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This Week at The Wolverine Den

Game Weather

Orlando, Florida (click here)

The 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

December 31, 2025 - 3:00 p.m. ET

Game Preview

When this season started Michigan was ranked #14 and on the fringe of making the college football playoffs. The offense was expected to be better but had a true freshman at quarterback. The defense was supposed to be good but needed to replace several stars that had dominated the line of scrimmage, especially in big games. The Wolverines went 9-3 and finished ranked #18. Then came the post-season. Michigan abruptly fired head coach Sharrone Moore after it was revealed he was having an affair with his executive assistant. In the subsequent weeks leading up to the bowl game, Michigan has lost a couple of top recruits, it's offensive coordinator and has seen opt-outs from three key players. What a mess.

Pre-game Menu

Filet Mignon
Baked Potatoes
Salad

Texas, on the other hand, started this season ranked #1 in the country. QB Arch Manning was a Heisman contender and the Longhorns looked like a sure bet to reach the college football playoffs. Instead, Texas underperformed, went 9-3, ranked #13 and missed the playoffs. And has the inevitable opt-outs for this bowl game including key players on both sides of the ball. What a mess.

On New Year's Eve, these two storied programs will meet in the Citrus Bowl. Michigan has hired a new coach, Kyle Whittingham. The program appears to be stabilizing and further defections seem unlikely. Biff Poggi will be the interim coach for the Maize and Blue. He coached two games this year while Moore was suspended. In those two games (vs CMU and at Nebraska, both teams earning bowl games this year), Michigan averaged over 500 yards of offense, scored an average of 46.5 points and held the opponents to an average of 245 yards and 15 points. Of note, while these were the 3rd and 4th games of the season, Bryce Underwood had his two best rushing games of the year (combined 17 carries for 175 yards, 10.3 yards per carry and 3 rushing touchdowns). Don't be surprised if Bryce uses his legs more in this game.

The Wolverine Den Trivia

In what Bowl game did Michigan set their single game record for most yards (a record that still ranks #4 all-time for Michigan)?

Texas will live and die on the play of Arch Manning. While not coming close to winning the Heisman this year, he has significantly improved as the season has progressed. But he is still inconsistent. In his last game against Texas A&M, Manning was 5-17 for 28 yards before finishing the game 9-12 for 151 yards. Like I said, very inconsistent. The top running backs for Texas have all opted out of the game, along with several receivers. Texas has talented back-ups, just lacking experience.

Texas is #5 all-time in college football in wins; Michigan is #1. The two teams have surprisingly met only twice, in the 2005 Rose Bowl with Texas kicking a field goal on the last play to win, and then last year with Texas winning an early season matchup in Ann Arbor. The teams will play again in 2027 in Austin. Michigan is 27-14-1 all-time against the SEC. This will be the 54th bowl game for Michigan, compiling a 24-29 record thus far.

Michigan is a 7½ point underdog.

Steve's Prediction

27-24

Craig's Prediction

30-28

Tim's Prediction

24-21

Brown's Prediction

28-24

Steve 37, Brown 33, Craig 27½, Tim 22½