Rick Neuheisel, Aaron Taylor make Rose Bowl picks
Rick Heuheisel and Aaron Taylor are rolling with the Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl.
Alabama and Michigan meet in Pasadena in a College Football Playoff semifinal on New Year’s Day.
Neuheisel said he thought Alabama’s ability to run the ball with Jalen Milroe will have a big impact, much like in the SEC Championship. Neuheisel sees Michigan’s lack of explosive plays on offense causing problems.
“As the season has progressed, Tommy Rees has developed much more in the way of quarterback runs. It was on display late in that game where they needed the 1st downs to put Georgia away. They’ll be more of that.
“That’s the answer to the No. 1 defense in the country, which is Michigan. Michigan over the course of this Big Ten Championship game has no explosive offense. If that’s the case against Alabama they’re gonna get beat by double digits.”
No. 1 Michigan hasn’t trailed in the second half of a game ALL SEASON.@CoachNeuheisel and @AaronTaylorCFB both think that will change in the College Football Playoff against Nick Saban’s Tide ? pic.twitter.com/5CgTet5jXF
— CBS Sports College Football ? (@CBSSportsCFB) December 6, 2023
Taylor mentioned the offensive line play and how losing Zak Zinter allowed Iowa to dominate Michigan up front. He interested to see if more of the same happens in the Rose Bowl.
“We saw against Ohio State, Michigan lost offensive lineman Zak Zinter. Fast forward to the Big Ten Championship game with a salty front of Iowa. They got after it. They struggled both on the edges and up the middle. Bama matches up really well defensively against a Michigan team, that as productive as they’ve been, aren’t nearly as explosive as Alabama.”
Kickoff will be at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.