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Michigan bowl projections: Rematch with SEC opponent gaining steam

Anthony Broomeby: Anthony Broome16 hours agoanthonytbroome
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Michigan linebacker Jimmy Rolder celebrates an interception in the 24-7 win over Washington on Oct. 18. (Lon Horwedel/The Wolverine)

The Michigan Wolverines sit at 5-2 (3-1 in Big Ten play) and are a win away from clinching bowl eligibility. Of course, its sights are set on a milestone much bigger than that; unlike its in-state rival, which it travels to face this weekend.

With Michigan’s pressure-release win over Washington, the Wolverines enter a four-game stretch where they should be heavily favored in each. This could put their College Football Playoff destiny in their hands with the Ohio State game at the end of the year serving as a potential “punch your ticket” game to the dance.

Predicting U-M as a CFP team is premature and would have only been something logical to do had they beaten USC. The road ahead is laid out for them, but all of the bowl projections this week have them heading to the state of Florida to take on one of three SEC schools, though one appeared far more than the rest.

Here is a roundup of where Michigan is projected to land during bowl season.

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. U-M and the Longhorns are currently set to meet again in 2027 as part of the home-and-home series that kicked off last year.

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Missouri (Dec. 31)

The first projection from ESPN has the Wolverines taking on another program that fancies itself a Block M school in Missouri. The Tigers are 2-2 all-time against Michigan, with the last game coming in 1975, a 31-7 victory. All four meetings in the series have been played in Ann Arbor between 1955 and 1975.

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Texas (Dec. 31)

Mark another bowl insider and the other half of ESPN’s contingent down for a Michigan vs. Texas rematch. A game between quarterbacks Bryce Underwood and Arch Manning would be sure to draw some eyeballs.

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

Are we starting to notice a trend here? Make it three projections for Michigan and Texas in this week’s bowl projections roundup.

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

A fourth Michigan-Texas projection makes its way onto the list this week. Camping World Stadium in Orlando would love to have these two fan bases.

Sports Illustrated’s Bryan Fischer: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Tennessee (Dec. 31)

Another Citrus Bowl projection, but 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.

Pro Football Network: ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Tennessee (Dec. 31)

We round things out this week with another prediction for the Wolverines and Vols to meet on the field, this time in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium. This was a week for manifesting a lot of maize and blue vs. (burnt) orange and white.