It’s a good thing Jim Harbaugh can recruit because the third-highest paid coach in college football can’t seem to win a big game to save his life. A Michigan side missing several key players battle Florida for the third time in the last three seasons when the two meet in the 2018 Peach Bowl.

Peach Bowl Betting Odds Analysis

The Wolverines went 10-2 during the regular season and covered the spread in six out of 12 games. A double-digit win campaign is small consolation for a fan base that was thinking about the college football playoff.

Michigan was the favourite in all of its games this season and it the only two games when it was giving fewer than four points. The season finale loss against Ohio State was particularly brutal. A win would have put the Wolverines in the Big Ten championship game where they likely would demolished Northwestern, and then secured themselves a place in the four-team playoff.

Big Blue is 1-2 straight up and against the spread in bowl games under Harbaugh, and 1-5 ATS in its last six non-conference games. Total bettors take note: The Over is 7-0 in Michigan’s last seven games against SEC foes, and 9-2 in the team’s last 11 bowl games.

The Gators went 9-3 SU and 8-4 ATS this year with their best win coming against Mississippi State as 6-point road underdogs. Florida closed the campaign on a three-game winning streak and averaged 46.3 points over that period. The Over went 7-4-1 in Florida games this season.

Sports Interaction opened the Peach Bowl spread with the Wolverines as 7-point faves and that’s where the line stands heading into Christmas. The total opened at 51 but has dropped two points to 49.

Florida Gators

Bettors should expect the Gators to attack Michigan’s defence on the ground. The Wolverines finished with the No. 2 pass defence in the country. Florida running backs Lamical Perine and Jordan Scarlett ran for a combined 594 yards on the ground over the last three games of the season.

Michigan Wolverines

It’s not just the UM fans who are uninterested with this bowl game matchup. Plenty of big name Michigan players will not be playing in the Peach Bowl. Senior running back Karan Higdon will not play as he gets ready for the NFL draft. He led the Wolverines in rushing yards (1178) and touchdowns (10).

Devin Bush Jr. is sitting this one out as well. The junior linebacker was second on the team in tackles (67) and sacks (5). He’s the reigning Big Ten defensive player of the year and he’s expected to be a first round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Gators vs. Wolverines Prediction