With the Rose Bowl set to take place in five days, the Alabama Crimson Tide have arrived in Pasadena, California, to put the finishing touches on their bowl preparation.
The Tide enter the matchup against Michigan as a one-point underdog with many people having advocated against them even being in the playoffs.
Yet, in the 10 years of the four-team playoff format, Alabama qualified eight times. So far, the Tide have won six of their seven semifinal appearances. So it makes sense to me why they would receive the benefit of the doubt.
Alabama is playing as well as anyone in the country right now and enters the playoffs coming off the best win in college football over the past two years: Its takedown of two-time reigning national champion Georgia.
The last time Alabama and Michigan met was in the 2020 Citrus Bowl. Saban walked all over Harbaugh en route to a 35-16 victory. Michigan is also tied for the longest active bowl losing streak: The Wolverines have lost six straight bowl games.
Ready to ROLL! đź‘Š#RollTide pic.twitter.com/LJMQxs7CU9
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) December 27, 2023
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.