Michigan Opens as Slight Favorite in Rose Bowl

[CajunCrimson]

And, having a former BIL who is a huge UM fan and kinda knowing their egotistical fan base, they'll come into the game believing they are superior in every category to Bama (education, culture, history, etc) so if they fall they will fall very, very hard.

Plus, they believe that they are gradually getting better each year. And this is the time they finally get to the finals. So gamble away people.

What’s funny is that this is likely the last time they get here. I don’t see them making it this far again.

Their 2024 schedule has: Texas, USC, Washington, Oregon, and Ohio State.

 

[BamaMoon]

Plus, they believe that they are gradually getting better each year. And this is the time they finally get to the finals. So gamble away people.

What’s funny is that this is likely the last time they get here. I don’t see them making it this far again.

Their 2024 schedule has: Texas, USC, Washington, Oregon, and Ohio State.

I know they play in the B1G, but I'm not sure you get tested as thoroughly as the top dog in the SEC thru conference play does.

It was said on the CFP reveal show yesterday that FSU had more offensive yardage against the Cards than UM had against Iowa in the conference championship game.

Iowa has a good defense...but is it more battle tested than Alabama's?

 

[B1GTide]

But what do you think . . . As someone who follows the yankee conference! Why did Ohio State lose to Michigan? About all I saw was the interception at the end of the game. What is your assessment among Ohio State, Michigan and Georgia?

I think that you are built to beat Georgia, which means that you are built to beat Michigan. That said, this is a very experienced team that will go into this game with a plan and the ability to execute that plan.

They absolutely will take this game seriously. You heard the groans when they got Alabama. They are worried, so they will prepare. They lost last year to TCU because they did not take them seriously. You are not going to get that team. You are going to get the team that just beat Ohio State. And, yes, Alabama is better than Ohio State this year - but not by enough to guarantee anything.

If Alabama plays with a chip on their shoulder like they did against Georgia, you will win. I am just not sure that this young group of Alabama players will do so. They seemed surprised by their win in the SECCG. Let's hope that doesn't lead to bad preparation.

Play your best game and you win. Anything less and you will not.

 

[B1GTide]

I know they play in the B1G, but I'm not sure you get tested as thoroughly as the top dog in the SEC thru conference play does.

It was said on the CFP reveal show yesterday that FSU had more offensive yardage against the Cards than UM had against Iowa in the conference championship game.

Iowa has a good defense...but is it more battle tested than Alabama's?

Iowa's defense is full of NFL players, and it is very experienced. Totally legit. But their offense is probably the worst in college. Putrid. They won solely because of their defense. Think of the Alabama team in 2005. Dominant defense and zero offense.

 

[uafan4life]

My best Pat Dye accent. Alabama’s not man enough to beat Michigan.

Needs a little more whiskey...

 

[landonew]

I don't follow UM closely and I'm not saying it'll be an easy win for Bama BUT given 2-3 weeks to prepare this is the kind of matchup that CNS is the master at.

I feel really good we'll be totally prepared for them.

I think both teams will show up well prepared. I just think Bama is a lot more difficult to prepare for than Michigan.

Bama is a nightmare to prepare for right now, and this was evident from how they dominated Georgia. People want to say it was a close game. It wasn’t really that close, Bama was up two scores for virtually the entire second half, and ended the game mid-drive in Georgia territory. Bama failed to capitalize on two clear interception opportunities, and only scored 3 points off Georgia’s turnover. I think CNS made a decision at halftime to focus on taking the air out of the game. They ran the ball 41 times in 64 offense plays … despite only rushing for 2.8 yds per carry.

I think Bama’s offense is very difficult to prepare for because JM’s dual threat capability forces the opponent’s secondary to play zone with a spy, while also limiting how aggressively they pass rush at the Edge (the D-Line must maintain gap discipline). This provides enough time for receivers to get open in the flat and occasionally deep.

Bama’s secondary is elite, which gives CKS a lot of flexibility in terms of in-game adjustments. You saw that after Georgia’s first scoring drive.

 

[theballguy]

I want everyone Bama plays to be favored.

 

[crimsonaudio]

As of right now, out of 10k bets placed so far, 87% of the betting public is hammering Alabama like it’s free money. A little worrisome…

Why are you worried about who people place bets on? It has zero effect on what happens on the field. None, nada, zip, zilch...

 

[gtgilbert]

That is red meat on a warm plate for a 3-4 Over/Under defense.

Saban will get to use the true 3-4 scheme

well, not really. in what I've watched of UM so far, they still spread out 3 receivers most of the times and also slide the TE out wide also.

Anyway, we don't run the 3-4 over/under any more. Outside of a few short yardage and goal line plays we've run the 3-4 ZERO times this year and in most games we never lined up in it at all. Our base D is a 4-2 Flex Nickel and really we're best when we don't even worry about the Flex of having an OLB able to drop and just play a 40 front. When we try to operate as a 3-3 Nickel, we get what happened on the first drive against UGA. 4-2 was the rest of the game. The only thing that's a bit of a holdover is that we still have a good bit of 2-gap responsibilities along the DL, but even that appears to be shifting to either hybrid or 1-gap.

 

[Tiderollin32]

I think that you are built to beat Georgia, which means that you are built to beat Michigan. That said, this is a very experienced team that will go into this game with a plan and the ability to execute that plan.

They absolutely will take this game seriously. You heard the groans when they got Alabama. They are worried, so they will prepare. They lost last year to TCU because they did not take them seriously. You are not going to get that team. You are going to get the team that just beat Ohio State. And, yes, Alabama is better than Ohio State this year - but not by enough to guarantee anything.

If Alabama plays with a chip on their shoulder like they did against Georgia, you will win. I am just not sure that this young group of Alabama players will do so. They seemed surprised by their win in the SECCG. Let's hope that doesn't lead to bad preparation.

Play your best game and you win. Anything less and you will not.

I know without a doubt you know Michigan better than we do watching your team play them every year but that’s not an accurate statement about our team. I don’t think there was a single player interview that a player said they were shocked we won at all. Quite the opposite actually.

The team created the phrase “LANK” this year which stands for “let all naysayers know”. They did this because no one else believed in them but they believed in themselves. They will 100% take Michigan seriously. You don’t beat a 2 time defending champion on a 29 game winning streak without preparation and belief in oneself.

Also not trying to bash on you B1GTIDE, you’re one of my favorite posters just felt this was a little off on how you think our teams mental outlook is.

 

[GulfCoastTider]

And, having a former BIL who is a huge UM fan and kinda knowing their egotistical fan base, they'll come into the game believing they are superior in every category to Bama (education, culture, history, etc) so if they fall they will fall very, very hard.

Sounds like Texas.

 

[Tiderollin32]

Bulletin board material.

Michigan’s Blake Corum on playing Alabama in CFP: ‘We are the top dog’

Michigan running back reacts to playing Nick Saban's Crimson Tide.

www.al.com

 

[BamaMoon]

Sounds like Texas.

They love to tell everyone they have the most wins, but they don't tell you they started playing football in 1879, which compared to Bama, is 13 years before our first game in 1892.

They got quite the "head start."

 

[92tide]

Bulletin board material.

Michigan’s Blake Corum on playing Alabama in CFP: ‘We are the top dog’

Michigan running back reacts to playing Nick Saban's Crimson Tide.

www.al.com

we seem to handle dogs pretty well

 

[JayBama_in_PCOLA]

My best Pat Dye accent. Alabama’s not man enough to beat Michigan.

No sir. Why would you say that? especially knowing what came after. Never quote anything from that crowd!!

….with all due respect of course. Pretty please.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

I haven't watched a ton of Michigan this year so I could be wrong. I need to go back and watch some of their games.

But Michigan seems to be built like a team that plays directly into our hands, at least on offense. And IIRC Penn State's QB who isn't a tenth as talented of a runner as Milroe ran on them a decent amount.

 

[B1GTide]

Bulletin board material.

Michigan’s Blake Corum on playing Alabama in CFP: ‘We are the top dog’

Michigan running back reacts to playing Nick Saban's Crimson Tide.

www.al.com

Not being afraid of Alabama will help them if they get down early. But let's hope that they don't respect you. That will get them beat.

 

[B1GTide]

I know without a doubt you know Michigan better than we do watching your team play them every year but that’s not an accurate statement about our team. I don’t think there was a single player interview that a player said they were shocked we won at all. Quite the opposite actually.

The team created the phrase “LANK” this year which stands for “let all naysayers know”. They did this because no one else believed in them but they believed in themselves. They will 100% take Michigan seriously. You don’t beat a 2 time defending champion on a 29 game winning streak without preparation and belief in oneself.

Also not trying to bash on you B1GTIDE, you’re one of my favorite posters just felt this was a little off on how you think our teams mental outlook is.

I don't disagree with you - I stated my thoughts poorly. I just hope they keep playing with that chip. That kind of controlled anger can win tough games.

 

[landonew]

Why are you worried about who people place bets on? It has zero effect on what happens on the field. None, nada, zip, zilch...

I know without a doubt you know Michigan better than we do watching your team play them every year but that’s not an accurate statement about our team. I don’t think there was a single player interview that a player said they were shocked we won at all. Quite the opposite actually.

The team created the phrase “LANK” this year which stands for “let all naysayers know”. They did this because no one else believed in them but they believed in themselves. They will 100% take Michigan seriously. You don’t beat a 2 time defending champion on a 29 game winning streak without preparation and belief in oneself.

Also not trying to bash on you B1GTIDE, you’re one of my favorite posters just felt this was a little off on how you think our teams mental outlook is.

CNS coached teams show up prepared to play in cfp games. Even when we got our door’s blow off by Clemson, the team was prepared just outmatched.

I’d be curious to see a position group by position group comparison between Georgia and Michigan. I understand that Michigan has an experienced group of upperclassmen, but how do they compare in terms of athleticism and physicality with Georgia, who’s without question the most physical team we’ve played all season. I guess we should go rewatch the OSU MI game.

 

[stlimprov]

Bulletin board material.

Michigan’s Blake Corum on playing Alabama in CFP: ‘We are the top dog’

Michigan running back reacts to playing Nick Saban's Crimson Tide.

www.al.com

Context: all he's saying is that they aren't intimidated by Alabama's past success. Fair enough.