The two winningest programs in college football history will collide in the 2024 Rose Bowl on Monday as the No. 1 Michigan Wolverines take on the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide. The Wolverines (13-0, 10-0 Big Ten) have 1,002 all-time wins, the most ever, while Bama (12-1, 9-0 SEC) is second with 965 victories. The team that wins this one will head to the College Football Playoff Championship Game on Jan. 8 to face the winner of No. 2 Washington vs. No. 3 Texas. The Crimson Tide own a 3-2 edge in the all-time series versus Michigan, including a 35-16 victory in the last meeting in the 2020 Citrus Bowl.
This CFP Semifinal will kick off at 5 p.m. ET from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. The latest Alabama vs. Michigan odds have the Wolverines favored by 2 points, per SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points is 46. Before making any Alabama vs. Michigan picks or Rose Bowl predictions, you need to see the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's Jimmie Kaylor.
Kaylor is a NFL, college football and DFS expert for SportsLine, who has covered the NFL and college football for close to a decade as a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. His background as a former college football All-American and NFL player gives him a unique perspective when building his fantasy lineups and locking in his betting picks. He has his finger on the pulse of the college football landscape and has been cashing in big for the last two years.
Kaylor has been red-hot all season, going 92-35-2 overall on his college football best bets for SportsLine this season so far. He is up 54.8 units, returning a profit of $5,480 for $100 bettors. Anyone who has followed his picks this season is way up.
Now Kaylor has dialed in on Michigan vs. Alabama in the CFP semifinal and just revealed his coveted picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are the college football odds and betting lines for the 2024 Rose Bowl:
- Michigan vs. Alabama spread: Michigan -2
- Michigan vs. Alabama over/under: 46 points
- Michigan vs. Alabama money line: Michigan -131, Alabama +111
- Michigan vs. Alabama picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Michigan vs. Alabama live stream: fubo (try for free)
Why Alabama can cover
No team has dominated the College Football Playoff quite like Alabama, which has the most appearances (eight), wins (nine) and championships (three). Nick Saban owns a sterling 6-1 record in the CFP Semifinals, including six straight victories, while Michigan has lost both of its CFP Semifinals appearances, despite being the better-ranked team each time. Overall, Jim Harbaugh has struggled managing the lengthy layoffs before bowl games as the Wolverines have lost their last six bowl games under Harbaugh.
The Tide are 9-4 against the spread this season, with that mark the best amongst SEC schools. Those nine ATS wins are also the second-most among Power Five programs, entering bowl season, while Michigan struggled to cover against unfamiliar opponents. The Wolverines are 0-3 ATS in non-conference games this season, while the program has covered in just one of seven bowl games under Harbaugh. So, both the differing spread success of the teams this season, plus the lopsided nature of the coaches' recent bowl histories, make Alabama the side to back. See which team to pick here.
Why Michigan can cover
Michigan's defense has been among the best in college football throughout the season, allowing just 9.5 points per game. The Wolverines held Iowa's rushing attack to less than 1.5 yards per carry in the Big Ten title game, which should allow them to keep a spy on Milroe. Offensively, running back Blake Corum is the only player in the country to score a touchdown in every game this season, rushing for 1,028 yards and 24 touchdowns overall.
Junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy was in the Heisman conversation early in the year and provides a steady presence under center. He has completed 74.2% of his passes for 2,630 yards, 19 touchdowns and four interceptions this season. Michigan has covered the spread in seven of its last nine games, including its most recent games against Ohio State and Iowa. See which team to pick here.
How to make Alabama vs. Michigan picks
Kaylor has analyzed Michigan vs. Alabama from every angle and he's leaning Over on the point total. He has also discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He's only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine.
So who wins Alabama vs. Michigan in the 2024 Rose Bowl CFP semifinal, and what critical x-factor makes one side of the spread a must back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the expert on a 92-35 roll on his college football best bets, and find out.
