JessN: Alabama vs. Michigan Game Preview: Forget who's best ... who's left?

JessN

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Michigan Preview: Forget who's best ... who's left?
by Jess Nicholas, TideFans.com Editor-in-Chief

As Alabama and Michigan prepare to meet in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Fla. – a rematch of sorts of last year’s College Football Playoff semifinal – the biggest question isn’t necessarily which team was better in 2024, but which team is better after approximately 50 players from the two rosters either have left via the transfer portal or have opted out of the bowl game due to injury, concern over draft status or some other reason.

Such is the way of modern college football, which is an unholy mess of confusing deadlines, opt-out windows, transfer regulations and a money-rules-all atmosphere, the fault of which lies at the feet of both NCAA bureaucrats and short-sighted judges who all seem determined to bring death to the concept of amateurism. The result, for this game, is that Alabama and Michigan will meet, but it won’t be the same Alabama and Michigan that existed around the first of December.

CONTINUE READING


Reliaquest Bowl
11:00 AM CST
Alabama vs Michigan
Line: Alabama -16.5 / O/U 45.5
 
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Saban4Ever

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Nice analysis. Hope we get that 10th win. That is very important, no matter who is playing at QB or any other position. It would be great to have Ty play in the 4th quarter though. Should be an interesting game with all the players missing for each team.
 
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teamplayer

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If they control the line of scrimmage, they will win in a low scoring, low snap count kind of game. If we can hold our own at the point of attack and hit a few big plays, we can put too much pressure on their skill positions and win easily. We'll see what happens in a few days. Well, I may not see it, but I'm sure I'll check the score at some point.
 
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B1GTide

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If they control the line of scrimmage, they will win in a low scoring, low snap count kind of game. If we can hold our own at the point of attack and hit a few big plays, we can put too much pressure on their skill positions and win easily. We'll see what happens in a few days. Well, I may not see it, but I'm sure I'll check the score at some point.
If Proctor can't go, this one could be difficult to watch.
 

gtgilbert

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If Proctor can't go, this one could be difficult to watch.
Does UM have Edge guys who would give us a challenge if we have to go with Pritchett and Formby, or do they do just enough twisting and stunting to make things confusing for a newer guy?
 

B1GTide

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Does UM have Edge guys who would give us a challenge if we have to go with Pritchett and Formby, or do they do just enough twisting and stunting to make things confusing for a newer guy?
Graham has opted out (run stuffing DT who will be a 1st rounder) but both edge guys are returning for 2025 (Moore and Guy).
 

JessN

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Does UM have Edge guys who would give us a challenge if we have to go with Pritchett and Formby, or do they do just enough twisting and stunting to make things confusing for a newer guy?
They do. Their problem for this game is they will be working with exactly 3 defensive tackles. Well, 4 if you count a kid who has zero games played so far in 2024.

The middle of their front seven is vulnerable, and the corners aren't fantastic in the secondary.

Also, this article got outdated fast ... I did the best I could to get an accurate depth chart from Michigan, but was told today that OT Myles Hinton won't be playing after all. Looks like a senior reserve named Jeff Persi will be filling in. That helps, because Hinton was a mid-round draft pick.
 

CSR1950

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Right-on....Mullings did not make the trip to Tampa having just declared yesterday for the NFL draft. Mullings option out is a huge loss with Donovan Edwards already OUT. With Cabana and Dunlap hitting the portal, UM's RB room is down to two of six and one of them -- Benjamin Hall -- is questionable-injury after missing OSU game. Also, starting SS Makari Paige is OUT having not made the trip. As for O-line, Hinton was all-Big 10 and 2nd teamer Tristan Bounds is lost to the portal, leaving 3-star Connor Jones at LT. Backup LG Anderson, backup C Guidice and backup RT Gentry are all out; lost to the portal. The UM O-line depth is terrible; made worse by also losing All Big-10 TE Loveland for the bowl game. Since OL-DL / DL-OL matchups are so critical in these games, UM is weakened big time in their run game and stopping our run game. Hope this makes sense. RTR....
 

CSR1950

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One more item....as for Bama's roster situation in Tampa. Kaydyn Proctor is practicing with 1st team on day 2 after riding the bicycle on day 1. Great news....even if he's on a pitch count to protect the injury that he's having repaired soon. Meanwhile, look for 5-star J.Mbakwe changing #s from DB-9 to WR-6, having come back to us from the portal. Jaylen was QB, WR, PR, DB for 6A champs Chalkville HS. Our WR room grows from only 4 scholarship guys to 5...badly needed depth to take advantage of UM's weakest link: secondary. Look for Jaylen in the slot....very shifty - witness his 2 punt returns this year. Lookin' good in Tampa! RTR....
 

BamaMoon

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The "irony" of JM being showcased (JessN's word) in this game is that if he struggles, as he did last time against UM, it'll be the last thing scouts will remember.

FWIW, it sounds like we are in better shape with transfers/opt outs than UM, so hopefully we can get a quick lead with our skill guys having an advantage and then maybe, just maybe, JM pulls a Cam Ward in the second half and we get a better glimpse of TS!
 

CSR1950

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Right-on....as long as we're 1-2 scores up early in 3Q, agree DeBoer should put Ty in for the remainder of the game with 1st team. BTW, Milroe indeed is on performance interview for day one vs day two NFL draft. UM did stop him by and large in Rose Bowl, though JM was operating under T.Rees / OC whose lousy play calling coldntributed to his off day. For that matter, OC Sheridan is probably interviewing on the field today with his play call schemes for next year's job vs having another "OU" performance....ouch. Sure would like to see many more 1st down pass plays and less designed Milroe runs, too often horizontal. Attacking their weak secondary with quick reads will be key. We really should wear down their star-deprived DL and depth-poor OL in 2nd half. RTR!
 

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