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ORLANDO, Fla. — The biggest challenge for Michigan on Wednesday as it takes on Alabama and the No. 6 rated offense will be stopping the Crimson Tide and its variety of offense.
But, on paper, the Wolverines have the best defense that Nick Saban and Alabama will have seen in the 2019 season — and it’ll be facing Michigan without its star QB in Tua Tagovailoa.
Michigan comes into the VRBO Citrus Bowl with the No. 7 defense by total yards allowed per game. The next best Alabama has faced? No. 21 Auburn, which beat the Crimson Tide in a shootout.
Asked about Wolverines defensive coordinator Don Brown at the joint head coach press conference on Tuesday morning, Saban noted the challenges that the Michigan defense presents, what it’s good at and why it presents a particular difficulty given the other teams the Crimson Tide has faced this season.
“They’re very, very good and very challenging with the scheme that they have,” Saban said. “I think the quickness and how aggressive they are and how they realize their quickness by stunting game and changing up the coverage multiples, it’s very, very challenging.
“So, a little different than maybe anybody we’ve seen this year, but very, very effective.”
Naturally, for Michigan fans, there’s a lot of worry given how top offenses have shredded the usually stout maize and blue defense. Can the Wolverines pull off the upset? If it’s possible, it will assuredly start on that side of the ball.
Michigan and Alabama are set to face off at 1PM EST on Jan. 1 in the VRBO Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium. The game will be nationally broadcast on ABC.