Michigan and TCU are preparing to face off in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl that will kick off on December 31.
The game’s outcome will determine which team will face either Georgia or Ohio State for the College Football Playoffs (CFP) National Championship on January 9.
Early betting lines indicate that Michigan is favored to win, but being the underdog is a position the Horned Frogs have found themselves in numerous times during the season.
Under first-year head coach Sonny Dykes, TCU completed an undefeated regular season but could not come away with a win in the Big 12 Championship game against Kansas State. The Frogs’ 12-1 final record was still enough to earn them the No.3 ranking by the CFP selection committee, putting them in the school’s first semifinal game.
Michigan is looking for a shot at redemption after being crushed 34-11 by Georgia in the 2021 CFP Semifinals. Michigan is one of the most highly decorated programs in college football, with 11 national championships, the most recent coming in 1997.
Playing under coach Jim Harbaugh, the Wolverines finished the season at No.2 in the CFP rankings with a perfect 13-0 record and won the Big Ten Championship over Purdue.
Michigan boasts one of the more prolific scoring offenses in college football in 2022. The Wolverines’ offense is ranked at No.27 nationally with a per-game average of 453.5 total yards.
Michigan is particularly strong in the red zone, where the team is ranked No. 5 overall and scored on 60 of 64 red zone trips while scoring 43 touchdowns.
TCU is also known for having an explosive, high-scoring offense. The Horned Frogs average 40.3 points per game, which is good for No.6 overall in the nation, one spot ahead of Michigan.
The Frogs scored 68 touchdowns throughout the 2022 season while defeating five ranked teams.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy leads a Wolverines’ offense that also features running back Donovan Edwards, who amassed more than 400 yards in the previous four games after being called to action following a season-ending knee injury to starter Blake Corum.
McCarthy had 188 completions on the season and completed 20 touchdown passes against three interceptions. McCarthy led the Wolverines’ offense to one of the best second-half points differentials in college football.
Michigan scores an average of 21.5 points in the second half, only behind Ohio State.
TCU plays an up-tempo offense that tires defenses out. Quarterback Max Duggan — the 2022 Heisman Trophy runner-up — hit career numbers in touchdowns (30), completions (239), and passing yards (3,321), to just four interceptions this season.
The Michigan defense is likely to present problems for the Frogs with its ability to swarm from the edges. The Wolverines totaled 36 sacks and held offenses to an average of just 85.2 rushing yards per game and just 191.8 yards passing yards for the season.
TCU has struggled against the run throughout the 2022 season, allowing an average of 154.3 yards per game. The defense also struggled against the pass, surrendering 237.8 passing yards per game on average.
The explosiveness of the Frogs’ offense has been the key to overcoming issues on defense throughout the 2022 season.
The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl will take place on December 31, with kickoff set for 3 p.m. CT from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The winner will advance to the championship against the eventual winner of the Peach Bowl, played later on New Year’s Eve.
