Citrus Bowl spread: Alabama 7 point favorite over Michigan
The line currently is at a consensus 7 point Alabama favorite with some juice on it, which means it's trending to be over 7 points earlier on this week.
https://www.oddsshark.com/ncaaf/odds/line-history/1217683
Likely the line will naturally fluctuate these upcoming weeks based on news that comes out on what players will sit out the bowl game or not. ...As with almost any bowl game out there of course.
FYI, Sparty is 3.5 point favorites over Wake Forest. LSU is a 10 point favorite vs Oklahoma, and Clemson is a 2 point favorite still vs OSU.
December 9th, 2019 at 5:57 AM ^
That 7 point spread vs Bama has got to be per quarter, right?
December 9th, 2019 at 5:59 AM ^
I also think Alabama will own us, but I'm hoping that's just SEC propaganda that's soaked into my bones. If we can beat them, that'd be a hell of a fun bowl game for a change.
December 9th, 2019 at 6:30 AM ^
I think oddsmakers forgot to add a zero to that line.
Alabama -70
December 9th, 2019 at 6:39 AM ^
That's free money, folks.
December 9th, 2019 at 6:39 AM ^
Beating Bama would be cathartic though.
December 9th, 2019 at 9:34 AM ^
That is a serious understatement.
December 9th, 2019 at 9:54 AM ^
It would be absolutely massive. If you hear anybody say in the next month that "this game does not mean anything" they either seriously don't know what the hell they are talking about or they want to deny Michigan the opportunity for a huge, possibly program changing moment. Have to be honest, I'm pretty disappointed in the collective reaction to this game by almost everybody on this blog. We were just gifted an opportunity to change the entire narrative of this season and be flying high into the money time in recruiting season and next season.
Bowl committee "Hey, Michigan fans, quick question for you, just seeing if you want to play at at the Citrus Bowl against Alabama right in the middle of New Years Day in what will be easily the biggest- most watched non-playoff game of the entire season?"
Michigan fan - "Oh my god they hate us. What a shitty situation they have put us in. They are going to kill us. And even if they don't kill us, it is only because they don't care and it is meaningless. We should just be fans of a different team. This torture never ends."
December 9th, 2019 at 11:09 AM ^
This is exactly how I feel. If Michigan can’t play in the playoff or a NY6 bowl, this is the next best thing.
December 9th, 2019 at 11:59 AM ^
Frankly I feel like most of the NY6 matchups are pretty shitty. I would take this over Florida or Memphis. Aside from playoff or Rose Bowl, this is the third best option.
December 9th, 2019 at 12:49 PM ^
Disagree...
Auburn or someone of that caliber would be great... but this is a truly NO WIN situation. David may have beat Goliath, but I don't believe in comic books or cartoons. And I know some asshat is going to say App state was David; no they weren't, they were evenly matched to Michigan many years ago...
The rematch could have been a right of passage to getting Michigan back on track. However, seeing Michigan flogged by Bama, doesn't make sense. It will NOT be a close game folks, you're fooling yourselves.
December 9th, 2019 at 6:57 AM ^
thats bait.gif
December 9th, 2019 at 7:32 AM ^
People are acting like Saban won’t care about this game and get his players ready. I think he’ll prepare his team like this is a playoff game. He will want to bury Harbaugh.
December 9th, 2019 at 9:04 AM ^
Not about saban. It's about if their top guys suit up for this one plus this will likely be a low energy game for most of their guys who are used to meaningful games this time of the year
December 9th, 2019 at 9:09 AM ^
They could probably suit up their second string and be ok against anyone except the top 4 teams. We are far from being the top 4 teams.
December 9th, 2019 at 12:52 PM ^
^^^
Michigan would have to play a flawless game... we've yet to do that this season (oh wait the season is pretty much over)... so yeah keep dreamin' kiddies.
December 9th, 2019 at 9:08 AM ^
The seems low...anyone with a plus tends to blow us out. Would hate to bet against our boys, so I won't, but this seems like easy money to me.
December 9th, 2019 at 9:11 AM ^
I'd bet that goes up slightly, I was thinking it would open in the 8-9 pt range.
December 9th, 2019 at 9:18 AM ^
Another battle of the trenches we most likely lose. Maybe Brown and Co. surprises though.
December 9th, 2019 at 9:36 AM ^
Michigan will win this game.
December 9th, 2019 at 12:54 PM ^
I'll take that bet... just talkin' an outright win right? No spread or nothin?
HOW MUCH? Lets both pony up the dough...I'm in for Franklin or two!
December 9th, 2019 at 9:37 AM ^
This could actually be the best game of the year.
December 9th, 2019 at 9:38 AM ^
It will be interesting to see where this sits about a week before the game, maybe even a few days before, but I'd take this line right now.
December 9th, 2019 at 9:56 AM ^
41-31 game
December 9th, 2019 at 12:55 PM ^
I like your optimism... but it will be more like Bama 41 - 17.
December 9th, 2019 at 10:18 AM ^
Optimistic bullets:
- Alabama will not be motivated to play this game. We've seen our teams let down in the bowl matchup after playing in big games. Bama is used to prepping for the playoffs this time of year. They have no experience playing in games that mean nothing. Maybe they rally, but I'm guessing a bit of their roster has feet out the door.
- Michigan will be (slightly more) motivated (than Bama). It's a game against Bama and eyes will be on this matchup. As in, eyes that evaluate pro talent. We have players on our roster that have pro potential but need better film. What better way to move up in the draft projections than by playing well against Bama?
- Harbaugh doesn't like Saban (more than Saban doesn't like Harbaugh). You have to assume Jim's "cheaters" reference included Alabama. We've seen good things from Motivated Harbaugh.
December 9th, 2019 at 11:03 AM ^
The "motivated Harbaugh" didn't like Urban Meyer and now doesn't like Ryan Day. How did that work out?
December 9th, 2019 at 11:33 AM ^
We are told OSU takes the rivalry "more seriously" than Michigan. So they're more motivated?
December 9th, 2019 at 10:23 AM ^
This game will probably go one of two ways, either a blowout for Bama because I don't see a way UM's defense can match up with Bama's huge o-line and then try to slow down their great WR's on top of it or a close shootout where UM takes the good stuff they did against a better OSU defense and executes for the full game without shooting themselves in the foot multiple times. So there is some hope, but it pretty much lies with the offense because I have no clue what gameplan Don Brown can come up with that holds Bama to less than 35-40 given the matchup problems.
December 9th, 2019 at 10:59 AM ^
With our current d-line situation, Najee will have a big game, can't stop it. We will need to go score for score with them to have a chance.
December 9th, 2019 at 11:33 AM ^
When I close my eyes I can almost see what is going to happen and it gives me a sad face...
1st quarter: Michigan looks kind of "ok" but Bama up 10-7 and they look like they are playing with the intensity of a NC game. Michigan doesn't...
2nd Quarter: Woopsie-doodle...Najee...run, run, and run some more 17-7 bama
3rd quarter: the damn breaks...our guys are just beat...27-10 bama
4rth: Game, set, match Bama wins 37-17
I'm usually more of the positive guy around these ways. The matchup just kind of sucks. The're o-line is going to mash UM's and Najee is a freak. This bama team is damn good. There is no asterisk by auburns win over them...AT ALL, because Tua is out. That's how good they are.
December 9th, 2019 at 12:59 PM ^
Only way Michigan wins this game, is if Tua miraculously recovers, forgets which team he's on, and slips on a Michigan jersey by accident and takes the field for us.
December 9th, 2019 at 1:04 PM ^
Naturally the line is up to -7.5 FYI
December 10th, 2019 at 8:06 AM ^
The way my lucks been I’ll take Bama and the points. That’ll guarantee a Michigan victory. Your welcome.