Way too early bowl predictions for the 2023 college football season
By John Buhler
Rose Bowl: No. 2 Michigan Wolverines vs. No. 3 Florida State Seminoles
We have arrived at one of the two playoff games. It will be a usual suspect vs. a program that’s so happy to be back after a decade that wasn’t. Yes, we will have the undefeated Big Ten champion Michigan Wolverines hosting the potentially undefeated ACC champion Florida State Seminoles in the Rose Bowl. Michigan is hoping to win a national semifinal game. Florida State will have a shot.
This is the kind of matchup we are all hoping for. Two traditional powers not only trending up, but thriving. Jim Harbaugh has his alma mater in a spot where anything short of a playoff berth will be seen as a disappointment. Mike Norvell has reclaimed the sunken ship that was Florida State and will have the ‘Noles not just competing for conference titles, but for national championships again.
Though Florida State could surprise us, it’s time for Michigan. Jordan Travis may have been the Heisman Trophy runner-up to Michael Penix Jr. out of Washington, but J.J. McCarthy has some NFL Draft stock to garner. Win or lose, he will do what C.J. Stroud did vs. Georgia for Ohio State a year ago in the Peach Bowl. Fortunately for McCarthy, his team will bring the lumber defensively to win.
As if we were due for another fantastic Rose Bowl, we are getting yet another great one in a row.
Prediction: Michigan over Florida State