Michigan bowl projections: A unanimous dose of Vitamin (SE)C

The Michigan Wolverines are 8-2 and one win away from setting up a win-and-probably-in the College Football Playoff opportunity against No. 1 Ohio State on Nov. 29. U-M has danced with disaster in its last 3 victories, but has managed to keep its goals ahead of it.

Saturday’s test comes in the form of a road trip to Maryland, which is fighting for bowl eligibility after losing 6-straight games after a 4-0 start. Michigan has only gotten one CFP projection in all of our weeks looking at bowl predictions, and it has been almost entirely Citrus Bowl buzz since the season began. At this point, 9-3 would seemingly make the Wolverines a lock for Orlando. If it can beat Ohio State, the CFP projections will come in droves.

Michigan’s last trip to Orlando came on Jan. 1, 2020, a 35-16 loss to Alabama. The Wolverines are 4-2 all-time in the game game also formerly known as the Capital One Bowl.

Here is what the bowl predictors are saying this week, each predicting a trip to Orlando against one of three SEC opponents.

On3’s Brett McMurphy: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Texas (Dec. 31)

Our national colleague has Michigan in Orlando in a rematch with Texas. The Wolverines and Longhorns last met in Week 2 of last season in Ann Arbor, a 31-12 Texas victory.

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Vanderbilt (Dec. 31)

ESPN has the Wolverines up against the Vanderbilt Commodores, who are currently ranked inside the top 10. Michigan and Vandy have met 11 times on the gridiron, with the Wolverines holding a 10-0-1 all-time record. The last time they met was a 27-7 U-M win in Ann Arbor in 2006.

CBS Sports: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Texas (Dec. 31)

CBS Sports has not moved off of a Citrus Bowl game for the Wolverines, this week picking them to play Texas. A game between quarterbacks Bryce Underwood and Arch Manning would be sure to draw some eyeballs.

The Athletic: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Tennessee (Dec. 31)

Another Citrus Bowl projection comes in, this time against the Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols have a 1-0 series lead against Michigan all-time, blowing out the Wolverines 45-17 on Jan. 1, 2001, in Orlando.

College Football News: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Tennessee (Dec. 31)

Make it 6-for-6 in the Citrus Bowl prognostications this week and another pick to play Tennessee. The Vols have games left against Florida and Vanderbilt to close out the regular season.

Sports Illustrated: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Texas (Dec. 31)

Once upon a time, Sports Illustrated’s Bryan Fischer was the only person here to project Michigan in the College Football Playoff, but that was before the USC game. Now, he holds firm with the rest of the nation in a trip to Orlando for the Wolverines.

Athlon Sports: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Texas (Dec. 31)

Athlon closes it out with the matchup that most of the Citrus Bowl reps would probably die to have. This is quickly becoming one of the worst-kept secrets of the bowl committee desires.