The CFB Semifinal at the Rose Bowl is coming up soon for college football bettors, in a showdown between the fourth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) and top-ranked Michigan Wolverines (13-0) on Monday, January 1 at 5:00 PM ET. ZenSports Tennessee sportsbook has the Wolverines as slight moneyline favorites at -125.

When: January 1, 2024 at 5:00 PM ET

Where: Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California

Watch: ESPN

Alabama Crimson Tide Preview

The Crimson Tide did everything right to earn their entry into the CFP playoffs, despite a lot of heat from other programs that arguably could have taken this spot. They won their last 11 consecutive games, with their previous one being a 27-24 performance over the (previously) top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs.

Their only loss on the season was against the Texas Longhorns, who were 11th at the time and it was their second game of the season. Now, the Longhorns are the third-ranked team in the country and will also be playing in their semifinal matchup.

The Crimson Tide have a great offense, as they rank 17th in the nation for averaging 35.1 points per game. On defense, they rank 16th for allowing 18.4 points per game from opposing teams. This is a healthy margin of victory and it could make a difference here.

Jalen Milroe (23 TD, 6 INT) has had a successful campaign this year and has a great opportunity to extend the Crimson Tide’s progress. He currently has a pass completion rate at 65.5, has 2,718 yards, and ranks 10th in the nation with a QBR at 83.2.

Michigan Wolverines Preview

The Wolverines look to continue their historic run after winning all 13 regular season games. Their most recent success was a 26-0 shutout over the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Their success in the field has been their defense, but they have also defeated quality teams to make it here. Against Iowa, the Hawkeyes were ranked 16th, but prior to that was against Ohio State, where the Buckeyes were previously ranked second when the Wolverines defeated them.

The Wolverines are averaging 36.7 points per game and rank 14th in the nation. Their defense is excellent, ranking first overall in allowing just 9.5 points per game. This is a huge margin of safety and it will likely make an impact here.

J.J. McCarthy (19 TD, 4 INT) is also having a great year with 2,630 total yards and a pass completion rate at 74.2. He also ranks third in the nation for his QBR at 89.3 and will be an excellent matchup against Milroe.

Betting Odds

ZenSports Tennessee sportsbook has you covered for this CFP Semifinal matchup. Currently, the Michigan Wolverines are slightly favored to find success. According to market analysis, they have a 56.2 percent probability of making that happen.

Alabama Crimson Tide: +105

Spread: +1.5 (-110)

Michigan Wolverines: -125

Spread: -1.5 (-110)

Total Points: Over 45.0 (-110), Under 45.0 (-110)

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