2 Michigan entered the College Football Playoffs with a 12-1 record and a chance to win the national championship under coach Jim Harbaugh.
The Wolverines continued to be in the spotlight after beating Iowa 42-3 in the Big Ten championship match. Michigan faces No. 3 Georgia in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Gardens, Fla.
Here’s a closer look at Michigan’s playoff history and why the Wolverines will (or won’t) win the national championship in 2021:
SEX: Expansion? For 2021, a four-team field is enough
University of Michigan Playoff History
Michigan will make its first CFP appearance, a product of the show’s first Big Ten championship since 2004.
Werewolves have been a full member of BCS and New Year Day Six. Michigan finished 2-3 in the BCS tables, but they were 0-2 in the New Year’s Day Six Bowls under Harbaugh’s lead.
Here’s a look at those two losses
| Year | Places | Result |
| 2016 | 6 | Losing No. 11 Florida State 33-32 (Orange) |
| 2018 | 7 | Loss of 10th place Florida 41-15 (Peach) |
Michigan hasn’t won a national championship since 1997.
CFP Championship Odds
According to Fanduel.com, The Wolverines have the third best odds to win the national championship behind Alabama and Georgia.
| SCHOOLS | ODDS |
| Alabama | +120 |
| Georgia | +135 |
| Michigan | +750 |
| Cincinnati | +1800 |
Michigan vs. odds. Georgia
According to Fanduel.com, Georgia is a 7.5-point favorite in the Orange Bowl game against Michigan. The teams have split two previous matches. Wolverines are 11-2 ATS in 2021. Bulldogs are 8-5 ATS this season.
Why Michigan will win the national title
Perhaps no team played more confidently. The werewolves finally beat Ohio State, broke the Big Ten championship drought, and now have a chance to prove it in front of one of the SEC’s powerful schools that Harbaugh tuned in during satellite camp tours mine.
Georgia is a challenge. Bulldogs average 194.9 yards per game plunging with an attack that will test Michigan inside. Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo faced pressure from the third, and the second was unlikely to crash.
That’s not even the hard part. Can the Michigan receiver challenge Georgia’s defensive linebackers enough that Cade McNamar isn’t in the third stretch? Will Michigan be able to get out of the game in front of a defense that allows for 81.7 yards of charge and three TDs all season? Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis will have to be more creative than ever.
It was a tough game, but the Wolverines and Bulldogs wanted to do the same thing. If Michigan can pull off the discomfort here, they’ll have more confidence going into the game against Alabama. The Crimson Tide won 35-16 in the 2020 Citrus Bowl, but the Wolverines took the lead after halftime. How much has things changed since then?
THAN: Why Alabama Can Win It All | Georgia | Cincinnati
Why Michigan didn’t win the national title
Georgia can defend too well, and Harbaugh will have to deviate from what he likes to do soon. The Bulldogs lost to Alabama because the Crimson Tide chose to air it.
The Bulldogs didn’t force a lot of revenue, but they did allow for the first 14.4 kills per game. It’s like playing a much more talented version of Wisconsin, and one that is gratifying to play in a phone booth on both sides.
Can Michigan block enough runs and prevent quarterback Stetson Bennett from making key throws down the field, especially to tight Brock Bowers? It’s a big challenge, and Alabama will likely have to wait until then.
That’s a lot to ask from Harbaugh’s best team.
