Skip to main content

Alabama vs. Michigan Prediction & Picks: ReliaQuest Bowl Odds

Mike Spector

Last Updated: December 30, 2024 10:11 AM EST • 3 min 41 sec read.

Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer is upset with officials as we make our best Alabama vs. Michigan ReliaQuest Bowl prediction
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer is upset with officials after a Tide player was called for a personal foul. Photo by Gary Cosby Jr. / Imagn Images.

Last year, the Alabama Crimson Tide and Michigan Wolverines met in a classic when they squared off in the CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl. This year, disappointing seasons for each have led to a meeting in the ReliaQuest Bowl, and we make our best Alabama vs. Michigan prediction for this New Year’s Eve matchup. It's just one of our many college bowl game predictions this week.

After playing a difficult SEC schedule, Alabama felt it had a valid argument to be the first three-loss team to be included in the College Football Playoff. Instead, it gets a chance to avenge last year’s CFP loss to the defending national champions, who will be missing several starters.

The Crimson Tide are 13.5-point favorites in the ReliaQuest Bowl, with kickoff from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., set for noon ET on Tuesday (ESPN).

Our college football bowl game opt-out tracker has you covered with the latest opt-out news and the impact on the college bowl game odds. 

Alabama vs. Michigan prediction & best pick: ReliaQuest Bowl

College football picks based on the odds from our best college football betting sites. Odds subject to change.

  • Against the spread pick: Alabama -13.5 () ⭐⭐
  • My best pick: Michigan team total Under 14.5 points () ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Alabama vs. Michigan ATS prediction

Alabama to cover the spread: -13.5 ⭐⭐

Best odds: -110 via BetMGM | Implied probability: 52.38%

Up To $1,500 Back In Bonus Bets

Bonus bets will expire in 7 days. One new customer offer only. Additional terms and conditions apply.

Each product featured on our website has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission. 21+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly

Michigan hit harder by opt-outs and transfer portal

Michigan did well to overcome an injury to its best cornerback, Will Johnson, in its upset of Ohio State in the regular season finale. But the roster challenges it must overcome in this matchup are much different.

The Wolverines had three of their top defensive linemen opt out of this bowl game, as well as their top two rushers (Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards) and their leading receiver in tight end Colston Loveland.

Michigan was already an offensively challenged team with a squad that ranked 98th in Quality Drives entering the Ohio State game. Now moving the ball became much more difficult with so many of its proven skill position players opting out.

Trust in Kalen DeBoer

Michigan may not have been a fixture in the top 25 for most of the season, but Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer’s track record against ranked teams entering the season was impressive.

To start the season, DeBoer was 12-2 against AP top-25 teams, and was 105-12 in his first nine seasons as a collegiate head coach. In addition, he went 25-3 at Washington, which were the most wins by a head coach in his first two seasons. 

DeBoer has won 10-plus games in eight of his nine seasons as a collegiate head coach, and a win in this ReliaQuest Bowl would clinch his ninth ten-win season in ten years. 

Coaching is a big part of a team’s advantage in bowl games, and I give DeBoer a big edge over Michigan’s Sherrone Moore.

Alabama vs. Michigan best pick

Our NEW college football player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your area!

Michigan team total Under 14.5 points ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Best odds: -130 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 56.52%

Bet $5, Get $150 + $1K Deposit Bonus

Terms and conditions apply.

Each product featured on our website has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission. 21+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly

Alabama may be thin at wide receiver due to injuries and opt-outs, but it still has much of its offensive identity with its top two wideouts, Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard, suiting up. Michigan, on the other hand, has completely lost its offensive identity.

As the Wolverines will be without running backs Donovan Edwards, Kalel Mullings, and tight end Colston Loveland, how will an offense that was already devoid of firepower move the football?

The Crimson Tide are surely not going to let the Wolverines ground and pound their way to remain competitive in this game, and Michigan ranks outside the top 80 in Pass Success.

That has me backing Michigan’s team total Under for my best game prop. The -130 odds at DraftKings for a total of 14.5 slightly trumps the -132 odds that FanDuel offers.

Alabama vs. Michigan odds

See all of this week's college football odds and NCAAF scores.

Alabama vs. Michigan live odds

Alabama vs. Michigan opening odds:

  • Alabama: -11.5 (-110 via BetMGM)
  • Michigan: +11.5 (-110 via BetMGM)

Alabama vs. Michigan injuries

ReliaQuest Bowl game info

  • When: Tuesday, Dec. 31
  • Kickoff: Noon ET
  • Where: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Fla.)
  • How to watch: ESPN
  • Weather: 78 degrees, 0% chance of precipitation, wind 9 mph WSW
  • Favorite: Alabama -13.5 (-110 via BetMGM)

College football betting odds pages

Here are our best college football betting sites:

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Not intended for use in MA.
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission

Related pages

Written By:
Mike Spector
Mike started in the sports writing industry in July 2019, and gained a lot of followers in his first year after finishing with the No. 2 overall record in an annual NFL betting competition, which made picks against the spread, and from an Over/Under and moneyline perspective. Mike is an avid fan of the NFL, MLB, tennis, and all college sports. In his opinion, March Madness is the best sporting event there is, and he's especially euphoric starting with conference tournament time in college basketball. Mike's a big advocate of "fading the public" and making plays that are contrarian, constantly citing that "there are reasons why they have those big shiny buildings in Las Vegas." When making wagers, Mike always scours the best odds at all of the major sports betting sites, where he mostly sifts through DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and bet365. He's tried several others and is of the firm belief that bettors should not just stick to one sportsbook, as there is always likely better value to be had with the same wager. In addition, while Mike received his undergraduate degree from Villanova University, he has no issue betting against the Wildcats when it comes to college basketball wagering, and suggests other bettors should always put their “head” before their “hearts.”