In college football, there is one team that consistently draws the ire of fans across the nation — the Alabama Crimson Tide. With their historical success, iconic coach, and roster of future NFL stars, it’s no surprise that Alabama has earned its share of detractors. In fact, one of the few things that seems to unite college football fans from coast to coast is their disdain for the Crimson Tide. For many, it’s not a matter of simply rooting for their favorite teams but actively hoping to see Alabama fall, especially in major matchups like the ReliaQuest Bowl, where they are set to face off against the Michigan Wolverines.
Heading into the bowl game, there is no shortage of predictions favoring Alabama’s victory, and if one were to scour Michigan fan sites or even Google search predictions, it becomes clear that there is little to no confidence that Michigan could pull off an upset. In fact, the opinions about Michigan’s chances are overwhelmingly negative, with few even offering the possibility of a competitive contest. On the SB Nation Maize N Brew site, which covers Michigan football, staff members unanimously predicted a Crimson Tide victory. The predictions ranged from a 17-point margin to as high as 25 points, reflecting the general sentiment that Alabama, even without some of their star players, is still too talented for Michigan to overcome.
The most interesting part about the staff’s responses to the question “Do you truly care if Michigan wins or loses this game?” was the consistent lack of passion. Most fans were indifferent, stating that while a win would be nice, it wouldn’t ruin their day if Michigan were to lose. One writer even said, “I only care because it’s Alabama. Alabama’s fans have been the most annoying all season long for constantly playing the hypothetical game and dunking on Indiana’s and SMU’s of the world with a results-based argument.” While that sentiment is certainly reflective of the bitterness many feel toward Alabama’s fanbase, it also highlights the somewhat low stakes of this matchup for Michigan fans.
As a response to Alabama’s dominance and their fans’ perceived arrogance, the Maize N Brew staff’s apathy toward the game is an interesting contrast to the intensity one might expect from fans of a team playing in a prominent bowl game. They acknowledge that the win wouldn’t have much bearing on Michigan’s season, given that they won’t be competing for a national title and that the College Football Playoff (CFP) has overshadowed the significance of non-playoff bowl games in recent years. Some staff members even went so far as to say that the CFP had ruined the importance of the postseason, making the result of the ReliaQuest Bowl feel like just another exhibition game.
If there were ever a case for fans taking a “loser’s mentality,” Alabama football fans would likely point to the responses from Michigan supporters. While Alabama fans would undoubtedly feel more confident heading into the matchup, they wouldn’t be too quick to downplay the impact of missing several key players. If Alabama were facing a similar situation where half of their starters were unavailable due to injury or other reasons, there’s little doubt that their fanbase would go into overdrive, lamenting what could have been. For Michigan, though, their response appears to lack much emotional investment, and there is a sense of acceptance about the reality of their situation.
The predictions, while not entirely optimistic for Michigan, are not devoid of hope. Chris Peterson, writing for the GBM Wolverine, projects a 28-13 win for Alabama, but with a twist: he notes that Michigan could make it a competitive game, at least for a half. “Even without four projected first-round picks on defense, Michigan football still has enough to make it interesting,” Peterson writes. “It will stay tight for a half or so, but Alabama will pull away in the fourth quarter. Michigan is just too short-handed.” The key here is the idea that Michigan, even with a depleted roster, could keep it close early, but that Alabama’s talent would eventually take over. The Crimson Tide are simply too deep and too skilled for Michigan to mount a lasting challenge.
This view, however, misses a crucial aspect of both teams’ current circumstances. Alabama, though still loaded with talent, is not the juggernaut it once was. Missing several starters, especially on defense, could be the opening Michigan needs to compete. Michigan’s depth and the fact that many of their backups will be getting valuable playing time could be a silver lining. These are players eager to prove their worth and perhaps even stake a claim for future roles on the team. In other words, Michigan’s backups have just as much to prove as Alabama’s stars. Though Alabama may have a slight talent advantage on paper, Michigan’s fighting spirit and chip on their shoulder could create a scenario where they keep the game closer than anticipated.
Moreover, it could be a mistake to assume that Alabama’s motivation will automatically translate to a dominant performance. Yes, the Crimson Tide have something to prove after their disappointing finish to the regular season, but so do the Wolverines. Michigan will be eager to show that they can still hang with a program like Alabama, even without their full roster. If Michigan can keep it close early and perhaps capitalize on some Alabama mistakes, the game could shift into more of a competitive back-and-forth than many expect.
It’s also worth considering the dynamics of bowl games in general. The motivations of both teams can sometimes be more fluid than fans realize. While Alabama might have the more talented roster, Michigan’s backups will be hungry, and the team as a whole will want to put on a strong performance. Historically, some of the most memorable bowl games have come when an underdog team rises to the occasion, even if their chances were initially deemed slim.
Looking at Alabama’s squad, even though they remain one of the most talented programs in college football, they have experienced their own struggles this season, particularly in their losses to Georgia. Their defense, though formidable, can still be vulnerable at times. If Michigan can exploit those vulnerabilities early in the game, they could put themselves in a position to at least make it a competitive contest in the second half. However, it’s hard to ignore the fact that Alabama’s depth and overall talent should eventually prove too much for Michigan to handle.
In the end, while Michigan fans might not be overly invested in the game and predictions for a Crimson Tide victory are heavy, there remains a shred of hope for an upset. With the talent gap somewhat smaller than expected and Michigan’s backups eager to prove themselves, the ReliaQuest Bowl may be a bit closer than the pundits think. While Alabama is the heavy favorite, Michigan’s fighting spirit could make for a more competitive game than many anticipate. However, at the end of the day, Alabama’s overwhelming talent should see them through to victory—just how comfortable that victory will be remains to be seen.
