The Michigan Wolverines are set to face off against the Alabama Crimson Tide on January 2 in what can only be hoped for as an epic showdown. They will face each other off in the Clash of the Titans event at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, and the fans couldn’t be more excited.

Both teams have managed to retain a spot in the college football playoffs and, thus, have seen their fair share of success. But with the Rose Bowl, the debate over the better team will finally be settled as the men in yellow take on the mighty Crimson Warriors. Thus, as both teams prepare for their ultimate challenge, here’s a look at how they’ve fared against each other in the past.

The historical record of the match between Michigan and Alabama?

The Michigan Wolverines are the reigning champions of the Big Ten Conference, while the Alabama team is the champions of the Southeastern Conference. They’ve both had tremendous seasons so far, but Michigan boasts a better record.

This year’s Rose Bowl will mark Michigan’s 21st appearance in the game, whereas, for Alabama, it’ll only be their 8th. Michigan and Alabama have played each other a total of five times, with four of those being bowl games. But though Michigan prides itself on the record for most appearances, Alabama leads the series with a score of 3-2. Thus, even if Michigan wins the game on January 2, they’ll only manage to equalize the score.

I have more faith in Alabama than in the Michigan team. The men in yellow have had an unbeatable season this year, but then again, their HC, Jim Harbaugh, was allegedly caught using unfair means to his team’s advantage. On the other hand, Alabama has only lost one game out of 13, and as such, they’re not going to be a cakewalk as an opponent. It’s difficult to predict the outcome of this match, but I guess I’ll have to wait to see how the tables turn come game day.

How do the squads of both teams look ahead to the Rose Bowl game?

Surprisingly enough, both teams are not going to be playing with their full strength in Pasadena. As the NFL draft also draws near, a lot of the players are ready to go ahead with the rise in their careers rather than stick around for the Rose Bowl. This dilemma has impacted both Michigan and Alabama as players continue to abandon ship.

The Michigan players who won’t be playing against Alabama are Zak Zinter, CJ Stokes, and Karmello English. While these are all vital players for Michigan’s victory, only Stokes will be moving forward with the transfer portal, and the other two are currently injured and out for the rest of the season. The Alabama team will be playing without notable names like Tyler Buchner, Isaiah Hastings, Ja’Corey Brooks, Thaiu Jones, and Anaquin Barnes Jr.

It’s worse for the Alabama side because all five of its players have entered the transfer portal, whereas Michigan is only missing players due to injuries. Alabama would’ve needed their full potential to fight off the mighty Wolverines, but with some of their top athletes gone, their chances of winning the Rose Bowl seem pretty slim to me.

Michigan Wolverines vs. Alabama Crimson: Match prediction

Based on the stats this season, Michigan seems like the obvious choice to take home the win. Due to their unparalleled winning streak, the Wolverines have played a better game this season, but when it comes to bowl games, the men in Crimson clear the way.

Alabama has had 70 bowl game appearances and 42 bowl wins. As for Michigan, they have a record of 21-29 in 50 bowl games. The Crimson team hasn’t been able to match the success of Harbaugh’s team but is known to be more glorious when it comes to bowl games.

Due to the presence of Jalen Milroe on the Alabama team, I think they will end up taking the win. Milroe has been one of the best QBs this season, and JJ McCarthy from Michigan pales in comparison. McCarthy’s stats see him complete over 2,630 passing yards and 19 touchdowns, while Milroe stands tall at 2,718 passing yards and 23 completed touchdowns. Though these are still close numbers, in my opinion, the tide will end up running through the Michigan team, and they’ll have to lose out on the semifinals of the CFP along with the Rose Bowl.

Read more: Michigan’s Star QB J.J. McCarthy Drops Jaws by Disclosing Past Desires to Join Rival Team Ohio State

Who do you think will be the ultimate champions? Let us know in the comments below.

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