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During the College Football Playoff pairing show, the cameras caught Michigan (13-0) players letting out an audible groan when they found out they’d be playing Alabama (12-1) instead of Florida State. Nobody really blames the Wolverines considering Nick Saban’s squad has rattled off 11 straight wins, but by no means is UM a pushover here – in fact they are -1.5 favorites.

Before Betting on the 2024 Rose Bowl

Alabama might be a trendy pick for the 2024 Rose Bowl since they are 6-1 in CFP semifinal playoff games while the Wolverines haven’t won a bowl game since the 2015 Citrus Bowl, a mark of six straight losses. Michigan seems to be a team of destiny though, unexpectedly losing to TCU in last year’s CFP and having to endure six games without coach Jim Harbaugh this season because of various suspensions.

Monday night’s O/U is just 44.5 because of two great defenses playing in this game, but the real story could be two elite QBs leading their teams to battle. Alabama’s Jalen Milroe is your ultimately comeback story – facing benching earlier in the season only to rally the Tide to 11 straight wins with 23 TDs through the air and another 12 on the ground. Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy has CFP experience after last year’s loss to TCU and has a full grasp of this offense completing 74.2% of his passes in the regular season.

Michigan had the #1 scoring defense in the country this season, but they also played in the sometimes offensive-deficient Big Ten. The Crimson Tide had the #17 scoring defense playing in the SEC – so do they get the edge there?

Alabama vs Michigan Offshore Betting Odds

Offshore Sportsbook Moneyline Total Point Spread
BetOnline BAMA (2.02) | MICH (1.82) 44.5 BAMA +2 (1.87) | MICH -2 (1.95)
MyBookie BAMA (2.05) | MICH (1.80) 45 BAMA +1.5 (1.93) | MICH -1.5 (1.88)
BetUS BAMA (2.05) | MICH (1.80) 45 BAMA +1.5 (1.90) | MICH -1.5 (1.90)
SportsBetting.ag BAMA (2.02) | MICH (1.82) 44.5 BAMA +2 (1.87) | MICH -2 (1.95)
XBet BAMA (2.05) | MICH (1.80) 45 BAMA +1.5 (1.93) | MICH -1.5 (1.88)

2024 Rose Bowl Prediction & Pick

One of the major reasons Michigan lost to TCU last season was because star RB Blake Corum missed the game due to a knee injury. Corum returned with a vengeance this season running for 1028 yards and 24 TDs and when you combine that with the Wolverines being somewhat strange favorites here when the public is on Alabama – maybe Michigan pulls off the upset…that’s not really an upset. 

Pick: Michigan -1.5

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