5 predictions for Michigan Football vs Georgia in the Orange Bowl

Michigan wins the turnover battle

Neither defense is great at taking the ball away. Michigan and Georgia each averaged 1.2 takeaways per game during the season.

The difference between the two teams is taking care of the ball. Georgia is solid at 1.2 giveaways per game but Michigan football only gives the ball away 0.8 times per game. McNamara has excelled at protecting the ball, as have the running backs.

And on defense, Michigan has just gotten some bad luck. The Wolverines have forced a ton of fumbles just to see the ball bounce the other way.

But on Friday night, if Michigan can contain the Georgia ground game, the pass rush will get home. Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo will force Stetson Bennett to get rid of the ball quicker than he wants and as we saw against Alabama, he’s less effective under pressure.

All quarterbacks struggle against pressure. That’s why Michigan has to get home and it’s probably the most important factor in the game. If the Wolverines can rattle Bennett and force him into mistakes, they will win.

And while I don’t foresee many turnovers, I do think Michigan will get one or two and that will be enough to win the turnover battle in the 2021 Orange Bowl.