ReliaQuest Bowl, #11 Alabama vs Michigan: NCAA Football Odds & Best Bets

We are starting off New Years Eve early with some College Football action in the ReliaQuest Bowl as the #11 Alabama Crimson Tide take on the Michigan Wolverines in Tampa, FL. These teams met each other on much different circumstances last postseason, as Michigan took down Alabama on their way to a National Championship. Can the Tide get their revenge tonight?

Alabama is technically ranked in the Top 12 of the country but were the first team left out of the new CFP bracket this season due to Arizona State, Boise State and Clemson all winning their conference championships. The Tide shot themselves in the foot by losing to Oklahoma late in the season and dropping a game to Vanderbilt as well. Dear Alabama fans, you got left out of the playoff because you lost two SEC games that you shouldn’t have, and Clemson screwed you by winning the ACC. Please never schedule Mercer in Week 11 again. However, I do see Bama channeling their energy into success on the field.

Michigan ended the season with two wins to become bowl eligible, and they obviously won their Super Bowl by beating the Ohio State Buckeyes for a… *checks notes*… fourth straight season. With several opt outs and Davis Warren at QB, I have very little faith in the Wolverines, but let’s dive in and find what we’re actually wagering on!

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#11 Alabama Crimson Tide vs Michigan Wolverines: ReliaQuest Bowl

Matchup Information – Alabama vs Michigan

• Venue & Location: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL)
• Date: Tuesday, December 31st, 2024
• Kick Off: 12:00pm Eastern
• Broadcast: ESPN

Betting Odds

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Spread

• Alabama -14.5 (-110)
  Michigan +14.5 (-110)

Money Line

• Alabama -600
• Michigan +460

Total

• Over 43.5 (-110)
• Under 43.5 (-110)

Rematch of Last Year’s CFP Semifinal

Let’s discuss who will take the field, because things are shaky on both sides.

Alabama will be missing starting CB DeVonta Smith and both Keon Sabb and Malachi Moore at Safety on the defensive side of things, and they are not very deep at WR. They will have their Top 2 options, Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard, but four other wideouts have hit the portal and will not suit up. Jalen Milroe has indicated that he will play, but could he pull a Cam Ward and sit the second half? Several other seniors have indicated that they will play despite moving on in their football career, but I’ll believe it when I see it.

As for the Wolverines, their QB situation has been iffy most of the year, but Davis Warren will lead the charge in the bowl game. Several, and I mean several, defensive players for the Michigan won’t take the field, and offensively, TE Colston Loveland and both RBs, Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings, may not suit up. If this is the case, an already bad Wolverines offense loses nearly all their attacking power. They can hardly move the ball through the air, and against the Crimson Tide, I don’t know if they’ll be able to put up any points.

#11 Alabama Crimson Tide vs Michigan Wolverines Best Bets

Alabama vs Michigan Prediction: Alabama Wins & Covers Under 43.5

Best Bets: Michigan TT Under 15.5 (-125) Bovada

Go jump on this RIGHT NOW because it is steaming down, as most books are offering 14.5 or even 13.5 for the same amount of juice, if not more.

Michigan ranks 100th in the FBS in scoring. They just won a game scoring 13 points against a very good team. In fact, they’ve been held under this number just 4 times this year, but again, without Mullings, Edwards and more, they shouldn’t move the ball at all offensively. Even backup QB Alex Orji is on the portal and won’t be a rushing option for the Wolverines.

The Crimson Tide’s defense ranks 10th in the nation in points allowed per game, giving up just 18 and are also Top 20 in yards per play. They have held 4 of their L5 opponents to under this number, including shutting out Missouri and holding an LSU offense to just 13 points. The Tide will come to play, especially defensively, and I see them dominating to start the NYE slate.

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