Michigan Football: 3 early predictions for Wolverines in Citrus Bowl

Michigan football will take on Alabama Jan. 1 in the Citrus Bowl and here are three early predictions looking ahead to the Wolverines and Crimson Tide.

Once it became clear that Michigan football would be heading to the Citrus Bowl to take on Alabama, the takes about the Wolverines getting obliterated starting coming through.

While Michigan opened as less than a touchdown underdog to the powerful Crimson Tide, which is still one of the most talented teams in college football, few in its fanbase actually give the Wolverines a chance to pull the upset.

Despite the fact that Michigan is ranked just one spot behind Alabama in the College Football Playoff rankings, the two programs might as well be worlds apart.

After all, this is the first time Alabama hasn’t been in the College Football Playoff and the first time the Tide hasn’t been selected for a major bowl game since after the 2010 season, when Alabama played in the Citrus Bowl and dominated Michigan State.

Many think that will be the result for the Wolverines and with the way U-M was dominated by Ohio State and even Wisconsin this season, it’s easy to see why. Even the Peach Bowl last year was a reminder of his Michigan football team has flopped in big games, against good teams.

Yet, the Wolverines do own a pair of top-20 wins over Iowa and Notre Dame, so it’s not like Michigan can’t beat quality competition. It just hasn’t been someone like Alabama, at least not under Jim Harbaugh.

That’s why it’s a golden opportunity to earn a statement win. Will it happen? We take a look with three early predictions for the Citrus Bowl.