(Photo: Rose Bowl Game)
College Football Playoff- The Rose Bowl
(4) Alabama Crimson Tide at (1) Michigan Wolverines
Alabama: Here’s what you can do with a loss. You can either let it keep you down and you dwell in the sadness, or you can learn from it and use it as motivation moving forward. Many people viewed them differently after the week two loss to the Texas Longhorns and what made it even more shocking was them losing in Tuscaloosa where they have a strong home-field advantage. Since then, they’ve made me pay more attention to them. I want to say this. What if Jalen Milroe didn’t have that stretch of trouble early on in the season? After that, he truly came into his own and settled in well as the starting Quarterback. Now, I say this. If he didn’t struggle early on and let’s just say he played how did the remainder of the regular season out the gates to begin the year, Jalen would be a Heisman candidate. Would he win? I’m unsure about that because was Jayden Daniels did this year was absolutely special, but also, where would Jalen’s football team be without him? I’ve seen many of Nick Saban’s teams over the years. Many of them have had standouts, Heisman winners (Bryce Young, DeVonta Smith, Derrick Henry and Mark Ingram) and many of his teams have had all the talent in the world over the years. I don’t think you can say that about this Crimson Tide team this year. Their offense may not have the explosiveness, but this season, they averaged 35 points per game and their defense is still one of the best in the country allowing only 18 yards per game. This is by far Nick’s best coaching job and I say that because this is the one team where they’ve truly displayed all the mental toughness. Even when it was all stacked against them, they found a way to prevail. Look what they did last time they played. They took down the number one ranked team in college football. On Monday, they will look to advance to their tenth National Title game under the legendary Head Coach.
Michigan: Three consecutive years of dominating the Big Ten East, winning the Big Ten conference championship and three straight victories over the rival Ohio State Buckeyes. This is the class of the Big Ten and as far as I’m concerned, they are in their own bracket. Everyone can say they had an easy schedule which maybe true and all, but you beat who’s in front of you and that’s exactly what they did. Looking back at everything, eight of their wins came against bowl eligible teams this year. They beat UNLV, Bowling Green, Rutgers, Minnesota, Penn State, Maryland, Ohio State and Iowa. May not be the sexiest group of teams on the docket, but if this had been seven or eight years ago, I can almost guarantee you they’d lose at least three of those games. This is a more mentally sound football team now than it was then when Jim Harbaugh took over as the Head Coach. Speaking of Jim, he’s finally back on the sideline after serving his second suspension of the year due to a sign-stealing scandal. Throughout the year, I’ve been saying this is the best team in the country. The Wolverines have an offense that averages 36 points per game and they have just the right amount of balance. The bread and butter of this offense is running the football and they have the best tandem of runners in Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards. I’ll say it now as I did during the regular season. If Blake doesn’t get hurt last season, Michigan beats TCU in the Fiesta Bowl and there’s no changing my mind. What’s also made this group so successful this year has been their defense. They have been punishing, physical and have made offenses extremely one-dimensional. This could be their best opportunity to win a title. Everything is there for them as they can move the ball up the field and stop you in your tracks defensively. It’s postseason time and they have drawn up a battle with the Crimson Tide of Alabama.
Alabama X-Factor: Terrion Arnold– He’s improved his draft stock this year. This is a younger Alabama secondary, but Terrion has grown up this season. He has natural instincts to bring himself around the ball and he can tackle in the open field. In coverage, he keeps his head on a swivel and can run step for step with any receiver in his vicinity. Terrion is a gifted athlete with speed and acceleration to chase the ball down. He finished the regular season with 11 passes defended and five interceptions. I’m curious to see who the Tide will have him shadow in this game.
Michigan X-Factor: Colston Loveland– This is another pass catcher at J.J. McCarthy’s disposal. Colston is a 6’6, 245 pound Tight End with enough wiggle and quickness to free himself. Go watch the Ohio State game and you’ll see how much of a difference maker this kid can be. Colston was the engine that helped lead the Wolverines passing attack to win that game over Ohio State as he finished with five catches and 88 yards. I like the mismatch he brings to a defense and I expect Michigan to use him in different ways to get him the football.
Final Thoughts: The storylines here couldn’t be any more enticing. Two of the best Head Coaches in the country, two blue bloods, the Rose Bowl, a trip to the Natty and so much more. What a game this should be. I’ve referred to Michigan as the best team in the nation while Alabama has been streaking since that week two loss to the Texas Longhorns. The key for Alabama is to bottle up Corum and Edwards first and foremost. Michigan will look to get their Running Backs going, but Alabama is one of the best in the country when it comes to stopping the run. If I’m Alabama, I’m getting Michigan out of their element and making this game a shootout. Start fast and ask questions later. TCU did this same thing last year and they also beat Michigan at their own game which was being more physical and they could never recover. Michigan on the other hand must contain Jalen Milroe. When the ball is in his hands, worrying about him as a passer isn’t what grabs my attention. It’s limiting his running. As a passer, he’s improved, but he can make mistakes and put the ball in harm’s way. The Wolverines must also capitalize in the red zone and play a full 60 minutes when playing this team. A perfect half won’t put this group away. I expect this to be an exciting football game from the first quarter to the fourth. I like Alabama to find a way to prevail and win this game in a thriller.
Prediction: Alabama 31, Michigan 24
