The Michigan Wolverines are taking on the Florida Gators in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day. The game is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on ABC. Currently the betting odds for the game have the Wolverines favored to pick up the victory in this one.
Michigan has certainly exceeded expectations this season, the first under Jim Harbaugh. A victory in this game would give them 10 for the season and a probable Top 10 overall finish in the rankings. Florida also looks to be ahead of schedule, the Gators already have 10 wins on the year and come in ranked 19th overall.
This is the third time Michigan and Florida are playing, the Wolverines own victories over the Gators in the 2003 Outback and 2008 Capital One bowl games.
Michigan sports one of the best defenses in the country, allowing just 17.2 points per game, which went up after surrendering 42 to Ohio State in the regular season finale. Prior to that Michigan had given up just over 14 points per game, including three straight shutouts in the early part of the year.
Florida’s offense has struggled, Treon Harris hasn’t been able to get the Gators on track. In the final two games of the season against Florida State and Alabama the Gators scored just a single offensive touchdown. Kelvin Taylor is a great tailback, but Michigan’s run defense is very good and their corners are good enough to play in man coverage, which will allow the Wolverines to bring more guys into the box if Florida can’t move the ball through the air.
Michigan’s Jake Rudock has been strong all year. The Wolverines have had a stable of different guys that have carried the rock this season, but the passing game has shown great signs of being steady. Tight end Jake Butt and receivers Amara Darboh and Jehu Chesson are all targets that Florida will have to pay attention to in this one.
The Wolverines have the better defense and are better offensively. The total shows this should be a relatively low-scoring game, Michigan will come up with the stops necessary to win.
Free Pick: Michigan
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