The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JANUARY 2022 THE WOLVERINE 31 offensively with Stetson Bennett under center, taking what the defense gives it. He threw for five touchdowns one game but for 78 yards in another when Arkansas gave them the run, similar to U-M's win over Washington earlier in the year. Several have called for backup J.T. Dan- iels, but Thombs believes Bennett will get the nod against the Wolverines. Forcing him to throw is Michigan's best chance for success, he believes. "Georgia can win a national champion- ship with Stetson Bennett," Thombs said. "I think it's certainly possible. But they have got to play well on the defensive side of the ball for that to be possible. If a de- fense puts pressure on him to throw time and again — that's not his game." These two teams mirror each other in many ways in that regard, setting up what should be an outstanding matchup. Many aren't giving Michigan a chance, but as the players noted after beating Iowa, in the preseason they were given only a two percent chance to win the Big Ten East, less than one percent to win the Big Ten overall. Per the BetOnline Sportsbook, Ala- bama is the favorite to win it all at +120, with Georgia second at +145. U-M is +600 and the underdog once again. Some — and probably the team itself — might say they've got the bettors right where they want them. We'll find out soon enough. ❏ Georgia's stout defense is led by 6-6, 340- pound defensive lineman Jordan Davis, who won both the Outland Trophy (nation's top inte- rior lineman) and Bednarik Award (country's best defender) this season. PHOTO COURTESY UGA SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS Breaking Down The Potential National Championship Game Opponents Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) — Nick Saban's 15th 'Bama team started the season at No. 1, lost on the road at Texas A&M, and needed four overtimes and a bit of good fortune to win at Auburn. That had many, including much of the fan base, leaving the Crimson Tide for dead heading into the SEC championship game against Georgia, which had been No. 1 for much of the year. "I can't tell you how many times we received calls on our daily show with fans wanting coordinators fired," ESPN's Paul Finebaum said on the network's selection show. "They wanted complete upheaval, everyone other than Nick Saban. It was a frustrating, suffocating season, and remarkably, it ended — at least as we go into the playoff — with Alabama No. 1." Most programs would kill for a "frustrating and suffocating" season like one-loss Alabama's, of course. But the Crimson Tide are at a different level than most in college football. Two-point wins over Florida and Auburn, and one-score victories over LSU and Arkansas felt like losses to some in the demanding fan base. At the end of the day, though, the Crimson Tide are still the team to beat, led by Heisman-winning quarterback Bryce Young. He threw for 4,322 yards with a whop- ping 43 touchdowns against only four interceptions. Two receivers — Jameson Williams and John Metchie III — eclipsed 1,000 yards (1,445 and 1,142, respectively), and the Tide also had a 1,000-yard back in Brian Robinson Jr. (1,071). In addition, the Crimson Tide ranked eighth nationally in total defense heading into the game, allowing only 306.1 yards per contest, and fourth in rushing defense at 82.8 yards allowed an outing. Cincinnati Bearcats (13-0) — "Who'd they play?" That's been the rallying cry of those opposed to Luke Fickell's team making the playoff, but the team immediately behind the Bearcats really had no argument, given Notre Dame's loss to them — at home, no less — Oct. 2. The second team out, Ohio State, lost two. The Bearcats' 24-13 win at the No. 5 Fighting Irish made the difference, and it was a dominating performance in which they allowed only 341 yards, 84 rushing, in vic- tory. For the season, quarterback Desmond Ridder completed 65.9 percent of his passes for 3,190 yards with 30 touchdowns against eight picks, while running back Jerome Ford put up 1,242 yards and 19 scores in averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Ridder added six touchdowns on the ground. This will be a business trip for his team, Fickell insisted, even while acknowledging Alabama "has no weaknesses." "We don't want to feel like we're carrying some flag for the non-big schools, so to speak," he continued. "We just want to be us." The coach told ESPN he and his team would be excited for the challenge, even — maybe especially — as a 13.5-point underdog. "They've got great talent across the board," he said. "… Everybody talks about their offense, but the coach over there does a pretty good job on defense as well. So, we know it's going to be an incredible challenge for us, and I think that's what gives us the best opportunity — our guys have done nothing but step up to challenges." "Maybe they're kind of excited about putting the shoe on the other foot that they've had a lot of this year [and being an underdog]." Cincinnati ranked seventh nationally in total defense (305.8 yards per game) and second in pass defense (168.3). And don't be fooled by the Bearcats' Group of Five status — they have plenty of talent. ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. listed eight among the top draft-eligible prospects at their positions for this April's event, including two that made his big board. Cornerback Ahmad Gardner was No. 16 overall, while Ridder checked in at No. 21. — Chris Balas