On New Year's Day, No. 4 Alabama and No. 1 Michigan will square off in the Rose Bowl in a battle between the two winningest programs in NCAA football history. Monday's matchup will be the sixth time the two teams have met, with the Crimson Tide holding a 3-2 advantage.
Alabama is coming off a 27-24 win over No. 1 Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. If Alabama can win on Monday over No. 1 Michigan, they will be the only team to defeat the No. 1 team twice in one season.
Here are five things to look for in the Rose Bowl.
Containing Michigan's Rushing Attack
Michigan boasts one of the nation's better rushing attacks, averaging 161.8 yards per game on the ground. The Wolverines are led by running back Blake Corum, who has eclipsed 1,000 yards on the season, and redshirt Donovan Edwards has also made solid contributions to the team. Alabama has fared well against heavy running teams, except Auburn, who gashed Alabama's run defense. Getting ahead early would help take Michigan out of their comfort zone and take away their rushing attack.
Pressure the Quarterback
Michigan has one of the better offensive lines in the country, controlling the run game and allowing just 1.38 sacks per game. Alabama will be the best pass rush that Michigan will have played all season, headlined by the Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell duo. Turner has a team-high nine sacks on the year, with Braswell on his heels with eight. On the inside, Justin Eboigbe is also a handful, recording seven sacks on the year. Alabama's defense is at its best when it puts opposing quarterbacks under pressure.
Limit Penalties
Alabama has faced challenges in games where the penalty differentials were significant. The Crimson Tide has, of late, developed a tendency to accumulate many penalties. Some of these penalties have resulted in points being wiped off the board, and in the matchup against Texas, Alabama had 10 penalties, contributing to their loss. If this pattern persists, securing a victory in the Rose Bowl might prove challenging for Alabama.
Get the Run Game Going
In most of Alabama's matchups this season, they successfully ran the football. However, this could prove more challenging against the Wolverines. Michigan's defense permits a mere 87.1 rushing yards per game, presenting one of the most formidable run defenses Alabama has encountered all season. Alabama must establish the run to avoid making their offense one-dimensional and easily predictable. Establishing the run also will help open up the deep play-action pass that is Jalen Milroe's specialty.
Big Plays By Wide Receivers
Alabama does not have the top-end wide receivers of years past, but the duo of Jermaine Burton and Isaiah Bond have been serviceable. Alabama will need to be multidimensional against one of the nation's top defenses to keep Michigan's defense guessing. To prevent Milroe from scrambling on passing downs, Michigan will likely spy Milroe, leaving man coverage in the secondary. Taking advantage of these one-on-one matchups will be critical to Alabama's success. Alabama could also line up their athletic tight end Amari Niblack in the slot to create size mismatches against the smaller Michigan defensive backs.
No. 4 Alabama and No. 1 Michigan will square off in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day at 4 p.m. CT on ESPN.
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