– Last Updated on December 22, 2022 3:08 pm
Free Orange Bowl Prediction: Wolverines vs Seminoles Odds
Looking for Michigan Wolverines vs. Florida State Seminoles free picks? Capital One Orange Bowl betting sees the Wolverines taking on the Seminoles Friday, December 30th at the HardRock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks all NCAA football season long so stay tuned for more FREE college football predictions.
2016 Capital One Orange Bowl
(10-2) #6 Michigan Wolverines vs. Florida State Seminoles #11 (9-3)
Date: Friday, December 30th
Time: 8:00 pm EST
Venue: HardRock Stadium in Miami, Florida
NCAA Football Spread: Michigan -7
NCAA Betting Total: 55
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Two teams that opened the season with playoff aspirations find themselves in arguably the next best thing.
The Capital One Orange Bowl features two teams that based on talent alone could be considered top four teams in the nation but their resume wasn’t enough to qualify.
This matchup between Michigan and Florida State will have dozens of future NFL players and will be a nice bridge from some of the other lesser bowls into the College Football Playoff.
Michigan Wolverines
Perfection is rare and despite appearing to have that capability for the opening stretch of the season, Michigan failed to achieve the perfection that would’ve guaranteed them a spot in the playoff.
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Michigan’s offense drifted off at the end of the season and they averaged just 20 points per game in their last 3 after averaging 48 per game in their first nine games.
While many commented all season long about Michigan playing a softer schedule, 9 of their 12 opponents will be playing in bowl games.
The injury to Wilton Speight took away some of his effectiveness late in the season but this extended break should bring Speight back to better health.
The Michigan defense dominated all season long – allowing just 3 opponents to score more than 20 points.
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The unit allowed just 12.5 points and 253 yards per game over the course of the season. Playmaker Jabrill Peppers gets a lot of national attention for his versatility but there versatile, talented players throughout their entire defense.
Harbaugh’s challenge will be keeping the Wolverines for a bowl game that is not in the playoff – something they were anticipating all season long.
They will be up against a very good Seminole offense that is unlike any that they faced in the Big 10 this season.
Expect Michigan’s defense to be exploited in some ways we have not seen all season long.
Florida State Seminoles
Florida State opened with playoff aspirations but 2 losses in their first 5 games pretty much put that idea to bed.
However, the Seminoles came storming back to finish off a nice season with wins in 6 of their final 7 games and a near upset of playoff bound and ACC champ Clemson.
Florida State finished especially strong in their last 3 games – dismantling Boston College, Syracuse, and Florida by a combined score of 121-34.
Since their embarrassing blowout loss at Louisville, the Seminoles have played like one of the best teams in the country – losing by 2 to North Carolina, 3 to Clemson, and beating up on everyone else along the way.
The disappointment of not being in the playoff is not as big for Florida State as it is for Michigan.
Michigan has faced that reality recently while Florida State likely faced that reality on their flight home from the 63-20 beatdown they took from Louisville in their 3rd game.
Deondre Francois has teamed up nicely with Dalvin Cook to form a dominant quarterback- running back duo.
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Cook finished the regular season with 2046 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns.
Yet, that wasn’t enough for him to get an invite to New York for the Heisman presentation and Cook has already said that will provide lots of motivation to prove people wrong in the Orange Bowl.
I think Cook and Francois will provide a challenge unlike any other that Michigan has faced this season.
Will Florida State’s less than spectacular defense be able to get enough stops for the Seminoles to win?
NCAA Football Handicapping Trends
• Over is 8-4 in Michigan’s games this season
• Over is 7-3 in Michigan’s last 10 bowl games.
• Florida State is 8-5 ATS in their last 13 bowl games.
Free Capital One Orange Bowl NCAA Football Prediction
Michigan should be playing angry after not making the playoff but Florida State also is looking to prove they were just as capable.
I like Michigan to win the game but their defense will be exploited more than it has all season.
4* Free NCAA Betting Pick: OVER 55
Florida State has the potential and experience to pull out a victory so I feel less comfortable taking Michigan.
The play here is the over as both offenses are capable of scoring in bunches.
Capital One Orange Bowl Free Score Prediction: Michigan 36 – Florida State 33
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