It was announced on Sunday that No. 6 Michigan (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) will square off with No. 10 Florida State (9-3, 5-3 ACC) on Friday, December 30th at 8 P.M. in the Orange Bowl.
This will be the third meeting between Florida State and Michigan with the series split 1-1. The last meeting coming in 1991 when the Seminoles routed the Wolverines 51-31 in Ann Arbor. Now head coach Jim Harbaugh was the quarterback when Michigan beat the ‘Noles 20-18 in 1986, also coming in Ann Arbor.
Falling short of the College Football playoff, the Wolverines will be looking to make a statement against a Seminoles team that has been playing better as of late. Led by hybrid Jabrill peppers, Michigan brings in one of the most respected defenses in the country ranking 2nd in total defense. The Wolverines won nine-straight matchups before losing to Iowa 14-13 on a last second field goal and a heartbreaker to rival Ohio State 30-27 in double-overtime.
Florida State fans are thankful to be playing in a New Year’s Six bowl. The ‘Noles were blasted by the Louisville Cardinals 63-20 in September and were stunned by a game winning North Carolina field goal at home on October 1st. FSU would drop another contest in October, this one to Playoff-bound Clemson. The ‘Noles had the Tigers on the ropes late in the game, until a penalty plagued final drive stalled giving Clemson the 37-34 win in Doak Campbell Stadium.
According to CG Technology in Las Vegas, Michigan opened as a 7 ½ points favorite.
Defense’s will either rise or sink for both Michigan and Florida State in Miami Florida. Florida State will be led by three time 1,000-yard running back Dalvin Cook and freshman quarterback Deondre Francois. Cook is averaging just over six-yard per carry while Francois has completed over 60 percent of his passes for 3,128 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Cook is presumably playing in his last college football game, and it will be against the best rush defense he has seen in college, while Francois will have to survive a defense that is fourth in the country in sacks.
Michigan’s own Wilton Speight will face a related problem in the pocket. Speight will have to deal with DeMarcus Walker who leads the country with 15 sacks and Tarvarus McFadden who sits with an NCAA leading eight interceptions.
Two of the more respected coaches in College Football will be put to the test, Harbaugh and Jimbo Fisher both have their playmakers that will be ready.
Dalvin Cook vs Jabril Peppers. Both deserving of more Heisman talk than they are receiving, Peppers and Cook will be a matchup that NFL scouts will keep an eye on all night, both needing to standout in their own respective ways to ensure a victory and make a statement win.
Avoiding the big-play will be a must for both teams, points will be few and far between in a highly anticipated matchup.
