Pinnacle -3½ +105  BET365  -3½ -105 Sportsinteraction -3½ -105  888Sport -3½ -105

Posted at 10:30 AM EST. Odds are subject to change.

Michigan +16½ over Alabama

ReliaQuest Bowl

12:00 PM ET. What a strange twist of fate for Alabama and Michigan to end up here, isn’t it? Last year, they were duking it out in a College Football Playoff semi-final. Now they’re squaring off in the ReliaQuest Bowl, a glorified exhibition game for two programs used to much higher stakes. The market, of course, isn’t shy about siding with Alabama, slapping a bloated price tag on the Tide as though Michigan has no business sharing the field with them. That’s where we come in.

Let’s start with the narrative. Alabama missing out on both the CFP and a New Year’s Six game for the first time in a decade is more than a statistical oddity; it’s a psyche-crushing reality for a program built on invincibility. Nick Saban’s Tide aren’t used to this type of “meaningless” game, and we have to wonder how dialed in they’ll be. Compare that to Michigan, a team playing with house money after shocking Ohio State as 20.5-point dogs just a few weeks ago. This isn’t just another game for Michigan—it’s a chance to cap off a turbulent season on a high note.

Now consider the line. Alabama is spotting a mountain of points here, but what have they done lately to justify it? The Crimson Tide’s aura carries weight in the market, but on the field, this is a team that has shown cracks all season. Michigan, meanwhile, may not have the flashiest record, but they’ve proven they can scrap with anyone. The Wolverines have nothing to lose, and they’ll relish the role of spoiler. Asking Alabama to win in a rout feels like too tall a task. We’ll gladly take the inflated points and back Michigan to hang tough. Go Blue.

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