Two storied programs will square off in one of the older bowl games when Florida and Michigan meet in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl on Saturday afternoon in Atlanta. This will be the first bowl game this season with a matchup of two top-10 teams. There will be two more games on Saturday with the College Football Playoff semifinals.
In a Peach Bowl full of playmakers on both sides of the ball for both teams, Michigan's roster will take a hit as three players chose to sit out this game — starting running back Karan Higdon, middle linebacker Devin Bush and defensive end Rashan Gary — to prepare for the NFL Draft. Florida has no players opting out of the game.
Under first-year coach Dan Mullen, Florida (9-3) had a pair of signature wins over LSU and Mississippi State, but they lost to rivals Georgia and Kentucky, as well as Missouri — all at The Swamp.
Michigan (10-2) controlled its own destiny in making the College Football Playoff, but a 62-39 shellacking at Ohio State in late November derailed their hopes of the playoffs and a Big 10 title. Its only other loss was at Notre Dame on the opening weekend of the season.
Both teams will look to use this game as a springboard into the 2019 season.
Florida Gators vs. Michigan Wolverines
Mercedes-Benz Stadium • Atlanta, Ga.
Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018
Time: Noon ET/9 a.m. PT
TV Channel: ESPN
Satellite Radio: ESPN Radio, UF Feed: Sirius 105, XM 190, Internet 961, UM Feed: Sirius 205, XM 195, Internet 957
Live Streaming: Watch Live with fuboTV – Try Free Trial; or WatchESPN
Odds: Michigan -6; over/under 50.5 (Vegas Insider)
KEY MATCHUP:
Michigan offense vs. Florida defense
Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson is an SEC product after spending time at Ole Miss, and then transferring to Ann Arbor last offseason. But he's now more of a game manager, and he's rarely seen speed like Florida's defense — well, at least in the last year. The Florida defense has been able to shut down SEC offenses similar to Michigan, like those of LSU and Mississippi State. Florida must make Patterson use his arm to beat them."
Prediction:
Mike Bainbridge (Athlon Sports): Florida 26, Michigan 24
"Even with three key starters sitting out this game, the Wolverines remain a touchdown favorite as it stands now. While Michigan is the better team in this matchup, you have to wonder if the Ohio State debacle laid out the blueprint for how opponents can exploit this Wolverines defense. If Feleipe Franks can make a few plays and avoid costly turnovers, the Gators have the playmakers on offense to do so. Michigan has struggled in bowl games of late, losing four out of the last five, and will fall just short again with the absence of some of their key contributors."
Uncommon Knowledge
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