2020 New Years Day Bowl Picks: Michigan vs Alabama in the Citrus Bowl & Minnesota vs Auburn in the Outback Bowl: While the main course of New Year’s Day will be a pair of New Year’s Six bowl games, the appetizers being served up also look mighty tasty. Some powerhouse programs will be in action earlier in the day, starting with a showdown between Michigan and Alabama in the Citrus Bowl. After that, Minnesota and Auburn will keep the Big Ten-SEC rivalry going when they meet in the Outback Bowl.
Vrbo Citrus Bowl: No. 14 Michigan vs. No. 13 Alabama (-7)
When the season started, both Michigan and Alabama were expected to be in the hunt for the national championship. Not only did both squads miss out on the College Football Playoff, but neither team even played for a conference title. To rub salt in their respective wounds, the Wolverines capped the regular season with another loss to rival Ohio State while the Crimson Tide dropped the Iron Bowl to rival Auburn. In the past, we have seen both these programs phone it when they aren’t playing in premier bowl games, so motivation could be the X-factor.
Both of these teams bring highly-ranked defenses into this matchup. Alabama ranks in the top 20 in both scoring defense and total defense while Michigan also ranks in the top 20 in scoring defense and sixth in total defense. That being said, both sides came up short in their biggest games, struggling on the defensive side of the ball. Yes, the Crimson Tide will also be without star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, but they put up 45 points against an elite Auburn defense with a backup under center. More importantly, Alabama’s two losses came to LSU and Auburn, two of the best teams in the country, by a combined eight points. On the flip side, the Wolverines were run off the field in losses to Wisconsin and Ohio State.
At worst, Alabama and Michigan break even on the defensive side of the ball, and the Crimson Tide certainly have the better offensive line and the better weapons at the skill positions. There have been some letdowns in this situation in the past, but I think Nick Saban’s bunch has something to prove, and I think they will play like it. Michigan better watch out.
Prediction: Alabama Crimson Tide (-7) Cover the Spread
Outback Bowl: No. 18 Minnesota vs. No. 12 Auburn (-7.5)
Both of these teams were probably one win away from playing in a New Year’s Six bowl, and for the Golden Gophers, they were one win away from playing for a Big Ten title. Despite coming up short, neither side has a bad loss on its resume. Minnesota fell to a pair of ranked opponents in Iowa and Wisconsin, and Auburn’s three losses all came by 11 points or less to teams currently ranked in the top 10. This game will be a chance for both squads to cap the year with a signature win, and it will also be an opportunity to claim some bragging rights for either the Big Ten or SEC. Not to mention he fact that the winner of this one will have a shot at finishing the year ranked in the top 10 themselves.
Auburn’s calling card has been a nasty defensive that is led by tackle Derrick Brown. The Tigers rank in the top 15 nationally in scoring defense and in the top 20 in total defense. Minnesota has also been solid on defense, but the Golden Gophers have leaned on a trio of offensive playmakers in 1,000-yard rusher Rodney Smith and receivers Rashod Bateman and Tyler Johnson, who have both topped 1,100 yards and have 11 touchdowns each.
However, we are talking about an Auburn defense that held top-ranked LSU to a season-low 23 points, held ninth-ranked Florida to 24 points and held eighth-ranked Georgia to 21 points. Both of the Golden Gophers’ losses this year came to teams that pound the ball on the ground on offense and play physical in the trenches. If they couldn’t hold up against the Hawkeyes or Badgers, they certainly aren’t going to be able to handle Brown and company. The Tigers will wear down the Golden Gophers and win by double digits.
Prediction: Auburn Tigers (-7.5) Cover the Spread
