The Post’s Zach Braziller gives three keys and a prediction for Monday’s Rose Bowl between Michigan and Alabama in Pasadena, Calif.
The Wolverines haven’t faced a dual threat such as Jalen Milroe all year, and the Alabama quarterback had a fantastic season after a slow start, producing 35 total touchdowns. The sophomore torched quality teams like Georgia, LSU, Tennessee and Ole Miss, and is an early 2024 Heisman Trophy favorite.
J.J. McCarthy has struggled of late, throwing just one touchdown pass in his last five games while averaging 166.2 yards through the air. That’s not going to get it done against Alabama. Michigan won’t win, or even be close, if it is one dimensional. But it won’t be easy for McCarthy to bust out against elite Crimson Tide cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold.
Michigan allowed only 18 sacks all year, the 28th fewest in the country. Alabama was 12th in getting to the quarterback, racking up 38 sacks. Crimson Tide edge rusher Dallas Turner (10 sacks, two forced fumbles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits) is as good as anyone at his position in the country, and the Wolverines will be without top offensive lineman Zak Zinter due to a broken leg he suffered in the Ohio State game.
Alabama 34, Michigan 20
Alabama is battle-tested, it is balanced and it will have the best player on the field in Milroe. It beat Georgia, which was clearly one of the four best teams in the country despite not getting selected to the playoff, lost to Texas and also knocked off Tennessee, Ole Miss and LSU. Michigan isn’t even the best team the Crimson Tide has faced this year, and it will show.