2022 Fiesta Bowl: #2 Michigan Wolverines (13-0) v. #3 TCU Horned Frogs (12-1)

[MichiganCardinal]

 

vs. 

Setting: 12/31/2022 4:00pm EST on ESPN

Site: State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ

Weather: Retractable Roof

Opening Spread: Michigan -7.5

All-Time Series Record: First Ever Matchup

 

#3 TCU Horned Frogs

Head Coach: Sonny Dykes (13th Season: 83-64, 1-3 in Bowl Games)

Projected Starting QB: Max Duggan (Senior: 24-17)

Big 12 Championship: 31-28 L (OT) v. #9 Kansas State Wildcats (10-3)

 

#2 Michigan Wolverines (13-0)

Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh (15th Season: 74-24, 2-6 in Bowl Games)

Projected Starting QB: JJ McCarthy (Sophomore: 12-0)

B1G Championship: 43-22 W v. Purdue Boilermakers (8-5)

 

College Football Playoff History

Edited December 14, 2022 by MichiganCardinal

[Deleterious]

Michigan wins by 10+.

[MichiganCardinal]

24 minutes ago, Deleterious said:

Michigan wins by 10+.

I think it's a very stereotypical Michigan game for this year. They get off to a slow start, TCU goes up by two scores at some point in the first half, Michigan is down at the half, and completely dominates the second half. I think their margin of victory depends on how poorly they play in the first half. If they're down 3, or find themselves up at the half, I think they win by double digits. If they are down double digits at the half, I still think they probably pull out a win, but there might be a little sweat involved.

Max Duggan is no joke. That kid showed some Dan Campbell esque GRIT in the Big 12 Championship. I've never seen a kid just completely lay it all on the line and put a team on his back like he did on the drive where TCU tied it.

I will say that I think Ohio State vs. Georgia could shape up to be a phenomenal game. I think Michigan made Ohio State look a lot worse than they actually are in the second half, and I think that Ohio State's offensive firepower could test the Georgia defense in ways they haven't been tested this year. The Georgia offense is a better matchup for them than the Michigan offense was too.... Or I could be wrong and Georgia will roll them. Either way, I'l be entertained.

[MichiganCardinal]

In making this thread, I learned that the TCU logo has gotten objectively more lame over time. I chose a cool one since I make the rules dammit.

That 1977-1994 logo looks like it should be for Texas Credit Union.

[buddha]

i think ohio state is soft up front and georgia is going to physically beat them more than michigan did.  georgia's pass rush will bother stroud.  

i think georgia is on a different level than michigan or ohio state.

[MichiganCardinal]

2 minutes ago, buddha said:

i think ohio state is soft up front and georgia is going to physically beat them more than michigan did.  georgia's pass rush will bother stroud.  

i think georgia is on a different level than michigan or ohio state.

It took Ohio State three tries before they finally beat Clemson during their run. Could well be the same case for Michigan taking on Georgia. Jim has built this team to beat Ohio State and succeeded. Now he needs to adapt it to beat the SEC, which is a whole new beast.

[buddha]

5 minutes ago, MichiganCardinal said:

It took Ohio State three tries before they finally beat Clemson during their run. Could well be the same case for Michigan taking on Georgia. Jim has built this team to beat Ohio State and succeeded. Now he needs to adapt it to beat the SEC, which is a whole new beast.

i hope youre right, but i would be very surprised, especially without corum.

[MichiganCardinal]

9 minutes ago, buddha said:

i hope youre right, but i would be very surprised, especially without corum.

A third matchup would be next year FWIW. I agree that I wouldn't like our prospects against them this year.

[gehringer_2]

2 hours ago, buddha said:

i hope youre right, but i would be very surprised, especially without corum.

With Mullins for short yardage and a healthy Edwards they won't miss Corum too much. But does Edwards have both hands back by then?

[buddha]

7 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

With Mullins for short yardage and a healthy Edwards they won't miss Corum too much. But does Edwards have both hands back by then?

i disagree.  i think corum brings something edwards doesnt.  and corum + edwards is better than edwards + mullings.

[gehringer_2]

7 minutes ago, buddha said:

i disagree.  i think corum brings something edwards doesnt.  and corum + edwards is better than edwards + mullings.

you're trading yards after 1st contact for big play potential. So it's going to depend on M's O-line push. If they can't move TCU's D-line, then the one or two yards after contact will be mucho missed trying to keep the chains moving; if they are making holes, Edwards will do as much or more damage - again, if he has both hands by then. M is pushing their luck when they have to give 25 carries to a one handed back. 

You wonder how TCU will try to defend, will they bring everyone up and risk the big play like OSU did or will they play straight up and hope they can still force a few punts?

Edited December 14, 2022 by gehringer_2

[Deleterious]

 

[Deleterious]

For the tinfoil hat crowd. The NC game is being played on January 9th.

[MichiganCardinal]

Do people not realize that this would happen to any defendant?

“I’m on a business trip that day for the job you previously approved”, defense counsel requests adjournment, judge (that’s not a hard ass and doesn’t think you’re lying) approves and adjourns.

[Motor City Sonics]

TCU wins this 24-16

[MichiganCardinal]

The four-week break before playoffs is one of the weirdest and dumbest things in sports.

[djhutch]

5 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said:

The four-week break before playoffs is one of the weirdest and dumbest things in sports.

Of all the things the new 12-team playoff promises to bring, the end of this big gap is the best of them. 

[MichiganCardinal]

On 12/14/2022 at 1:28 PM, MichiganCardinal said:

I think it's a very stereotypical Michigan game for this year. They get off to a slow start, TCU goes up by two scores at some point in the first half, Michigan is down at the half, and completely dominates the second half. I think their margin of victory depends on how poorly they play in the first half. If they're down 3, or find themselves up at the half, I think they win by double digits. If they are down double digits at the half, I still think they probably pull out a win, but there might be a little sweat involved.

Max Duggan is no joke. That kid showed some Dan Campbell esque GRIT in the Big 12 Championship. I've never seen a kid just completely lay it all on the line and put a team on his back like he did on the drive where TCU tied it.

I will say that I think Ohio State vs. Georgia could shape up to be a phenomenal game. I think Michigan made Ohio State look a lot worse than they actually are in the second half, and I think that Ohio State's offensive firepower could test the Georgia defense in ways they haven't been tested this year. The Georgia offense is a better matchup for them than the Michigan offense was too.... Or I could be wrong and Georgia will roll them. Either way, I'l be entertained.

I still feel the same way about both of the games.  I do think Max Duggan will be a problem for the Michigan defense. They haven’t seen a mobile QB this year, and Duggan is one of the best.

RE Ohio State, I think they have the most offensive talent of any team in the country, and I think they’ll be playing pissed off after hearing nothing but how bad they are since late November.

Michigan 37 TCU 26

Ohio State 45 Georgia 42

[Deleterious]

Georgia and Michigan both by 10.  

[Hongbit]

Michigan and OSU are good teams but I can’t tell how good since the rest of the B1G was so much weaker than normal, especially on offense.   We will find out tomorrow but I wouldn’t be shocked if both teams disappoint.   I’m taking the points with TCU and laying with Georgia.  

Edited December 30, 2022 by Hongbit

[buddha]

michigan 37, tcu 22

georgia 35, ohio state 12

[buddha]

early lines on potential finals matchups:

georgia -7.5 over michigan

ohio state -3 over michigan

georgia -15.5 over tcu

ohio state -10.5 over tcu

currently at michigan -7.5 and georgia -6

[MichiganCardinal]

1 hour ago, buddha said:

early lines on potential finals matchups:

georgia -7.5 over michigan

ohio state -3 over michigan

georgia -15.5 over tcu

ohio state -10.5 over tcu

currently at michigan -7.5 and georgia -6

That OSU line on Michigan should be printed and posted in the M locker room all week if that game happens.

[gehringer_2]

did I see Morris will be playing? He's maybe the single biggest difference maker on that D. Assuming Edwards is nearly 100% by now, having Morris back is a bigger deal than missing Corum.

Edited December 31, 2022 by gehringer_2

[lordstanley]

2 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said:

That OSU line on Michigan should be printed and posted in the M locker room all week if that game happens.

I was just thinking about that today before I saw this. Line surprises me a bit. I was guessing Michigan would be favored by around 2 in a re-match but that I personally would make OSU slight 2 point favorites. That of course is before seeing how the teams look tomorrow.