Citrus Bowl Preview: Michigan vs. Florida
Friday, Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. ET
Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida
First-year coaches that provided impressive turnaround seasons collide in the Citrus Bowl as No. 14 Michigan battles No. 19 Florida on New Year's Day.
Jim Harbaugh took a Wolverine squad that finished 5-7 in 2014 and improved that record to 9-3 in his first season at the helm. A stout defense was at the forefront of the turnaround, with Michigan finishing second in the Big 10 after allowing just 281 yards per contest.
Jim McElwain engineered a similar turnaround at Florida, taking a program that finished 7-5 in Will Muschamp's final season to a 10-3 record despite major problems at the quarterback position.
The Gators won 10 of their first 11 games and captured the SEC East title, despite losing starting quarterback Will Grier to suspension six games into the campaign.
This is a rematch of the 2008 Capital One Bowl played in the same stadium, which saw the Wolverines beat Florida 41-35 on a 375-yard passing performance by Chad Henne.
HOW THEY STACK UP:
Michigan
Record: 9-3
College Football Playoff ranking: No. 14
Points per game: 30.6 (57th)
Points against per game: 17.2 (11th)
Total Offense: 387 yards per game (72nd)
Passing Yards: 234.3 (54th)
Rushing Yards: 152.7 (92nd)
Total Defense: 281.3 (4th)
Passing Yards Allowed: 158.8 (3rd)
Rushing Yards Allowed: 122.6 (18th)
Turnover Differential: -6 (T-103rd)
Florida
Record: 10-3
College Football Playoff ranking: No. 19
Points per game: 24.5 (98th)
Points against per game: 16.5 (9th)
Total Offense: 338.7 yards per game (109th)
Passing Yards: 211.1 (76th)
Rushing Yards: 127.6 (113th)
Total Defense: 295.4 (6th)
Passing Yards Allowed: 174.8 (10th)
Rushing Yards Allowed: 120.6 (17th)
Turnover Differential: +10 (T-16th)
WHY MICHIGAN COULD WIN: The Wolverines have been led by their defense all season, including an incredible three-game shutout streak mid-season. Since Florida lost Grier and turned to Treon Harris, the offense has been abysmal, and could struggle to put up any points against their Big 10 foe. Michigan has been off since a Nov. 28 beatdown by rival Ohio State, and a coach as talented as Harbaugh with over a month of preparation should spell victory for the Wolverines.
WHY FLORIDA COULD WIN: It's almost a certainty the Gators will struggle mightily on offense. Since Harris took over, the team has been a mess offensively. It's coming into the game following two losses to ranked opponents wherein Florida scored a paltry eight points total on the offensive end. Single-digit points in the last 120 minutes of action is not a recipe to beat the dominant Wolverines' defense, and as per usual, Florida will rely on its equally-stout defensive unit to keep itself in the game. Michigan ranks 103rd nationally with a minus-6 turnover ratio, and if the Gators can force a couple turnovers they could walk away with an upset.
IMPACT PLAYER TO WATCH: JAKE RUDOCK, QB, MICHIGAN
This game is filled with top-end defensive talent on both squads, and points will be hard to come by on both sides of the ball. It will likely be decided on turnovers and third-down conversions, and Rudock will be entrusted with both for the Wolverines. The graduate transfer from Iowa was a revelation this season, and if he can maintain his 138.9 passer rating against an impressive Gators secondary, Michigan will likely walk away with the Citrus Bowl title.