Alabama vs. Michigan where to watch: Chance of winning, television channel, live stream, ReliaQuest Bowl betting, line, prediction, wager
The Wolverines and the Crimson Tide are set to renew their rivalry as they face off in a rematch of the 2024 Rose Bowl CFP semifinal game.
No. 11 Alabama plays against Michigan in the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl – a recreation of the 2024 Rose Bowl Game. When these teams last played, the Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy was brutal to the Crimson Tide, racking up 221 passing yards and three touchdowns, leading Michigan to a national championship, a 27-20 overtime victory.
Sure, they have the potential of what they were a year ago, but both teams are very different now. Alabama became the first team out of the College Football Playoff after three losses in the regular season for the first time since 2010. A 7-5 record was the worst non-pandemic season since 2014 before Harbaugh took charge at Michigan. But both teams expect this to be a stepping stone to a great 2025 season for each team.
Even as the two teams are arguably some of the biggest in college football history, they have faced each other only six times in total and only five times in bowl games. Concurrently, the programs’ all-time head-to-head record stands 3-3; the two programs first met in 1988 at the Hall of Fame Bowl. Four of the five bowl games were won and lost by a single score.
Join LIVE coverage to watch Alabama take on Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Where can I watch the ReliaQuest Bowl Bowl live
Date: Cycling update: Saturday, Dec. 31, 00:00 ET
Location: Tampa, Florida / Raymond James Stadium
TV: Fubo | Live stream: ESPN (Watch for Free)
Alabama vs. Michigan: Need to know
Rematch: The last time these two historic brands played, Michigan outplayed Alabama to overtime to earn a place in the national championship game. Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe had the ball in his hands on the game’s last play but slipped while pressured to send Alabama home in the semifinals. As this duel won’t be for the national crown, Milroe can end the football career much happier against the same rival.
Battle of attrition: In the recent past, however, Alabama has lost a relatively small number of players for bowl games even though it has produced several NFL Draft picks. More specifically, ex-top-three selections Bryce Young and Will Anderson both participated in the Sugar Bowl this year, albeit failing to qualify for the CFP bracket in 2022. Yet many players on the Michigan team mentioned that they will enter the draft; much about them is still unknown. Alaska could have a hefty start from the involvement side of things.
Early auditions: In this game, several regular starters will be out for Michigan, allowing the rest of the players to show their best. Future starting quarterback Bryce Underwood will not be able to play in this scrimmage, but at least the QB duo of Davis Warren and Jadyn Davis will have their shot. Also, sophomore running back Benjamin Hall could have some of his first significant playing time after Corum, Edwards, and Mullings. Each snap informs us more about the impending future of Michigan football.
ReliaQuest Bowl Bowl forecast, selections
Match-ups involving two big-time programs are occasionally as basic as a kid putting forth effort and showing up. IPR expect that to take centre stage. The Alabamans show up to all bowl games, and they have a record of losing only one bowl game in the eight most recent games, except the Rose Bowl to Michigan last season. The Tide should not let the occasion slip, especially when there is an opportunity to achieve 10 victories in a season. Pick: Alabama -10.5
SportsLine’s reliably accurate computer simulation has predicted 10 outright upsets during the college football bowl and playoff period. Go to Sportsline now to view them all and get the computer’s spread selection for every game from a set of 10,000 simulations of each game.