2018 Peach Bowl PAC 12 v Big 12
The 2018 Peach Bowl or Chick Fill A to give it its sponsored title is now one of the coveted CFP Bowls and although it is not a playoff semi this season it does feature a team who were very close to reaching them in Michigan, who are making their first appearance in this one and a resurgent Florida. Normally an ACC v SEC clashes this year the Big 10 has the slot and it has set up an interesting defensive clash between two teams who have had mixed fortunes of late but are both on their way back.
Florida ended the season ranked 10 in the CFP standings and started well going 7-1, with their only defeat being by 1 point to a break out Kentucky side. Any playoff aspirations they had disappeared in back to back losses to Georgia & Missouri, however, they finished the season well with three straight wins. These wins included and Miss State and against LSU so they have some quality on the resume. Missouri also won out and will start strong favourites in the Liberty Bowl on New Year’s Eve, so their losses are credible too.
Michigan are finally looking like the team we all expected after Jim Harbaugh took over and they at one stage looked like sneaking into the playoffs, however, their old Nemesis Ohio State put pay to that. Their only other loss apart from that 62-39 beatdown against Ohio State was to a very good Notre Dame (who we think might just sneak into the National Championship), however, ND did improve as the season went on and the season end one would probably have handed out a similar beating. Wins wise the one against Penn State is the pick, but overall their schedule has been far easier than Florida’s.
The oddsmakers have Michigan favourites, however, we think they have it wrong and expect Florida to at least stay within the spread and probably win straight up.
Our prediction is for Florida to win 27-20.
For those who like to keep track of these things, we are 11-11 so far in our predictions – not too good after starting out 6-1.
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