Just saw that we're actually a 2.5pt favorite over Bama
December 3rd, 2023 at 5:43 PM ^
Whoah Nellie!!! I’ve got some news to tell you about Keith Jackson…
December 3rd, 2023 at 5:46 PM ^
I hope he's feeling well. I love it when he calls the Rose Bowl.
December 3rd, 2023 at 5:47 PM ^
Hey, no need, we all know the reason. Season-ending surgery. Bummer that he’s not calling this year’s Rose Bowl, ‘the granddaddy of them all’
December 3rd, 2023 at 5:43 PM ^
It’s going to be a really interesting game. Michigan cannot win with the style of football it has been playing. Alabama will eat that up. McCarthy needs to sling it. Need a huge day from the tight ends. And need Barrett to go everywhere Milroe goes.
Coin flip game.
December 3rd, 2023 at 5:52 PM ^
If Michigan plays exactly like they played against OSU, they will win. OSU is substantially better than Alabama IMO.
December 3rd, 2023 at 5:55 PM ^
I do not concur.
December 3rd, 2023 at 6:03 PM ^
Way too many people are afraid of the name Alabama, This isn’t the same team it was five or 10 years ago
December 3rd, 2023 at 6:12 PM ^
I’m not afraid of Bama, they are a very good team though. Gonna be a really tough game.
December 4th, 2023 at 12:06 AM ^
This is not the Bama of 2020. Not even close. This is probably Saban's worst team in a decade or more. We got lucky to have Bama over Georgia, IMO.
I think I seen something where Saban has been a underdog 5x last 14 years...4 by Georgia... obviously 2 were this year, back 2 back. If we were playing anyone else with their metrics/power rating we'd be favored by 5-8 points but it's SEC and Bama.
December 3rd, 2023 at 6:24 PM ^
The name Alabama gives them about 1 additional touchdown in every game against most teams.
December 3rd, 2023 at 6:25 PM ^
They also beat #1 Georgia and ended their 29 game win streak. I'm terrified.
I hope it's competitive.
December 3rd, 2023 at 6:29 PM ^
The offensive line is a huge concern. That is the one primary reason I did not want Bama in the semis. Iowa had 5 sacks last night. No bueno.
December 3rd, 2023 at 6:59 PM ^
And Iowa's pass rush is dog shit.
I will say, Iowa had several coverage sacks.
Problem? Bama's secondary is also great.
December 3rd, 2023 at 7:03 PM ^
You must be drinking the Kool-Aid…
December 3rd, 2023 at 9:38 PM ^
At least 3 of those sacks are on JJ. The line is going to get beat sometimes. Throw the ball away. Teams have his little spin out pretty much downloaded and he loses an additional 10 yards trying it anyways.
December 3rd, 2023 at 7:12 PM ^
I read every one of your posts in Bob's voice. I crack myself up.
I am also terrified -- not of Alabama per se, but of our bowl prep. 2023 Alabama is substantially better than 2022 TCU.
December 3rd, 2023 at 8:03 PM ^
We overlooked TCU. I guarantee we will not overlook Alabama.
December 3rd, 2023 at 8:37 PM ^
This is true.
That said, it won't matter if we go into bowl prep figuring we just have to polish up Plan A to win. Yes, I know it worked against OSU and that OSU is roughly the equal of Bama. But with a month to prepare, I guarantee that Saban will have answers for Plan A. We better have plans B and C ready to be implemented, drive to drive. That should be the focus of our bowl prep.
December 3rd, 2023 at 8:40 PM ^
Among other issues, they were a stupid Auburn-rushes-2-so-gives-up-a=ridiculous
Hail Mary TD on 4th and goal from the 31
from a second loss and being eliminated.
We will win.
December 4th, 2023 at 8:40 AM ^
Bowers and Mcconkey were hurt, Beck didnt look good. UGA polayed bad enough for Bama to beat them.
If Michigan shows up with that #1 defense they'll have a chance to beat them. But they can't get in a shootout with them or they'll lose big.
December 3rd, 2023 at 6:36 PM ^
“This isn’t the same team it was five or 10 years ago”
Michigan fans said the same thing about the 10-2 2019 Alabama team, which had missed the playoffs for the first time in five years.
This 2023 Alabama team is stuffed with 5-stars so it’s hardly devoid of elite talent.
The question is whether Michigan is good enough to match that talent.
December 3rd, 2023 at 8:00 PM ^
You're right that they said that, but this is nowhere near the same Michigan team as 2019 either. That 2019 team had a lousy offense and was led by Don Brown on defense.
December 3rd, 2023 at 8:04 PM ^
I was at a family christmas party, so I don't remember the game well, but it wasn't a blowout right? UM was up at half and then lost by a couple scores?
December 3rd, 2023 at 9:03 PM ^
We were up 16-14 at halftime and still in it after three quarters (down 21-16), but then Bama tacked on two more TDs in the 4th.
December 3rd, 2023 at 8:14 PM ^
I guess Auburn is?
December 3rd, 2023 at 8:00 PM ^
But it is the team that just beat Georgia. And Nick Saban with a month to prepare is kind of the worst case scenario.
December 3rd, 2023 at 8:07 PM ^
Explain why Georgia is the measuring stick without referencing 2021 and 2022. In other words, a 29 game unbeaten streak where 17 of the wins were accomplished using players that are now in the NFL doesn’t mean as much to me. They are starting a first time starter at QB who looked ok against Bama. Let’s see how JJ does with a month to get healthy.
December 3rd, 2023 at 9:00 PM ^
Your last sentence is why I am nervous. Saban and his merry band of mercenaries are good.
December 3rd, 2023 at 8:24 PM ^
They thumped the teams everyone is saying they had close games against. They outgained Arkansas 2 to 1 and outgained Auburn. Bama has 3 guys on their OL that are 6'5 and 350+ lbs. We got zilch that size.
December 3rd, 2023 at 8:59 PM ^
Trust in Harbaugh to come up with a plan to offset that. We may not have 350 but we have close to it.
December 3rd, 2023 at 9:06 PM ^
I'm guessing a lot of teams defend Bama the way we defended OSU, and will concede some shorter stuff while trying to tighten up in the redzone. At the end of the day it's about points scored. Winning the yardage battle gets you nothing.
As for that giant Bama OL, it's actually been quite poor at pass protection.
December 3rd, 2023 at 9:28 PM ^
Maybe, but it's also not the same team it was 5 months ago. They looked pretty good against Georgia.
December 4th, 2023 at 5:40 AM ^
What about the same team they were a week ago when they needed a 4th and 31 miracle to beat Auburn?
I’m not excited about playing a motivated Bama while giving Saban and his staff 4 weeks to dissect our team. But Bama has looked very, very beatable throughout the year.
December 3rd, 2023 at 6:12 PM ^
I would tend to agree with this assertion.
Sharp money going to come in heavy on Michigan -2.5/3 (which I think completely reasonable when you look at the analytics). This is a very Jeckyl and Hyde Alabama operation. ESS EEE CEE loyalist and amateur money going to balance that out. I assume line won't move a lot unless there are injuries. Maybe B1G and NCAA get into it again.
Of interest for the degenerates out there:
t(tm)OSU is favoured -6.5 over Missouri and this line should be *a lot* more but I suspect Vegas is speculating how many Buckeye players won't suit up. The O/U of 51.5 feels like what t(tm)OSU would themselves score if their starters were involved. Read into that what you will.
Arizona (good shit, Jedd) is favoured -1.5 over Oklahoma with an interesting O/U of 64.5. Vegas putting some respect on Jedd's name.
I'd comment about the upcoming Sparty bowl game but I can't seem to find it...
December 3rd, 2023 at 6:37 PM ^
Are you actually an OSU fan? You have been pimping OSU so hard today it's ridiculous.
December 3rd, 2023 at 10:59 PM ^
Thank you Logan for this interesting question. In my real life as a Michigan fan; I'm actually a long-time season ticket holder and lifelong advocate for chair backs and related stadium expansion. This is the hill I will die on as a fan.
I do, however, have two friends who are t(tm)OSU alums if that counts.
Anyway, I think that is a very very good operation that Michigan beat a few weeks ago. I, like probably all of us, detest their miscreant fanbase and overall corrupt leadership. That said, I can acknowledge a very good team that a *better* Michigan team beat.
Go Blue.
December 3rd, 2023 at 6:46 PM ^
Yeah……no.
The talent levels on both teams are comparable for sure, and OSU does have the better set of skill position players, but you’re going up against Nick Saban. He’s probably the greatest college coach, ever. Ryan Day is several leagues below him. Alabama is likely going to be able to run the ball much more effectively than OSU away.
Michigan can win this game, but McCarthy is going to have to be the best player on the field. We will have our hands full and then some.
December 3rd, 2023 at 9:03 PM ^
I don’t know about OSU being better than Alabama. Even though they this year’s team isn’t at the level of some of their previous teams, they still have unbelievable talent. Most mock drafts I’ve seen have three of their guys going in the top 15-20 picks. Yes, OSU has a lot of talent as well, but the difference is that a lot of Alabama’s top talent is up front, where Michigan usually enjoys a big advantage. This one, however, is going to be a struggle at the line of scrimmage. I strongly agree that they’re going to have to throw more often and more successfully than they have recently, but wonder whether they’re going to able to give McCarthy the time to throw and whether the receivers are going to be able to get open consistently. They really need to be able to do both.
December 3rd, 2023 at 9:31 PM ^
Except Saban is substantially better than Day, and Milroe is substantially better than McCord.
The only way we win this game is by dusting off the 2008 citrus bowl playbook.
December 3rd, 2023 at 6:10 PM ^
If you're comparing Saban schematically vs Day, I'd say Saban is 2xDay. (Unaware of how the other coaches/coordinators stack up)
Not the first time Alabama beat Georgia in the SEC Championship after obtaining a loss during the season.
Alabama knows McCarthy can be sacked, happened vs Iowa. So much time to plan.
Yeah I'm hopeful that Michigan will win but don't sleep on any team in the playoff at this point. Analyze and plan like never before.
December 3rd, 2023 at 8:02 PM ^
Alabama’s defense will just copy Ipwa’s — with better athletes.
December 3rd, 2023 at 8:19 PM ^
Before yesterday’s games, Alabama had given up 20+ points in 7 of their last 8 games. Iowa had given up 20+ points in 0 of their last 8 games. If you respond with “schedule” then you are drinking the SEC kool-aid.
December 3rd, 2023 at 8:37 PM ^
i like this. tell me more.
December 4th, 2023 at 5:45 AM ^
I think the SEC is a bit overrated this year, but come on… the “schedule” comment is very valid when you’re talking about Big Ten West offenses and avoiding both Michigan and OSU as cross-overs while Bama plays the likes of Tennessee and LSU.
December 3rd, 2023 at 6:28 PM ^
We can't beat Alabama. Their coach has won at every stop. They have a first rd talent at QB. They have one of the best RBs of the last decade. The defensive line is stockpiled with PFF monsters. They have a lockdown corner and a nickel who makes a game-changing play almost every game. Special teams are amazing. They have 20+ players with draft grades ... oh wait wait -- that's Michigan. I'm talking about Michigan.
December 3rd, 2023 at 6:56 PM ^
I see what you did there
December 4th, 2023 at 1:24 AM ^
Zing!
December 3rd, 2023 at 7:10 PM ^
Not it’s not. Play our game we win by at least a TD.
December 3rd, 2023 at 8:07 PM ^
Our manball style that relies on dominance in the trenches is actually the perfect recipe for this year's Alabama team. Check out these numbers:
Alabama's defensive line:
Power success rate - 31st
defensive line yards - 58th
stuff rate - 102nd.
On offense, they're 122nd in sacks allowed. Milroe has been sacked 38 times.
According to SP+, we've beaten two better teams already. This one is very winnable, but it will be a battle.
December 3rd, 2023 at 8:13 PM ^
I see a big advantage in taking a month to prepare for Bama rather than a week (if we were playing them in the championship game.) That's a silver lining.