Imagining if Michigan football had played Georgia or a healthy FSU in national championship

Michigan won the national championship without having to face Georgia, but would that have mattered?

The Wolverines rattled off wins against Ohio State, Alabama and Washington. Cheating allegations aside, they’re deserving champs.

And yet … we can’t help but wonder how a Michigan-Georgia national championship would have gone. The Bulldogs won 29 straight games (and two national championships) before losing to Alabama in the SEC Championship, a game in which Georgia dealt with injuries and inflicted uncharacteristic miscues.

On this edition of “SEC Football Unfiltered,” a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams consider who might have won a Michigan-Georgia matchup.

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And, while we’re on the subject of hypotheticals, would the Wolverines have beaten a healthy Florida State, if Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis had not gotten hurt and FSU made the playoff?

Here’s the assessment:

Would Georgia have beaten Michigan?

ADAMS: Slightest of edges to Georgia – as long as tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Ladd McConkey were healthy for the game. Each player was hampered by an injury in that loss to Alabama. With them at full speed, I like Georgia’s cupboard of weapons.

TOPPMEYER: Edge to Michigan. I think Michigan is a bit better along the lines of scrimmage. Georgia, if fully healthy, is more dynamic on offense, but I’ll trust Michigan’s defense.

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Would a healthy Florida State have beaten Michigan?

ADAMS: Edge to Michigan. I became captivated by FSU after its season-opening win against LSU. At times, I thought the Seminoles were the nation’s most complete team, but I…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/imagining-michigan-football-had-played-120501350.html

Author : The Tennessean

Publish date : 2024-01-10 12:05:01

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