan Gets Florida In The Peach Bowl
As it was written in the stars: Michigan and Florida will play in a semi-major bowl game after both fail to achieve their regular season goals. A baffling decision given how bored both fanbases must be of this matchup.
This edition of the Gators is in their first year under Dan Mullen and is in the awkward jerky phase when a very good coach takes over for a not so good one. Thus results like a 27-19 win over LSU and a 41-14 whooping of FSU coexist with a 38-17 loss to Mizzou and 27-16 loss to Kentucky.
S&P+'s spreadsheets are down for updating at the moment but the overall rankings are up at Football Outsiders. Florida ranks 14th, with the #27 offense and #26 defense. S&P+ makes Michigan a 6-point favorite on a neutral field.
You may remember some of their key players: Feleipe Franks has added 1.3 YPA this year and 15 TDs without increasing his INTs; Lamical Perine and Jordan Scarlett split RB carries down the middle and both average 5.9 YPA. Onetime Michigan target Van Jefferson is their leading receiver, although like Michigan this is a situation where there are a bunch of guys in about the same range in an offense that doesn't throw a ton.
Fuller analysis later.
December 2nd, 2018 at 4:37 PM ^
This sucks.
December 2nd, 2018 at 4:37 PM ^
I support my team and will cheer and all that etc but damn if I could give a shit about playing Florida again...
December 2nd, 2018 at 5:05 PM ^
Any time you can give a shit, just let it go broseph.
December 2nd, 2018 at 5:51 PM ^
Funny thing about shits. There's only giving and taking, nothing in between.
December 2nd, 2018 at 6:38 PM ^
Everyone forgets about the making.
December 2nd, 2018 at 7:42 PM ^
And the eating.
December 2nd, 2018 at 11:00 PM ^
There's also keeping, more commonly known as constipation.
December 2nd, 2018 at 9:19 PM ^
Question:
What do Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Ole Miss, Alabama, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, and Auburn have in common?
Answer:
During the past four seasons, each of them will have played their respective conference foe, Michigan or Florida, fewer times than Michigan will have played Florida.
(Florida and Auburn haven't played since 2011).
December 3rd, 2018 at 7:36 AM ^
Fortunately, at noon on 12/29, I will be on a plane flying home after 10 days in Vegas. Please wake me when the game's over.
December 2nd, 2018 at 4:40 PM ^
I have a bad feeling about this game. Mullen is going to want to make a statement and Michigan has to be bored with meeting 3 in 4 years.
December 2nd, 2018 at 5:04 PM ^
But we should want to make a statement ourselves after the OSU debacle, no? The last time we played Florida after getting blown out by OSU, we did just that.
December 2nd, 2018 at 5:12 PM ^
But that was also after the first season under Harbaugh, when I think people were excited to see them back at the top level. This feels...less exciting.
December 2nd, 2018 at 5:21 PM ^
Well, we've lost our last two bowl games and haven't exceeded 10 wins in a season yet under Harbaugh. I think the defense especially has something to prove right now. However the fans feel, there is some reason for the team to get fired up.
December 2nd, 2018 at 5:42 PM ^
The possibility of being crowned #7 in the nation has to be pretty enticing.
December 2nd, 2018 at 7:30 PM ^
That particular crown has a limited edition Dora the Explorer logo on it however
December 3rd, 2018 at 11:40 AM ^
Used to be a time where finishing the season in the Top 10 was kind of a goal. Better than not finishing in the Top 10
December 2nd, 2018 at 6:34 PM ^
Sometimes the players have to fight what is obvious to the fans. Michigan has done this before, while Florida is bound to be motivated to avoid going 0-3 against Michigan. (Although that feeling didn't help us against OSU.)
What should motivate those that will return is the competition for 2019 PT. For those in the NFL draft mix that choose to play, their play is going on tape. For those not returning and not in the NFL draft mix, it's their last football hurrah.
December 2nd, 2018 at 6:52 PM ^
Florida is already 0-3 against Michigan. In fact, they’re 0-4 against Michigan. So I guess they should be motivated to not go 0-5?
December 2nd, 2018 at 7:35 PM ^
The motivation is more that this is Mullen's first year and they are coming off a 4-7 year. It's a big incentive to finish the year with 10 wins.
December 2nd, 2018 at 7:31 PM ^
How do you get -74777 points?
December 2nd, 2018 at 7:44 PM ^
Hard work and dedication.
December 2nd, 2018 at 7:29 PM ^
Yeah, I don't think the team is going to give up or anything, but it's still the third time Michigan has played Florida under Harbaugh while this is Mullen's first bowl at UF coming off a terrible season last year.
Michigan is the better, more complete team here. I just get nervous when the general consensus is that Michigan should roll these guys.
December 3rd, 2018 at 12:53 AM ^
I agree with you, Bronxblue, and M won't have all its top players for this one.
December 3rd, 2018 at 8:28 PM ^
After the bedshitting against South Carolina last year I am dreading just about any bowl this team gets to.
December 2nd, 2018 at 5:17 PM ^
Yes, but we also thought that Michigan was gonna come out energized and motivated against OSU, but that didn't happen
December 2nd, 2018 at 5:28 PM ^
I don't think the problem last Saturday was a lack of energy or motivation. We were just flat-out beat.
I do think OSU showed a lot more motivation that day than they had most of the season though.
December 2nd, 2018 at 6:00 PM ^
Jmblue. I was at the game. I watched the team walk out of their area in ohio stadium, about 15 minutes before the official kickoff time. They seemed flat. Chase seemed to be the only one who remotely fired up. Perhaps that is the way they conduct themselves before all the games. But it seemed odd to me. I never went back to see the DVR of the game for obvious reasons.
December 2nd, 2018 at 7:33 PM ^
I guess the worst would be if players were looking at their phones while the coach was trying to fire them up- wonder if thats ever happened?
December 2nd, 2018 at 7:36 PM ^
They were absolutely motivated and energized. They just got beat. It happens. It sucks. But good gawd is this place awful after a loss with it's constantly questioning of heart and passion by a bunch of college athletes.
December 3rd, 2018 at 4:27 PM ^
Feleipe Franks isn't Dwayne Haskins.
Mullen should be able to manufacture some offense, but I'd be surprised if Florida gets out of the teens.
This has the makings of Michigan pre-Indiana and post-Nebraska. Wear a team down over 4 quarters, play great defense, keep it close for 3 quarters despite dominating the stat sheet and eye test.
December 2nd, 2018 at 4:42 PM ^
I have a feeling that they're going to beat us this time. Because that's just how this season has gone.
December 2nd, 2018 at 4:43 PM ^
I have a feeling that we're going to make amends for OSU and that Don Brown is going to kill any player trying a crossing route himself.
December 2nd, 2018 at 5:14 PM ^
I don't know if they'll win, but this does feel like a gross game to watch.
December 2nd, 2018 at 5:48 PM ^
The only upside here that I see is that it is the “appetizer” game for the Playoff. I think it will get a lot of eyeballs simply for that reason.
December 3rd, 2018 at 8:42 AM ^
Really? 10 straight victories and avenging 3 of 2017's losses? Except for the bookends, I LOVE how this season has gone.
December 2nd, 2018 at 4:42 PM ^
I'm going to call my psychiatrist. First, because of the stupidity of those who set up the re-rematch (which, btw ESPN, Michigan won twice including the Citrus in 2016). And, second, because that Peach Bowl logo looks incredibly dirty to me.
December 2nd, 2018 at 5:02 PM ^
The logo shown here is not the official Peach Bowl logo. Maybe Brian = FauxMo?
December 2nd, 2018 at 5:04 PM ^
Hey. The vagina is a beautiful and natural thing.
December 2nd, 2018 at 5:55 PM ^
Yes, a guy I knew came out of one when he was born and spent the rest of his life trying to get back into one.
December 2nd, 2018 at 6:48 PM ^
Not all of them, unfortunately.
December 2nd, 2018 at 8:33 PM ^
Right. Fleshlight.
December 2nd, 2018 at 5:15 PM ^
Got some strong Georgia O'Keffee vibe.
December 2nd, 2018 at 6:55 PM ^
Exactly - I was thinking Georgia O'Keeffe or a Rorschach test.
December 2nd, 2018 at 7:36 PM ^
No its just a similar sounding word: Georgia O'Keefe has the word Georgia in it - a state which sells peaches
$200 please
December 2nd, 2018 at 6:19 PM ^
I think you do need a Psychiatrist.
At 10-2, this was the best possible outcome for us. The bowl choices were Fiesta or Peach, and opponent choices were LSU, UCF, or Florida. We got the best bowl and the best opponent. Peach is in Atlanta, great for recruiting, closer for traveling. Florida is the best opponent for national interest and also for recruiting.
Please everyone stop crying. We are playing in a high profile New Years Six bowl!
Take a look at 10-2 Wazzu. They really got screwed with a nothing bowl.
December 2nd, 2018 at 6:52 PM ^
This isn't crying - it's Groundhog Day. I'm fine with the Peach Bowl. I would rather Michigan played LSU or UCF. In my book, New Years Eve is 12/31 and New Years Day is 1/1. You can call it NY6 but it isn't on either day; you can also say your farts don't stink. I'm reserving the right to call BS on both.
Anyway, I am happy with the possibility of 11 wins and (hopefully) a big win over Florida will set the tone for next year.
December 2nd, 2018 at 7:03 PM ^
We play all BIG east teams every year. We play Notre Dame frequently. This is just the 5th time in the history of Michigan football we play Florida.
Peach bowl is on the same saturday as the two playoff games, so it it a great day to play football!
Everyone will be watching!
Not worth crying over. Plenty of story lines that make this interesting. (Unless we lose)
December 2nd, 2018 at 7:37 PM ^
we can't possibly lose- its guaranteed!
December 2nd, 2018 at 7:41 PM ^
This is just the 5th time in the history of Michigan football we play Florida.
Well yes, but before the 1990s, Florida was a nothing program. And all our meetings have come since 2002.
I do like the fact that we never lose to UF in anything though.
December 2nd, 2018 at 8:39 PM ^
Lost the NC to them in Softball.
They must die.
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