Halftime Analysis of No. 13 Alabama vs No. 14 Michigan

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Coming off their 56-27 beatdown from Ohio State, Michigan is looking to finish their 2019 season on a high note with an upset over the Alabama Crimson Tide. Michigan is looking for their 10th win of the season, the fourth 10-win season under the five years head coach Jim Harbaugh has been at Michigan. Alabama is 10-2 coming in with close losses to LSU and Auburn, with their chance to finish their season 11-2, or possibly 10-3, which would be their worst record since 2010.

Starting the game, Michigan had wide receiver Giles Jackson returned the opening kickoff 50 yards to midfield. The offense would stall out and get only two yards, punting the ball away on the first series. Alabama would respond with a bang, as quarterback Mac Jones found wide receiver Jerry Jeudy for an 85-yard touchdown pass and the Crimson Tide took the 7-0 lead.

Both teams would punt once again, then on Michigan’s third offensive possession, they would finally get a spark as the running game started to move the ball as the wide receivers couldn’t get much separation from the Alabama secondary. They would finish the drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Shea Patterson to tight end Nick Eubanks and Michigan tied the game at seven.

Alabama couldn’t do much on their following drive and had to punt again, and Michigan would keep on scoring. While it wasn’t a touchdown, Michigan was able to move down the field again and kicker Quinn Nordin would make a 36-yard field goal to take the 10-7.

Once again Alabama wasn’t able to get much of the offense rolling and was forced to punt. Michigan had some issues on offense but still was able to fight through the penalties they got on themselves. They could have possibly been able to keep fighting for more yards, but an illegal touching penalty killed them on third down and once again Michigan would have to kick a field goal. Nordin would make a 42-yard field goal to make it 13-7 Michigan.

Alabama would drive down the field, with some help from the Michigan defense as they had two penalties that extended the drive for the Crimson Tide. The drive would finish with a nine-yard touchdown run by running back Najee Harris to give Alabama the 14-13 lead.

Michigan wouldn’t finish the half quietly though, as they would get a first down on a crucial fourth and short play. While they couldn’t get further down the field, Nordin would barely make a 57-yard field goal and the Wolverines have the lead at halftime 16-14.

POSITIVES:

• The ground game was working for the Wolverines, with running back Zach Charbonnet getting 10 carries for 73 yards. Running back Hassan Haskins got the start but hasn’t been able to do too much, getting 11 carries for 47 yards.
• The offensive line has been giving Patterson time for most of the game. That has been huge for the offense as the receivers are needing time to separate themselves from the Alabama secondary players. The offensive line needs to keep Patterson upright and creating holes for the running backs as they have been the biggest difference so far today.

NEGATIVES:

• While the Michigan secondary has been containing the Alabama wide receivers, the one they haven’t been able to contain well is Jeudy. He has four catches for 132 yards with a touchdown. While it is negative, the fact that Michigan is only letting one of the Alabama wide receivers play well instead of two or three of them is positive. Still, if the secondary can even slow down Jeudy somewhat, their defense has a better chance of keeping them in this game.
• On the second touchdown drive for Alabama, Michigan had two penalties that kept Alabama alive, pass interference and a roughing the passer. Besides that drive, they have been doing well when it comes to not having penalties called on them. If Michigan didn’t hurt themselves on that drive, they could have held Alabama to three points, possibly zero. Those are when penalties are huge and can change up a game.