Perhaps a coin flip game on its surface, per the computers and vegas, but when you peel back the onion the scales lean in Michigan's favor :
1) Significant coaching advantages (plural) - naked shark guy vs. Jimmy H, not even close, Coach Nuss and his bottom half of the SEC ranked offense last year scheming against Coach Don Brown and his first ranked national defense at multiple stops, there's an argument the coaching differences are accentuated given the extensive time to gameplan and prepare
2) Speaking of this coaching matchup with both sides having time to gameplan, Michigan has already beaten this team in a bowl game in recent history, there are players who have played against each other in these college uniforms with Michigan coming out on top decidedly
3) Malik Zaire will have been in the Florida offensive system for less than one full offseason. Speight will have been on Michigan's campus for three plus years with over a dozen games of on-field experience in a winged helmet and a full season of starting for Jimmy H.
4) Much has been made of personnel losses at Michigan. Florida's defense was also decimated and Florida also limped to a finish by losing its last two regular season games.
5) Last season Florida played three top fifteen teams, Tennessee, Florida State, and Alabama. Florida lost to all three and Michigan enters this contest in the top 15.
1) Significant coaching advantages (plural) - naked shark guy vs. Jimmy H, not even close, Coach Nuss and his bottom half of the SEC ranked offense last year scheming against Coach Don Brown and his first ranked national defense at multiple stops, there's an argument the coaching differences are accentuated given the extensive time to gameplan and prepare
2) Speaking of this coaching matchup with both sides having time to gameplan, Michigan has already beaten this team in a bowl game in recent history, there are players who have played against each other in these college uniforms with Michigan coming out on top decidedly
3) Malik Zaire will have been in the Florida offensive system for less than one full offseason. Speight will have been on Michigan's campus for three plus years with over a dozen games of on-field experience in a winged helmet and a full season of starting for Jimmy H.
4) Much has been made of personnel losses at Michigan. Florida's defense was also decimated and Florida also limped to a finish by losing its last two regular season games.
5) Last season Florida played three top fifteen teams, Tennessee, Florida State, and Alabama. Florida lost to all three and Michigan enters this contest in the top 15.
