Michigan takes on Florida State in the Orange Bowl on Saturday night in Miami. Here are three things to know about the matchup.
Nothing for the Noles?
Michigan’s defense is arguably the best in college football. The Wolverines rank second in the country in scoring and total defense, allowing an average of 12.5 points and 252.7 yards per game. They lead the nation in defending the pass, allowing an average of just 135.9 passing yards per game, and they rank 12th in stopping the run, allowing an average of just 116.8 rushing yards per game. All that makes it extremely difficult for teams to score on Michigan, even the best ones. Ohio State — playing in the College Football Playoff — scored just 17 points in regulation, the offense finding the end zone just once off an interception before the two overtime periods set up short fields. Penn State — the Big Ten champion — scored only 10 points against Michigan and didn’t reach the end zone until the fourth quarter. Florida State is a fine offensive team with five outings of at least 45 points this season, but against Michigan even the best teams can barely break through.
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Peppers making plays
You might know how good Jabrill Peppers is, but you never quite know what he’s going to do in any given game. Peppers is a star in every facet of the game, named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Linebacker of the Year and Return Specialist of the Year in addition to his top-five finish in voting for the Heisman Trophy. He is adept at getting into the backfield as a linebacker, he’s shifty as a return man and he is as dangerous as anyone else Michigan has running the ball on offense. It would be a pretty safe bet that Peppers is going to make some big plays in the Orange Bowl, but as for what position he’ll be lined up at when he makes those big plays, that’s anyone’s guess. It surely will keep Florida State guessing on both sides of the ball. Will this be Peppers' last game in a Michigan uniform? There’s plenty of NFL Draft buzz, so maybe college football fans should enjoy Peppers’ play-making while they can.
Cook in the kitchen
While Michigan’s biggest name is do-it-all star Jabrill Peppers, Florida State has its own big name in running back Dalvin Cook, one of the top-10 rushers in college football this season. Cook has carried the ball 268 times for 1,620 yards and 16 touchdowns and is a big-time playmaker for the Seminoles (he’s also their second-leading receiver). This head-to-head battle between the Seminoles’ star back and the Wolverines’ sensational defense is the reason we love these marquee matchups in bowl games.