Does Alabama football have a clear advantage over Michigan for the Rose Bowl?
Both school enter the matchup on New Year’s Day in the College Football Playoff as champions of their conferences.
Joel Klatt, a college football analyst for Fox Sports, broke down on The Next Round Show the biggest matchup for both teams.
He sees sophomore quarterback Jalen Milroe as the X-factor for the Crimson Tide. Milroe has 35 total touchdowns to six interceptions, finishing sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting. He was the Most Valuable Player of the Southeastern Conference Championship Game, tossing two touchdowns in Alabama’s 27-24 victory over Georgia. Klatt believes Miroe’s dual-threat capabilities will provide an issue for Michigan’s defense. He stated the Wolverines have not faced a talent like Milroe.
“Michigan has not seen a quarterback that is remotely close to Jalen Milroe,” Klatt said Monday on The Next Round.
“What he brings to the table with his mobility, his ability to throw the ball downfield … Michigan has not seen that. The offenses in the Big Ten were not strong. Even Ohio State’s was not of recent vintage because you can make an argument that Kyle McCord was not near what CJ Stroud was. Their ability to handle the mobility of Milroe is going to be key in this game because it is not a defense that’s built for a mobile quarterback. This is an NFL style defense. This is a defense that’s built for the Big Ten.”
Klatt said Texas was able to handle Milroe and Alabama in week two, but he interested in seeing how the Wolverines will attack the Crimson Tide’s offense. It has playmakers up front that can create pressure and ball hawks in the secondary, but can Jim Harbaugh and Michigan slow down Milroe? He has been letting naysayers know since the Ole Miss game.
People should get treated to an entertaining Rose Bowl.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
