The Alabama Crimson Tide were involved in some controversy with their selection into the College Football Playoff as the fourth seed. Alabama defeated the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs 27-24 in the SEC Championship to punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff. The selection committee caused outrage among fans discussing the Tide’s worthiness in the playoff over the undefeated, ACC-champion Florida State Seminoles.
Alabama Crimson Tide Draw Michigan Matchup
Alabama will play the top-ranked Michigan Wolverines in the Rose Bowl on January 1st. The Crimson Tide check in as a 1.5-point underdog, a title that will surely fuel the fire for Nick Saban and his team.
The Tide suffered a loss early to the Texas Longhorns and were seemingly written off from College Football Playoff contention. Following that loss, Alabama quietly went 10-0 on their way to the SEC championship.
The Michigan Wolverines have struggled to get their passing offense going in big games, something they cannot afford playing an opportunistic Alabama defense. In their last four games of the season, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy averaged just 124 yards per game and threw only one touchdown in those games with one interception.
Michigan relies heavily on their rushing attack featuring Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards. Alabama’s defense allows just 124.5 rushing yards per game and will need to limit the Wolverines’ dynamic backfield.
The top-seeded Wolverines did not seem thrilled when they discovered they drew the matchup versus Alabama. https://x.com/ESPNRittenberg/status/1731364733251444866?s=20
The Tide’s Success on Both Sides of the Ball
The Tide’s defense has forced 18 turnovers with 12 interceptions this season and will play a huge part in Alabama’s potential playoff run.
Another key to Alabama’s success will be Jalen Milroe and a Crimson Tide offense that is getting hot at the right time. Jalen Milroe led the Tide to an upset over top-ranked Georgia in the SEC Championship.
Who else could knock off a defending back-to-back national champion on a 29-game win streak besides Nick Saban?
Alabama’s dynamic quarterback was electric during the Tide’s run to the SEC Championship, totaling 2,718 passing yards and 35 total touchdowns. Milroe has played his best football in big games, with Heisman-like play versus Auburn and Georgia.
The Michigan Wolverines will have to account for Milroe’s athleticism as the quarterback accounted for nearly 500 rushing yards with 12 rushing touchdowns on the season.
The Alabama Crimson Tide are used to being under the lights of the College Football Playoff and will look to add another national championship to their storied history. Though they are underdogs, the Tide are legit. It takes a special team to knock off a back-to-back national champion and Alabama is just that. They have proven they can beat the best and will look to prove the doubters wrong and show they deserve the selection.
Nick Saban will have his guys ready to play for another College Football Playoff run. The Michigan Wolverines have not looked their best in their last four contests. The Alabama Crimson Tide took care of business all season long, bouncing back from an early season loss. This team has battled adversity and is playing their best football at the perfect time.