#8 Michigan Wolverines vs #2 Alabama Crimson Tide
Saturday, September 1, 2012, 8:00 pm Eastern, TV: ABC
Cowboys Stadium – Arlington, Texas
Opening Line: Alabama -11
Current Line: Alabama -13 1/2
Opening Total: 46
Current Total: 47
Opening Money Line: Alabama -525 / Michigan +425
Current Money Line: Alabama -550 / Michigan +450
Two of college football’s elite, blueblood programs meet for only the fourth time ever Saturday night as the #8 Michigan Wolverines take on the #2 Alabama Crimson Tide at Cowboys Stadium. This is the first meeting between the schools in the regular season, as the other 3 were bowl games played since 1988. Michigan leads the series 2-1, and won the last meeting 35-34 in the 2000 Orange Bowl.
Michigan is coached by Brady Hoke, in his second year. Last season Michigan finished 11-2 with the two losses coming to Michigan St and Iowa. The Wolverines had wins over bowl teams Western Michigan, Notre Dame, San Diego St, Northwestern, Purdue, Illinois, Nebraska, and Ohio St. michigan then beat Virginia Tech 23-20 in overtime in the Sugar Bowl. Michigan was 8-4-1 ATS and the total was 5-8 last season.
Alabama coached by Nick Saban won their second BCS Championship in 3 years last season. Alabama went 11-1 in the regular season, with the only loss coming at home to then #1 LSU 9-6 in overtime. Neither team scored a touchdown and the Crimson Tide missed 4 field goals. For the rest of the regular season, no team came closer than 16 points, and Alabama did not allow more than 21 points in any game. Alabama had wins over bowl teams Penn St, Arkansas, Florida, Vanderbilt, Mississippi St and Auburn. Alabama got into the BCS Championship game as the #2 team, thanks to a late season upset of undefeated Oklahoma St by Iowa St. It set up a rematch with LSU in the BCS Championship game. It was a completely different story in the rematch, as Alabama held LSU to 92 total yards and 5 first downs in a 21-0 rout. The Crimson Tide were 9-4 ATS and the total was 6-7 last season.
Michigan will be led by Heisman trophy contending quarterback Denard Robinson. He is one of the best dual threat quarterbacks in the country. Robinson had almost 3,400 combined rushing and passing yards with 36 total touchdowns and 15 interceptions. One of his top weapons will be missing though as running back Fitzgerald Toussaint who rushed for over 1,000 yard with 9 touchdowns was suspended for this game by coach Hoke. The Wolverines will use a running back by committee to replace Toussaint’s production.
Michigan returns 7 starters from last year on defense. The linebacking corps is among the best in the country with Jake Ryan, Kenny Demens, and Desmond Morgan. Defensive end Craig Roh and safety Jordan Kovacs are also very talented.
Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron returns for his junior year. He threw for 2,634 yards, 16 touchdowns and 5 interceptions last year. Eddie Lacy takes over as the feature back for Trent Richardson who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns. Lacy had 674 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns last season.
Alabama must replace 7 starters on defense from a unit that was the nation’s best last year. They still have a lot of talent, including linebackers Nico Johnson and C.J. Mosley. Robert Lester and Dee Milliner anchor a secondary that should still be elite.
Michigan is 9-2-1 ATS in non-conference, 4-1 in September, 5-2 on fieldturf, and 1-3-1 in neutral site games. Alabama is 5-0 in neutral site games, 8-1 in non-conference games, 4-1 on fieldturf, 12-3 in September games, and 10-4 overall.
The loss of Fitzgerald will hurt, Michigan certainly, but Alabama hasn’t seen a quarterback as dynamic as Robinson since Cam Newton left Auburn two seasons ago. Alabama loses a lot of talent from last year, but they still have enough to win this game. I like the Crimson Tide to cover the number.
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