Michigan vs. Texas Citrus Bowl score predictions from MLive’s beat writers

For a 2nd consecutive season, Michigan will extremity its run pinch a New Years Eve vessel game.

The consequence of Wednesday’s Citrus Bowl against No. 13 Texas successful Orlando won’t specify nan 18th-ranked Wolverines’ season, but it’s an opportunity to extremity connected a precocious note, particularly pinch a acheronian unreality hanging complete nan programme since Sherrone Moore was fired connected Dec. 10.

Changes are coming successful Ann Arbor pinch caller caput coach Kyle Whittingham group to return complete for interim coach Biff Poggi aft nan vessel game.

In nan meantime, Poggi will look to lead Michigan to its 10th triumph of 2025. The Wolverines will beryllium shorthanded though, pinch 3 cardinal players person opting retired to hole for nan draught – Jaishawn Barham, Derrick Moore and Giovanni El-Hadi. Poggi said Tuesday that respective much apt won’t play because of injuries.

Texas (9-3) besides has a agelong database of opt outs but is still a touchdown favorite. The Wolverines upset Alabama successful past year’s ReliaQuest Bowl. Can they do it against a talented Longhorns team?

Here are predictions from MLive’s hit writers:

Aaron McMann

There person been non-playoff vessel games successful nan past wherever Michigan seemed unmotivated to play. After spending nan past 4 days successful Orlando pinch nan team, this doesn’t look to beryllium 1 of those situations. Yes, nan Wolverines are dealing pinch distractions (and plentifulness of them), but I get nan consciousness that there’s thing to play for connected Wednesday.

Bryce Underwood and members of nan discourtesy are looking to showcase their passing onslaught we only saw successful a fistful of games. Coaches will beryllium looking to put their champion ft guardant to thief them onshore different job. And pinch only 3 known opt-outs compared to Texas’ agelong database of departures, it evens nan playing section some. The Longhorns were nan amended squad connected paper, and a lawsuit could person been made for them to play successful nan CFP, but I’m expecting a competitory crippled astatine Camping World Stadium. Prediction: Michigan 24, Texas 21

Ryan Zuke

Michigan’s roster and coaching unit will look vastly different adjacent season, making this crippled difficult to predict. The Wolverines could travel retired quiet and inspired aft a turbulent 3 weeks since caput coach Sherrone Moore was fired and arrested, aliases they could beryllium already looking up to 2026. Time will tell, but Texas’ talent can’t beryllium discounted either. Quarterback Arch Manning will person a depleted backfield pinch nan team’s apical 2 moving backs opting out, and I expect him to person a large crippled piercing Michigan’s young secondary.

I deliberation Underwood will person a bounce-back capacity aft struggling against Ohio State, but it won’t beryllium enough. Prediction: Texas 28, Michigan 24

Andrew Kahn

Michigan will return nan section for nan first clip successful what feels for illustration months for a Citrus Bowl matchup pinch Texas. Since Michigan’s astir caller crippled (Nov. 29, for nan record), Sherrone Moore was fired (and arrested), Biff Poggi took complete arsenic interim coach (again) and Kyle Whittingham was hired arsenic nan caller caput coach.

Whittingham is successful Orlando, though Poggi will beryllium successful complaint for nan crippled itself. He was 2-0 this play filling successful for Moore, but Texas presents a bigger challenge. Both teams person opt-outs, though I deliberation Texas’ are much impactful. Even so, nan Longhorns are a touchdown favourite aft narrowly missing nan playoff.

The Wolverines upset Ohio State and Alabama to adjacent past play strong. Lightning did not onslaught again against nan Buckeyes and I don’t deliberation it will successful this year’s New Year’s Eve vessel crippled either. Michigan’s broadside is talking up a much explosive violative crippled plan, but I’m skeptical that Michigan will abruptly fresh that description. Regardless, for nan first clip successful weeks, location is immoderate normalcy wrong nan Michigan shot program. Prediction: Texas 31, Michigan 23

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Ryan Zuke is simply a sports newsman for MLive.com and covers University of Michigan athletics. He writes astir a assortment of sports pinch a superior attraction connected shot and recruiting. With nan occurrence of galore Wolverines...