ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky: 'I'm taking Michigan to win the whole thing'
Michigan football has the third-best odds to win the College Football Playoff, with most analysts choosing one of the SEC teams — Alabama or Georgia — to be crowned national champions Jan. 10 in Indianapolis. ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky, however, is going against the grain.
While appearing on ESPN’s First Take, Orlovsky made his case for the Wolverines, who are set to take on Georgia in the Orange Bowl Dec. 31, taking home the title.
“I do believe [Alabama is] the favorite; that being said, I’m taking Michigan to win the whole thing,” Orlovsky said.
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Michigan players and coaches raved about a renewed ‘vibe’ and ‘energy’ within the program dating back to the spring. Orlovsky, who called the Maize and Blue’s blowout victory over Western Michigan to begin the season, could feel it too.
“I called Michigan in the first game of the season,” he explained. “They played Western Michigan, and I remember walking out after that game and going, ‘That was a different Michigan feel than it had the past years before.’ [Head coach] Jim Harbaugh infused so much young talent into that program. They have an unmistaken identity.”
The Wolverines’ identity has been predicated on running the football behind a physical offensive line and playing stout defense under first-year coordinator Mike Macdonald.
“And then their season started getting better and better,” Orlovsky continued. “I called their game against Penn State when I thought they played fantastic.
“At the line of scrimmage, they can match up against Georgia very well. I think they have enough playmakers. [Redshirt sophomore] Hassan Haskins, their starting tailback, is like tackling Aaron Donald. He is 6-foot-2, 230 pounds. [Second-year freshman] Blake Corum, their changeup back, is awesome. [Redshirt freshman] Cade McNamara, their quarterback, is significantly better than people give him credit for.
“Michigan, because I trust on both sides of the ball who they are on a consistent basis, week in and week out, I think Michigan wins the whole thing.”
Alabama has played in several tight games throughout the season, before blowout out Georgia in the SEC championship game. Now, the Crimson Tide is the betting favorite to win the national title, but Orlovsky hasn’t forgotten some of the struggles throughout the year.
“I find it interesting — and this is not to throw any shade at Alabama in any capacity — but the week leading into the Georgia game, the conversation from the great majority of people was, well, Alabama is not going to beat Georgia and they’re not even going to make the College Football Playoff,” Orlovsky said. “And listen, they played incredible against Georgia, but now it’s like, well, Alabama can’t be beat or something like that.
“I don’t understand how one game has changed the whole body of work narrative on what the potential is for someone to go and beat Alabama in the College Football Playoff. I believe they earned the No. 1 ranking by their performance in the SEC title game, they’re fantastic, [redshirt freshman quarterback] Bryce [Young] is unbelievable — but I do think that both Georgia and Michigan are more than capable of beating them.”
Alabama vs. Cincinnati will take place in the Cotton Bowl, before Michigan takes on Georgia in South Florida New Year’s Eve.
