The No. 18 Michigan Wolverines are set to face the No. 13 Texas Longhorns on New Year’s Eve in the Citrus Bowl. This will be a tough test for the Wolverines, but here are five reasons they will upset Texas in this game.
Texas QB Arch Manning
By the end of the season, Arch Manning was one of the team’s highest-graded players according to Pro Football Focus. Still, he threw seven interceptions on the season compared to 24 touchdowns. He was also sacked 23 times. Michigan’s defense struggled to get pressure at times this
season, but hopefully it will be able to get to Manning a few times in this one. If the Wolverines can do that, they’ll be able to get Texas’ offense off the field for long periods of time.
Motivation
While Michigan’s search for a head coach is definitely a distraction, there’s some motivation for the team, too. The Wolverines ended the regular season with a brutal loss to Ohio State before Moore got fired. Michigan has some players without college eligibility left after this game that could use the Citrus Bowl to make an impression on pro scouts. The rest of the team could be playing to end the season on a positive.
Michigan’s run game
When Jordan Marshall left the Ohio State game with an injury, Bryson Kuzdzal hadn’t had much time to get ready. Sure, Michigan has had a “next man up” mentality for years, but that didn’t help against the Buckeyes. Now, Kuzdzal will have a chance to better prepare. Along with that, the time between games should give Marshall more time to get healthy. A dynamic run game will certainly help the Wolverines finish the season with a win.
WR Andrew Marsh
Freshman receiver Andrew Marsh could be a game changer in this one against the Longhorns. Texas has its own talented core of receivers, but Marsh is a special player in his own right. While he had a rocky start to the season, he ended the year with two 100+ yard games. He finished the regular season with 42 catches for 641 yards and three scores. If Michigan wants to get some balance on offense, it needs to focus on getting Marsh the ball.
Interim HC Biff Poggi
While there aren’t a lot of people calling for Biff Poggi to stay on as head coach when the season is over, I think most people are good with Poggi’s interim title for the bowl game. He held the team together for two games against Central Michigan and Nebraska early in the year when Sherrone Moore was suspended, and he’s got the attitude to help lead the team in a game during this type of situation. He can also help build up the players’ confidence and keep them focused ahead of the bowl game.
What do you think gives the Wolverines a shot at winning the Citrus Bowl? Let us know in the comments below!
