Could this be the year that Michigan football overcomes its College Football Playoff struggles and makes a strong push for the program’s first national title since 1997? It certainly appears to be a possibility. However, the Wolverines will face numerous formidable challenges along the way, including Penn State, Ohio State, and other strong teams within the Big Ten. Additionally, they will have to contend with national competitors like the Georgia Bulldogs.
According to college football analyst JD Pickell from ON3, there is a belief that this could be the year when Michigan football finally surpasses Georgia, after coming close to title contention in previous seasons.
College football analyst claims this could be the year that Michigan football manages to overcome Georgia
During the 2023 offseason, it was revealed that Michigan football has incorporated a ‘Beat Georgia’ segment into their practice routine. This addition follows Jim Harbaugh’s introduction of the ‘Beat Ohio’ drill in 2021, which has resulted in two consecutive dominant victories over the Buckeyes in subsequent seasons.
As the Wolverines enter a season filled with high expectations, they are considered strong contenders for the national title. However, defeating both Ohio State and Georgia will undoubtedly be challenging. Nonetheless, according to analyst JD Pickell, this could be the year that the Maize and Blue finally overcome these obstacles and achieve their goals.
“This isn’t just like a nice slogan. It’s not something you just put on a T-shirt, something you just put on a practice schedule and say, hey, ‘Beat Georgia’ period; we got that period at seven. Make sure you’re locked in,” said JD PicKell on ‘The Hard Count.’ “This is a team that can really do it. And when I say they can really do it, this is not a prediction.”
Few teams will pose a legitimate threat to the Georgia Bulldogs, who has won two straight national titles, this fall. However, Michigan football is undoubtedly one of the top teams that the Bulldogs are closely monitoring as the season approaches.
“I’m not saying that Michigan should be favored against Georgia… but when I look at what Michigan has on this roster and how they’re made up physically; that’s the real advantage for Georgia. It’s the trenches. That’s how they’ve just drug people the last couple of years. That’s how they drug TCU in the national title game. I think the physicality at Michigan actually matches up OK for Georgia. And when I say they match up, I don’t mean they’re superior. I mean, they’re good enough to hold their own, should they find themselves in the game against Georgia.”
Wolverines poised to challenge the Georgia Bulldogs for the nation’s No. 1 ranking
Last week, college football analyst Rece Davis ranked Michigan football as the number one team in the nation, citing second-year starting quarterback JJ McCarthy as the deciding factor in his pick. If the Wolverines are to finally reach the top of the rankings by the end of the season, their former five-star quarterback will need to step up and outshine any previous Michigan quarterback.
In 2023, Michigan football is the most complete, deep, and talented it has ever been under Jim Harbaugh, who is entering his 9th season as the Wolverines’ head coach this fall. It has been nearly three decades since the Maize and Blue last claimed a national title, and while Georgia appears to be a safe bet for a three-peat in 2023, Michigan is poised to challenge Kirby Smart’s crown.
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