It just means more? FOX CFB crew debates who has more to play for in Citrus Bowl
A matchup between Michigan and Alabama in the postseason did not seem that farfetched a few months ago. However, few fans or analysts would have predicted that matchup to come in the Citrus Bowl.
Unfortunately, both Alabama and Michigan fell short of expectations in 2019. For Nick Saban and Alabama, the Crimson Tide fell victim to LSU and Heisman winner Joe Burrow before also dropping the Iron Bowl against Auburn. Without an SEC Championship to boost its resume, there was no hope for a two-loss Tide team to make the Playoff.
For Jim Harbaugh and Michigan, the Wolverines fell flat in their biggest games of the year with losses to Wisconsin, Penn State, and Ohio State with two of them coming in blowout fashion. Now, Michigan needs a win in the bowl game to reach 10 wins once again.
Over the weekend, the FOX College Football crew of Urban Meyer, Joel Klatt, and Matt Leinart got together to discuss which team has more to play for in the non-Playoff matchup. For Meyer, he cited Alabama’s current low ranking as plenty of motivation heading into New Year’s Day:
“I’m going with Alabama. It just doesn’t look right when you see 13 next to Alabama…In Tuscaloosa, this is uncharted waters,” said Meyer. “You lose this game and finish 18th or something like that. They’ll be fine, they have a great recruiting class, but I can just imagine Nick Saban and that staff right now, they have to win this game.”
Leinart saw things a bit differently. The opportunity for Michigan to take down Alabama, regardless of where the Tide ranks, provides a chance for momentum heading into 2020:
“(Jim Harbaugh) has a chance to take down Alabama. Even if they’re wounded, you beat Alabama – the team of the last 10 years – that’s a lot of momentum going into next season,” explained Leinart. “Double-digit wins, a chance to beat them, you carry that recruiting into next season. That’s why I think it’s bigger for Michigan.”
Here’s the full discussion:
It's not a New Year's Six game, but there's still plenty to keep an eye on!@joelklatt, @MattLeinartQB and @CoachUrbanMeyer tell us who has more to play for between Alabama and Michigan. pic.twitter.com/UtY0mGqtSX
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 21, 2019