Michigan football vs Alabama predictions in ReliaQuest Bowl 2024

Not only is this Michigan football team vastly different than the one that prevailed over Alabama in January's Rose Bowl, it's vastly different from the one that stunned Ohio State just over a month ago, with four potential first-round NFL draft picks — TE Colston Loveland, CB Will Johnson and DTs Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant — sitting this one out. (Not to mention starting running backs Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings and star edge rusher Josaiah Stewart.)

Will all those absences allow the Crimson Tide to get their revenge for their College Football Playoff loss (as well as work out a little steam over being snubbed in this season's CFP field)?

Five Free Press sports writers give their picks and predictions for Michigan against Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl from Tampa, Florida, where the Wolverines are two-touchdown underdogs.

SCOUTING THE BOWL: Michigan football vs. Alabama in ReliaQuest Bowl

Michigan vs Alabama bowl game predictions, picks

Tony Garcia

The Wolverines matched the Crimson Tide talent-wise when they met on the first day of 2024. On the last day, U-M will be playing without 18 players from that squad, plus 10 more who starred this season. The attrition has reached critical mass and, frankly, keeping this close would be a pretty impressive feat. A win? That would be shocking ... almost as much as November's win over then-No. 2 Ohio State. U-M can move into the offseason with confidence, no matter what happens in this game. Remember that. The pick: Alabama 30, Michigan 9.

Rainer Sabin

This game won’t be anything like the Rose Bowl epic from a year ago. Many of Michigan’s best players won’t play, and the stakes couldn’t be lower. While head coach Sherrone Moore said his goal is to try to beat the Crimson Tide for the second time in a span of 365 days, his primary objective should be to assess the underclassmen on his roster and see whether they will be able to contribute on a consistent basis in 2025.

Alabama, which finished 9-3, should be a good barometer — allowing Moore and his staff to make those critical evaluations. The result Tuesday won’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. So, don’t fret if the undermanned Wolverines fall to Alabama in this latest meeting. The pick: Alabama 28, Michigan 13.

Jeff Seidel

Let’s try to recap — Alabama nearly made it to the College Football Playoffs; the Wolverines, obviously, were nowhere near. But these games are incredibly difficult to predict because of opt-outs.

When practice videos of Bryce Underwood become the most exciting thing to come out of this bowl, you know the state of the Michigan program. These U-M coaches will get their guys to play hard. To end this disappointing season (even with the Ohio State win). But the future is all that matters. The pick: Alabama 31, Michigan 14.

TRENDING: Bryce Underwood vs Mikey Keene is Michigan's new QB battle in 2025

Shawn Windsor

In the battle of teams who’ve lost players to the transport portal or to the NFL, the Crimson Tide kept their most important one: Jalen Milroe. Alabama’s quarterback should give the offensive advantage to the Crimson Tide. The pick: Alabama 23, Michigan 16.

Carlos Monarrez

Can Bryce Underwood play in this game? No? Then, I don’t care. I’m kidding. Of course I care! It’s the historic ReliaQuest Bowl! According to AskJeeves.com, this bowl is named after an “AI-driven platform designed to contain threats across multiple tools with a single action.” Seems fitting: Sherrone Moore could use that kind of help stopping Jalen Milroe, considering all the Wolverines who are sitting this one out. The pick: Alabama 26, Michigan 17.