Whenever the Big Ten and SEC face off, the national media likes to promote it as “the speed and quickness” of the SEC against the “strength and power” of the Big Ten.
Is that really a fair narrative though?
Many like to assume the Big Ten is too slow to compete with the elite athletes of the SEC, but Michigan would certainly beg to differ.
In fact, the Wolverines boast a 6-4 record in its last 10 games against the SEC. It should also be noted that three of those four losses came during either the Brady Hoke or Rich Rodriguez regimes.
The six wins haven’t exactly come against the annual bottom-feeders in the league either, such as the Kentuckys of the world.
Here’s a look at a few of the notable victories, with the team’s final record in parenthesis heading into the game: Alabama in 2000 (10-2), Auburn in 2001 (9-3), and Florida in 2003 (8-4), 2008 (9-3) and 2016 (10-3).
The venue of all of these matchups should also be noted.
The SEC seldom travels north to play any teams of note (or any teams, period), and the following statement exemplifies that perfectly: eight of the 10 matchups occurred in bowl games in the state of Florida, which is obviously right in the SEC’s backyard.
The 2012 neutral site meeting with Alabama occurred in Arlington, Tex., which is also right next to SEC country.
In fact, the only Michigan/SEC matchup in the last 10 that occurred north of the Mason-Dixon Line was when Vanderbilt came to Ann Arbor in 2006, a 27-7 victory by the Wolverines.
Another interesting note is the way the Wolverines have dominated the Gators. The two teams have only met three times, all wins by Michigan.
U-M's offense has also had plenty of success in those three games, averaging 40 points per game.
Will that offensive success continue on Saturday against what is expected to be an outstanding Gator defense? Previous results point to yes.
By the Numbers: Michigan vs. Florida
0 Career snaps redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks and fifth-year senior Malik Zaire have taken at quarterback in Florida's offense. Both are expected to see time on Saturday, along with redshirt junior Luke Del Rio, who threw 201 passes at UF last year.
1st and 14th Is where Michigan and Florida rank in all-time winning percentage, respectively. The Wolverines have won 73 percent of their games, while the Gators have won 63 percent of the time.
3rd Time in the last six years Michigan will open the season away from home. In 2012 the Wolverines opened against Alabama in AT&T Stadium (41-14 loss), and in 2015 they traveled to Salt Lake City to face Utah (24-17 loss).
14.5 Yards per touch is what Florida junior receiver/return man Antonio Callaway averaged his first two years in college, mainly in a receiving and kick/punt return role — he is currently suspended, though, and will not play in Saturday's contest.
24-8-1 Is Michigan's all-time record against the SEC. Three of those 24 victories (and no losses or ties) have come against the Gators.
90 Degree temperatures projected for Saturday in Arlington. Fortunately for the Wolverines and Gators, AT&T Stadium has a retractable roof, which will almost assuredly be closed.
116th Is where Florida finished out of 128 FBS teams last season in total offense (344 yards per game). On the flip side, Michigan's defense finished tied for first nationally (261.8 yards allowed per game).
1928 Was the only other time Michigan wore maize jerseys in a football game. The Wolverines sported them against Navy that year in a 6-6 tie and will wear them for just the second time ever on Saturday against Florida.
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