Nick Saban: Pat McAfee Gives Alabama Crimson Tide Coach Ultimate Compliment After College Gameday Appearance Ahead Of Michigan Matchup

“Michigan forces you to be so patient and be so bored sometimes,” an opposing coach told ESPN. “That’s what they’re so good at. What they make you do is they make you feel like the game is way shorter. And then you make the game shorter because you rush. You maybe do things outside of what you [normally] do.”

Ultimately, most national analysts and predictions have the Wolverines winning in a close game.

But former Alabama Crimson Tide QB Greg McElroy is calling for an upset.

On the most recent episode of Always College Football, ESPN’s Greg McElroymade his prediction for the College Football Playoff matchup between the Crimson Tide and Wolverines.

“I like Alabama in the game,” McElroy said. “I think they have a little more explosiveness. I think they have a little bit more of an opportunity to create downfield opportunities. I think their defense will shore up against what is an excellent rushing attack for the Michigan Wolverines.”

Alabama is 9-4 all-time in the College Football Playoff, including three CFP National Championship victories. The Wolverines are making their third appearance in the playoffs, but are still looking for the first win in program history.

The Crimson Tide defeated Michigan in the 2020 Citrus Bowl in the most recent matchup between these two programs. Alabama leads the all-time series 3-2 over Michigan, dating back to 1988.

Pat McAfee Gives Alabama Crimson Tide Coach Nick Saban Major Praise After College Gameday Appearance

On Saturday morning, Saban made an appearance on ESPN’s College Gameday.

Pat McAfee, one of the hosts on the show who has Saban as a weekly guest on his podcast, posed an interesting question for the longtime Alabama coach,

“Coach., seven time national champion and obviously the biggest stage is where you have thrived more than anyone in the game’s history, how many more times will you speak to your team?” McAfee asked.

“How many different speeches are we giving and what’s the messaging kind of sound like with the messaging for your squad?”

The Alabama Crimson Tide head man gave an honest response.

“Pretty much to this point, it’s been stay committed,” Saban said. “There are a lot of distractions that go along with the bowl game, which is a good thing for the players. We got to go to Lowrey’s last night, we got to go to Disneyland the other day after practice. So you gotta stay committed and focused on what it is we are trying to do.”

Nick Saban then elaborated on his message to the team, noting this team had significant struggles early in the season and is entering the matchup as an underdog.

“You know the big thing is, we started out poorly and improved, so there’s been a lot of naysayers out there. Hopefully we continue that on the big stage in the Rose Bowl and in the playoff. We want to try to carry that through and finish the best way that we can.”

Pat McAfee took to social media after the interview and gave the ultimate compliment to the Alabama Crimson Tide head coach.