The Michigan Wolverines and Florida State Seminoles will play tonight in the 2016 Capital One Orange Bowl. The game is scheduled for an 8:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on ESPN. The college football odds for the game have Michigan favored to pick up the win.
College Football Odds
Michigan -6.5
Total 51 points
Some might question Michigan's motivation for this game, given they missed the college football playoffs. But with head coach Jim Harbaugh running the show, there's little doubt the Wolverines will be ready to go against a solid Florida State team.
Underdogs continue to dominate in bowl games this post season, covering the number in 21 of the 28 bowls to date. If the trend continues, Florida State will be keeping this game close. The Seminoles have a very strong tailback in Dalvin Cook, who rushed for better than 1,600 yards and 18 touchdowns on the season.
Michigan's strength is definitely the defense, but giving up 206 yards on the ground to Ohio State in the finale lifted their overall stats for the season. The Wolverines couldn't consistently stop J.T. Barrett on the ground and he burned them for 125 yards on 30 carries. The Wolverines still rank tops in the country in total defense and only gave up 12.5 points a game this season, led by Jabrill Peppers and company.
Florida State is playing in its home state and probably feels pretty good to be here. The Seminoles won each of their last four games and probably should be in the playoffs themselves. Jimbo Fisher's team has close losses to North Carolina and Clemson by a combined five points in home games, had they won each of those games, it would have been nine in a row and put the Noles in the discussion for a national championship appearance.
But as it is, this is one of the better matchups outside of the playoffs. Both squads are pretty good and Harbaugh will have his team ready to go. The Wolverines didn't turn it over much this season and the play of quarterback Wilton Speight will be key. Michigan will want to run the football, but Speight should be able to hit for some big plays against the Seminole secondary.
Free Pick: Michigan
Free Picks: Michigan vs. Florida State (Orange Bowl Betting)
FSU disrespected plus Michigan on the road handicapped by Pro Bettor Brad Powers - with Steve Fezzik from the Pregame.com Studios in Las Vegas. Get his NCAA Football Free Pick: Michigan vs. Florida St. in the Orange Bowl.
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