Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images
By Chris Marler
Two blue bloods face off in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Wednesday in Orlando. A team that won a national title two years ago and another that was favored to win it all this year try to get a tenth win on the season and avenge what has been a disappointing season on both sides. Here’s our full preview for Michigan and Texas in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.
Texas Wins IF…
They can stop the run.
Texas made waves this offseason when they parted ways with defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski. The defense definitely took a step back this season compared to last, but part of that probably should have been expected after losing five players to the NFL Draft a season ago on defense alone. They’ll have their hands full on Wednesday facing a top 15 rushing offense averaging 213.2 ypg.
Michigan has been in disarray for most of the month, and no program in the country has had more instability and chaos after the Sherrone Moore dismissal. I can’t imagine they will be a super focused team considering all the outside noise they’ve had to hear. They’ll also be without several key players. I would expect with an interim coach at the helm, they will try to stick with what worked for most of the season, and that is running the ball. If Texas can stop it, they will win.
Michigan Wins IF…
Bryce Underwood cannot be a freshman quarterback.
I would expect Texas to try and make Michigan play left handed offensively. That means a bulk of the offensive production could fall on his shoulders. Underwood was the No. 1 ranked recruit in America last year and the highest graded quarterback recruit in history according to some services. He has faced the normal growing pains that most freshman quarterbacks face in year one finishing the year with just nine touchdowns and six interceptions.
He has looked really good at times this season, but against elite defenses he has looked abysmal. In two games against Oklahoma and Ohio State, he completed less than ten passes in each game for a total of 205 yards in both games.
Texas is anything but an elite defense this season, but from a talent standpoint they are very similar.
Texas X-Factor – QB Arch Manning
I know, I know. Groundbreaking stuff here, guys, but hear me out. Texas has 11 players from their two deep out of this game. Most of those are just opt-outs and don’t include the players leaving in the transfer portal. Putting the preseason Heisman favorite as the X-Factor may seem like low hanging fruit, but Manning will have to be at his best since Texas lost four running backs to the portal alone.
Michigan X-Factor – RB Jordan Marshall
Michigan’s identity is running the football, and they will not be afraid to live in that lane against Texas. Former Alabama transfer Justice Haynes was leading the nation in rushing yards per game before his injury in October averaging 122.4 ypg. Marshall hasn’t missed much of a beat averaging over six yards per carry and finishing the year with just under 1,000 yards at 932. He’s at his best when they feed him in volume. In four games this year, he had 15 or more carries. In those four games, he had seven touchdowns and 142.5 yards per game.
Score Prediction
This feels like the lock of bowl season with Texas opening as just a seven point favorite from most sportsbooks. The Wolverines will be without 12-15 players in this game according to Biff Poggi. Texas will want to prove a point after a disappointing season that saw them start as the preseason No. 1 team in the country and end 9-3 and outside of the CFP picture.
Texas 27, Michigan 13
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