Games aren’t played on paper, but if they were, Michigan football wouldn’t have to sweat playing Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal in the Rose Bowl.
The Crimson Tide have won more national championships than any other team in history and Nick Saban is particularly formidable when it comes to winning in the postseason. But, with all the hype, how do the Wolverines matchup against the Tide on paper? It turns out, quite favorably.
Not just looking at stats but advanced analytics, Michigan football is the favorite in nearly every key metric over Alabama. We take a look at five services to see where the advantages lie for the maize and blue, and while the margins are slim according to most, the Wolverines do have some edges.