NCAA Football
2025-12-31 - Michigan Wolverines at Texas Longhorns
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : College Football Citrus Bowl
Wednesday 31st December 2025 - Scheduled 3pm
8pm (British Time)
Preview
Both of these teams would have begun the season looking for a spot in the College Football Playoff, but instead they conclude the campaign with a Cheez-It Citrus Bowl appearance.
This means the Texas Longhorns (9-3) and Michigan Wolverines (9-3) have lost some key participants, while the latter have been dealing with a December in which scandal has hit the team.
It is not the fault of the players that former Head Coach Sherrone Moore had been having an 'inappropriate relationship' with a female member of staff, nor the fact that Moore compounded the mistake by then getting arrested for harassing the same person.
A distraction that has seen another change in Head Coach will overshadow this Bowl Game- it means new Head Coach Kyle Whittingham's main focus is making sure key players are not deciding to leave in the transfer portal, while an interim Head Coach will take charge for now.
One player that will suit up in the Bowl Game is Quarter Back Bryce Underwood, although the Wolverines are still not sure if he is going to stay with the team or head into the transfer portal. Bryce Underwood has spoken of his excitement of playing for the Wolverines before any decision is going to be made and he will feel he can have an impact in this Bowl Game as Michigan look to move past the off-field issues around the team.
It helps that the Wolverines are likely going to find some spaces to exploit in the running game and keeping Underwood in third and manageable spots is hugely important. There has been some inconsistency in the passing game, but this Texas Secondary has had some issues when teams have taken to the air and that is all the easier to exploit if the run game is working like it should be.
Texas have been hit with some opt-outs, especially in the Running Back unit, but Arch Manning is available and has declared that he will return for another year in College.
The Longhorns felt the win over the Texas A&M Aggies should have taken them into the College Football Playoff, but they will also know that the growth of Manning at Quarter Back bodes well for the 2026 season. Rounding off with a win over the Wolverines will certainly give them confidence ahead of a season when they will play the Ohio State Buckeyes again, although this is going to be a tough test for the Longhorns against a tough Defensive unit.
One of the key battles will be at the Line of Scrimmage on this side of the ball and the Longhorns will struggle to run the ball being down multiple Running Backs,
Arch Manning has shown improvement and growth as the season has progressed and he should have some successes throwing the ball against this Secondary.
However, it is always going to be tougher when in third and long spots and so there is a chance that some drives could. be stalled from those positions.
The Longhorns will still have plenty of confidence in their ability to move the ball and win this Bowl Game and it should not be ignored that the Wolverines failed to really match up with the best teams in the Big Ten. The motivation for Texas is to show they should have been picked for the College Football Playoff, but there will be some disappointment that they are not involved and perhaps the Wolverines can run the ball well enough to put themselves in a position to cover with the points they are being given.
Prediction
Take the points with the underdog in this Bowl Game.
The Pick :
Texas Longhorns 23-20 Michigan Wolverines
