FORMATION NOTES: In general Bama was so multiple that I had a hard time deciphering whether something was a 4-3 with a standup end or a 3-4 with a SAM; they would go with a 5-1, they would shift constantly. Surely the thickest playbooks in college football went head to head in this game. I called this weird thing 30 nickel slide SAM: You've got your line shifted to the run strength, you've got a standup end in a SAM spot, and you've got your LBs shifted to run strength. This is Bama's "please run at Justin Eboigbe" formation. SUBSTITUTION NOTES: Johnson, Wilson, Barner, and Loveland all got at least two-thirds of Michigan's snaps. Corum wasn't far behind. Morris, Edwards, Morgan, and Bredeson had 10-20; Mullings and Orji had cameos. [After the JUMP: retired that so and so]
Essentials WHAT #1 Michigan (13-0) vs #4 Alabama(12-1) WHERE Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA WHEN New Year's Day 2:10 Pacific 5:10 Eastern THE LINE M –1.5 (Vegas) M –9 (Bill C) TELEVISION ESPN PBP: Chris Fowler Color: Kirk Herbstreit TICKETS from $533 WEATHER sunny, mid-60s minimal wind Overview This has to be the largest gap between the Vegas line and the SP+ line I have entered into the above table since I started putting both in the game column. These days it is rare to have a gap of more than a couple points. More than a touchdown is unheard of without a plague of locusts hitting one team. What's the deal? Well, Alabama beat Georgia. The end. That win has turned the Crimson Tide from a talented but wobbly team into a juggernaut in the eyes of the public, which has bet massively on Alabama. The books have barely moved the line; it opened at Michigan –2.5. They're taking a position on Michigan. And, you know, it's not too hard to see why. The week before Bama won
Essentials WHAT #1 Michigan (13-0) vs #4 Alabama(12-1) WHERE Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA WHEN New Year's Day 2:10 Pacific 5:10 Eastern THE LINE M –1.5 (Vegas) M –9 (Bill C) TELEVISION ESPN PBP: Chris Fowler Color: Kirk Herbstreit TICKETS from $533 WEATHER sunny, mid-60s minimal wind Overview This has to be the largest gap between the Vegas line and the SP+ line I have entered into the above table since I started putting both in the game column. These days it is rare to have a gap of more than a couple points. More than a touchdown is unheard of without a plague of locusts hitting one team. What's the deal? Well, Alabama beat Georgia. The end. That win has turned the Crimson Tide from a talented but wobbly team into a juggernaut in the eyes of the public, which has bet massively on Alabama. The books have barely moved the line; it opened at Michigan –2.5. They're taking a position on Michigan. And, you know, it's not too hard to see why. The week before Bama won
2. Detroit Lions: Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
3. New York Jets: Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
4. Cincinnati Bengals: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
5. Philadelphia Eagles: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
6. Jacksonville Jaguars: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
7. New York Giants: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
8. Carolina Panthers: DeMarvin Leal, DE, Texas A&M
9. Atlanta Falcons: JT Daniels, QB, Georgia
10. Washington Football Team: Kedon Slovis, QB, USC
11. Las Vegas Raiders: Nick Broeker, OT, Ole Miss
12. New York Giants (via Chicago Bears): Logan Brown, OT, Wisconsin
13. Minnesota Vikings: Sheridan Jones, CB, Clemson
14. Arizona Cardinals: Drake Jackson, DT, USC
15. Tennessee Titans: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State