Chic-fil-A Peach Bowl
No. 10 Florida (9-3) vs No. 7 Michigan (10-2)
Atlanta, Georgia
December 29 – 12:00 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Michigan has the better team, but the motivation factor is real here. Florida is thrilled to death to be in the Peach Bowl as they exceeded any realistic expectations for Dan Mullen’s first season in Gainesville coming off of last year’s 4-7 finish.
Michigan spent most of the second half of the season among the projected playoff field, but an embarrassing 62-39 loss to Ohio State in Columbus that left a sour taste in the mouths of the Ann Arbor faithful in an otherwise strong season. The inability to get over the Ohio State hump has become an ugly blemish on Jim Harbaugh’s record.
Will they be hungry and motivated to finish the season strong and win an 11th game? Their defense, even without Rashan Gary, should find success against an anemic Florida offense, but will Shea Patterson and company hit enough plays to put up points?
Mullen may experiment with freshman QB Emory Jones if Feleipe Franks is ineffective against the stout Wolverines, and Jones could be the ultimate wildcard for the Gators.
Look for Michigan’s defense to swarm the Florida offense, and for Patterson to hit enough plays to open up running lanes for Karan Higdon.