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When No. 1 Michigan and No. 4 Alabama square off on New Year's Day with a berth in the College Football Playoff National Championship, the Rose Bowl will play home to two of college football's most recognizable brands. It is challenging to think this will be the sixth time the two most successful teams in college football history have faced off. The last was Alabama's decisive victory in the Citrus Bowl.
Michigan had a very straightforward route to this semifinal meeting. The Wolverines breezed through the first three-quarters of the season and defeated Penn State, ranked in the top 10, by scoring nine points. The following two weeks will see the Wolverines play two tight games against a highly good Ohio State team and an upset-minded Maryland team. A last-second interception was required to defeat the Buckeyes and go to the Big Ten Championship Game, where Michigan defeated Iowa 26-0 while holding them scoreless.
In contrast, Alabama's road has been filled with detours and turns. Early in the season, the Crimson Tide's 34-24 home defeat against Texas, a fellow playoff team, was a significant blow. They struggled against teams like Texas A&M and Arkansas until turning things around against Tennessee and winning four of their last five regular-season games by double digits. A week later, they defeated USF by barely two touchdowns. In the SEC Championship Game, Alabama defeated Georgia and gave the Bulldogs their first defeat since the 2021 campaign, announcing their return to the College Football Playoffs.
Watch Michigan take on Alabama in the Rose Bowl CFP semifinal game with live updates.
How to watch live Rose Bowl football
Date: January 1st, Monday Time: 5:00 PM ET
Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, is the location.
ESPN on TV; Fubo live streaming is available for free.
New users may get $20 off Fubo's Pro, Elite, and Premier subscriptions for a certain period.
Three Rose Bowl players to keep an eye on
QB Jalen Milroe of Alabama: On a shaky foundation, Milroe earned Alabama's starting quarterback position; in fact, he was benched before the team's victory against USF in Week 3. Since then, he has become one of the most dynamic players in college football. In the past five Bama regular-season games, he has scored 17 touchdowns in total and only committed two turnovers in the previous seven games. With his outstanding arm skills and running abilities, the 220-pound Milroe gained over 100 yards on the ground against Auburn and LSU. He'll provide a challenge to Michigan's defensive line.
Michigan Database Michael Sainristil: Sainristil, a converted wide receiver, is the lifeblood of a Michigan secondary that allows only 152.6 yards per game and ranks second nationally in pass defense. He does an excellent job of eliminating an opponent's slot receiver in his role as the starting nickelback for the Wolverines. It is also evident that he always retained his ability to handle the ball from his days as an offensive player; this season, he has already picked up five interceptions, two of which he has returned for touchdowns. A slot corner with such game-breaking potential is unusual.
EDGE of Alabama Dallas Turner: It's an appointment to see Turner take on Michigan's offensive line. The Wolverines, who were the 2021–22 Joe Moore Award winners, had another excellent performance in 2023 despite giving up only eighteen sacks over the year. All-world defensive Will Anderson Jr. was replaced by Turner, who set career highs with 14.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. An impressive performance versus Michigan might help him cement his potential as a top-10 NFL Draft selection.
Rose Bowl forecast, selections, and odds from Caesars Sportsbook
This sounds like the start of a big fight. Both sides rely heavily on rushing assaults led by a strong stable of running backs stacked in the trenches. Both quarterbacks, J.J. McCarthy of Michigan and Alabama's Milroe are adept at tossing the ball on play-action looks and making plays with their legs. Alabama holds a clear edge on both sides of the ball outside the hash markers.
While Jermaine Burton is a favorite target of Milroe's and is a reliable player, Crimson Tide wide receiver Isaiah Bond is developing into one of the finest playmakers in the game. Michigan has a strong secondary, but Alabama has Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold, two cornerbacks who are projected to be selected in the first round, and rookie safety Caleb Downs, who has all the makings of an award winner in the future. Alabama can win this game easily if it can hold up at the line of scrimmage. Its offensive line, in particular, needed help early in the season. Alabama +1.5 is the prediction.
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