Rose Bowl 2024: Underrated Stars to Watch and Picks in Alabama vs. Michigan
The Michigan Wolverines have built their reputation under Jim Harbaugh as a physical run-first team.
Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards should be utilized at a high volume in the Rose Bowl, but parts of the Michigan passing game have to be on point as well to beat the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Alabama possesses two of the best cornerbacks in the FBS in Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold, so the pass-game success may come down to Michigan's tight ends.
As for the Crimson Tide, they need to find a way to win the battle on the interior with Michigan.
Jalen Milroe proved he can make big plays in clutch situations, but the last thing Alabama wants to throw on third-and-long for a majority of the contest on New Years' Day.
The Crimson Tide need their stable of running backs to shine to not just score points, but to stop Michigan from dictating the tempo of the College Football Playoff semifinal.
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
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Colston Loveland has to be Michigan's offensive X-factor.
Everyone knows what Corum and Edwards can do on the ground and there will be no surprises from them inside the Wolverines rushing attack.
Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson will likely be matched up with McKinstry and Arnold, so that leaves Loveland as player to exploit any weaknesses in the middle of the field.
Loveland only had more than four catches in a single game once this season, but that came in a five-catch, 88-yard performance against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
J.J. McCarthy relied on his No. 1 tight end more in that matchup than any other contest this season, and that should be precedent for what happens at the Rose Bowl.
Loveland is the No. 3 option in the passing game in most situations, but due to the matchup with Alabama's top defensive backs, he has to make a handful of catches to expand the variety inside the Michigan offense.
Roydell Williams and Jam Miller, RB, Alabama
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Alabama has the potential to match what Michigan does in the ground game.
It sounds like a Herculean task to achieve given how well the Wolverines have run the ball, but the Crimson Tide has a stable of players capable of producing 10-play, 75-yard drives to control the contest.
Roydell Williams and Jam Miller received increased workloads in the SEC Championship Game with Jase McClellan out injured. Williams had 64 yards and a score on 16 carries, while Miller had 23 yards on nine carries.
Even if McClellan plays on New Years' Day, Williams and Miller will be important to Alabama so that it does not experience a drop off in the rushing attack.
Alabama has to attempt to wear down the Michigan front seven, which is something few teams have done during the Harbaugh era.
Milroe may end up making a few key throws to win Alabama the game, but it will not get to that point unless it establishes a consistent rushing attack through all of its running backs.
Rose Bowl Pick
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Michigan 27, Alabama 20
The Rose Bowl appears to be Michigan's game to win.
The Wolverines have been building up to this point for three years and two seasons of playoff semifinal failure and they seem more indestructible than in the past.
The Corum-led rushing attack is difficult for any defense to stop and Michigan usually wins its battles on the interior.
Michigan also owns the edge in experience at quarterback with J.J. McCarthy, who played in parts of both semifinal losses to the Georgia Bulldogs and TCU Horned Frogs.
Milroe has had a knack for the dramatic, but there was a reason he was in those positions to begin with.
Alabama struggled with offensive consistency in parts of the season, and if its rushing attack gets shut down, Michigan could feast with its pass rush and force Milroe into a mistake or two that decides the game.
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