Happy Thursday, everyone. Christmas is in the books and we now look forward to the final Alabama game of what has been a rollercoaster of a debut for Kalen DeBoer in Tuscaloosa. Chase Goodbread writes that Isaiah Horton is the most critical of Alabama’s portal additions.
And it’s why Horton just might be the most important transfer portal acquisition Alabama adds from the winter cycle. The former Miami wide receiver made 56 catches for the Hurricanes this season; more than Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, or anyone else made for the Crimson Tide. He’s 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, a big target who should bring a more physical presence to a receiving corps that could use a sturdy option on third downs and in the red zone. And most of all, he’ll bring game experience, which will be sorely lacking beyond Williams and Bernard.
Justice Haynes announced his next destination, and it should add a bit of juice to the game.
The Wolverines have three running backs that are slated to return in 2025 in sophomore Benjamin Hall and freshmen Jordan Marshall and Micah Ka’apana. Michigan will also bring in two 2025 signees in Jasper Parker and Donovan Johnson.
The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder had a prior relationship with Michigan running backs coach Tony Alford, who was previously the position coach at Ohio State from 2015-23. Alford recruited Haynes when he was a prep prospect out of powerhouse Buford (Ga.) High. Haynes took an official visit to Ohio State June 24, 2022 and also visited on an unofficial basis.
FPI likes Alabama big in this one.
ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) has updated its prediction for the winner of Alabama vs. Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
FPI sees the Crimson Tide as a significant favorite this game, giving them an 80.8% chance to win outright. This game is a rematch of last year’s Rose Bowl, which Michigan won en route to what became a 15-0 season. That game proved to be the final game of Nick Saban’s legendary coaching career.
The rematch will be the final season of Kalen DeBoer’s maiden season at Alabama. The Crimson Tide went 9-3 this season, narrowly missing out on the College Football Playoff. They were the first team left out of the 12-team field in favor of an SMU team that went 11-2 prior to losing in the Playoff to Penn State last weekend.
Michigan’s SB Nation site outlines how they can pull the upset.
Yes, Alabama’s offense is better than Michigan’s offense, but the Tide dropped games this year to Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, and a Tennessee team that just got exposed in its game against Ohio State, a team Michigan beat. The only thing keeping Alabama relevant is its win over Georgia.
Looking at the overall records, it doesn’t seem like these teams should even be in the same category, but Alabama’s strength of schedule was the 22nd toughest in the country according to ESPN, and Michigan’s was the seventh toughest. Alabama might have a better record than Michigan, but I’m not convinced it is one of the toughest teams in the country. Pro Football Focus ranks the Tide’s offense at No. 23 in the country, and Michigan has faced several more dynamic offenses this season.
Alabama also has the win over South Carolina and blowouts over Mizzou at home and Wisconsin on the road. SP+ is far more bullish on the Alabama offense, ranking it 3rd overall and the best that Michigan will have faced. Of course, it also has Alabama 4th overall and four of the playoff teams ranked outside the top 12, but I digress.
Michigan’s offense, meanwhile, has been truly putrid this season.
Michigan has had one of the worst passing offenses in college football.
The Wolverines average 133.6 passing yards per game, fifth worst in FBS behind Iowa, Navy, Air Force and Army. Michigan quarterbacks have thrown 11 touchdowns, tied for ninth fewest in college football (with Florida State, Central Michigan, Louisiana Monroe and Wyoming) along with 12 interceptions.
Davis Warren, who had 1,126 passing yards, six touchdowns and nine interceptions, has been Michigan’s starter for the majority of the season. Alex Orgi and Jack Tuttle also made starts for the Wolverines in 2024.
Michigan averages 22.3 points per game on offense, fifth worst in the Big Ten.
SP+ has Michigan’s offense ranked 89th. This game will come down to whether Alabama shows up.
That’s about it for now. Have a great day.
Roll Tide.
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