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Joel Klatt joined The Next Round to preview the upcoming Rose Bowl matchup between No. 1 Michigan and No. 4 Alabama on New Year’s Day.
Klatt began by talking about how his perception of each of these teams changed throughout the season:
“For the first 12 weeks of this year, I thought Michigan was the better team than Alabama,” Klatt said. “It just so happens that the lone game that I didn’t think so was the last one. When you look at what Bama did against Georgia and what Michigan was without Zak Zinter you’re like ‘Woah, wait a second.'”
Klatt states that if those 2 versions of the programs show up, then Alabama would win. But, if the Crimson Tide that nearly lost to Auburn show up while the version of Michigan that beat Ohio State shows up, then the Wolverines would win. Klatt went through a myriad of somewhat confusing analogies such as this. The moral of the story is that these teams have high ceilings and low floors.
At the end of the day, Klatt thinks that Jalen Milroe can push Alabama over the edge and that the Michigan rushing attack will be a key.
“I’m leaning Alabama in this game,” Klatt said. “The ability of Milroe to extend plays is something that Michigan’s defense has not seen…and Michigan has to run the football. They just have to, it’s the way their offense is built. They ran the ball for under 2 yards per carry against Iowa. That’s concerning.”
Klatt added that Michigan’s defensive front could also be an X-factor in this one given the unit’s depth and talent. He tabbed that group as better than either Texas’ or Georgia’s.
Current Missouri student entering my third year of covering Tiger football and basketball. Contributor to The Transfer Portal CFB and overall college athletics enthusiast.
