The College Football Playoff semifinals kickoff Monday, with the 12-1 SEC champion Alabama Crimson Tide taking on the undefeated Big Ten champion Michigan Wolverines in the Rose Bowl Game.
Which team will book their place in the College Football National Championship Game? Ahead of the matchup, we’ve got the latest college football betting odds, DFS picks, and a Rose Bowl prediction.
Rose Bowl Betting and DFS Preview
All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and correct as of Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023. Want to take advantage of the Rose Bowl odds? Visit the College Football Network live college football odds page to place bets in your state.
- Spread
Michigan -1.5 - Moneyline
Michigan -125, Alabama +105 - Over/Under
45 points - Game time
5 p.m. ET - Location
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA - Predicted Weather at Kick
45 degrees, 5 mph winds, dry - How to Watch
ESPN, FuboTV
Looking to make some money on Michigan? Cashing in on the Crimson Tide? If you’re going to take advantage of the Rose Bowl odds, consider some of the following factors before you part with your hard-earned cash.
After going undefeated through the 2023 college football season, and winning every game bar one by more than a touchdown, Michigan enters the Rose Bowl as a marginal favorite over their SEC opponent.
The Wolverines have two historical wins over Alabama, including in the 2000 Orange Bowl. However, the Crimson Tide have won their last two matches and can do so again.
MORE: CFB Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker
With such a small spread line, 1.5 points at the time of writing, you should take whoever you fancy for the outright win against the spread too. Our Rose Bowl prediction favors Alabama, and Nick Saban’s team is 9-4 against the spread this year. Meanwhile, Michigan is just 7-6 against the spread through their 13 games to date.
Given that Michigan brings the No. 1 scoring defense into the Rose Bowl, the over/under line is set relatively low at 45 points. However, we saw an unimpressive Ohio State offense put up 24 on the Wolverines and Alabama can surpass that. Games involving the Crimson Tide have hit the over nine times this season, and an Alabama win could push this game over the line.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
Michigan Depth Chart | Alabama Depth Chart
- QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
- QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama
- RB Blake Corum, Michigan
- RB Donovan Edwards, Michigan
- RB Kalel Mullings, Michigan
- RB Jase McClellan, Alabama
- RB Roydell Williams, Alabama
- RB Jamarion Miller, Alabama
- RB Justice Haynes, Alabama
- WR Roman Wilson, Michigan
- WR Cornelius Johnson, Michigan
- WR Semaj Morgan, Michigan
- WR Isaiah Bond, Alabama
- WR Jermaine Burton, Alabama
- WR Kobe Prentice, Alabama
- WR Kendrick Law, Alabama
- TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
- TE AJ Barner, Michigan
- TE Amari Niblack, Alabama
- TE CJ Dippre, Alabama
There are five college football games on New Year’s Day to compile your DFS team from. If you’re new to DFS, Fanduel Superflex contests require you to select a quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, and a “Superflex” that can be any of the above or a tight end.
With two excellent defenses, your Rose Bowl picks might not be plentiful — especially with a high-scoring Fiesta Bowl providing some of the highest-scoring fantasy players available. However, that doesn’t mean you should abandon this game entirely. There are a couple of players who should be impactful — both on this game and from a fantasy perspective.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe is the 14th-ranked fantasy asset in the nation this fall, and could contend for your QB or Superflex spot depending on values.
MORE: Alabama Players “Not Allowed To Watch Michigan Film” Ahead of CFP
A legitimate dual-threat, his ability to put up eye-opening numbers both through the air and on the ground makes him a dangerous threat to ignore. The Crimson Tide QB got better with every passing game this year.
While J.J. McCarthy has been the best QB Michigan has had for some time, their offensive identity — and success — is inextricably linked to the performances of running back Blake Corum. The 41st-ranked overall fantasy asset of the 2023 season has accounted for 24 touchdowns for the Wolverines and has just one game in two seasons without finding the end zone.
Prediction for the Rose Bowl
Okay, so we’ve furnished you with the Rose Bowl odds and some DFS picks. Now, it’s time to close this thing out with our prediction.
Can Michigan match expectations to make it to their first College Football National Championship Game of the playoff era? Or will the Crimson Tide extend their record of reaching the title game with a seventh appearance after missing out last year?
Beginning our Rose Bowl prediction with the favorite, how does Michigan defeat Alabama and book their place in the national championship?
The Wolverines have been a juggernaut through the 2023 college football season, regularly sitting amongst the top-10 teams in the country for scoring offense and defense and holding teams under 20 points until mid-November.
That impressive defensive performance is one of the keys to the game. Allowing just 9.5 points per game heading into the Rose Bowl, the Wolverines have the No. 1 scoring defense in the country. They’ve allowed just 86.62 rushing yards per game, ranking sixth in the nation, while no team in the nation has allowed fewer passing touchdowns.
A secondary led by nickel back Mike Sainristil has proved formidable this fall, while the defensive front has some of the most insanely talented and athletic players in the nation. There isn’t a statistical standout amongst them, which speaks to the depth of talent the program has to offer. Nine different players have logged multiple sacks, with Jaylen Harrell leading the way.
MORE: CFN’s 2023 All-American Team and Individual Honors
Averaging 36.7 points per game, the Wolverines also boast a top-15 offense, bolstered by the country’s fourth most rushing touchdowns.
QB McCarthy might be the best signal-caller we’ve seen in Ann Arbor for some time, but this team runs through the ground game, especially with lead back Corum and an impressive offensive line.
This is where Alabama might hold the advantage in this game. Statistically, they’ve been far from the best run defense in the country this year. Giving up an average of 124.54 yards per game, they’ve allowed double the amount of rushing touchdowns of the Wolverines while ceding 3.80 yards per carry compared to the Michigan defense, giving up just 2.91 yards per carry.
However, the Crimson Tide showed against Georgia that they could halt the ground game, limiting the Bulldogs to just 2.5 yards per carry and 78 yards. If they can do the same against Michigan, that will force the Wolverines to challenge a pass defense that has allowed less than a 60% completion percentage to opposing QBs this season while giving up just 6.4 yards per attempt.
Measuring Alabama by statistics is an almost futile point. This Crimson Tide team isn’t the same one that started the season. They transformed from a sedan to a sports car as the season progressed, and it all started once they adapted to the unique physical gifts of quarterback Milroe.
While a football game is far more than just two QBs, give me Milroe’s dangerous dual-threat abilities over McCarthy with the game on the line. His ability to impact the game with his legs in a way few quarterbacks in college football can — combined with an arm capable of hitting the deepest parts of the field — will prove decisive in what should be a close-fought Rose Bowl. Roll Tide.
Prediction: Alabama 27, Michigan 24
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