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Fiesta Bowl 2022: Updated Odds and Comments for Michigan vs. TCU

Dec 22, 2022
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh watches from the sidelines during the first half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Purdue, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh watches from the sidelines during the first half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Purdue, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Michigan has never won a College Football Playoff game. The Wolverines lost in their CFP debut in the 2021 season, falling to Georgia in the Orange Bowl, which was a semifinal matchup.

TCU has never played in a College Football Playoff game. The Horned Frogs have mostly struggled since the four-team format was introduced ahead of the 2014 season.

One of these programs will soon be notching its first CFP win and advancing to play for the national championship. Which one will it be? That will be decided on Dec. 31.

No. 2 Michigan and No. 3 TCU are set to face off in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on New Year's Eve. The winner will advance to face the victor of the Peach Bowl, which features a matchup between No. 1 Georgia and No. 4 Ohio State.

Here's all of the latest information on this year's Fiesta Bowl, including odds, comments and more.


Fiesta Bowl Odds

Spread: Michigan (-8)

Over/Under: 58.5 total points

Moneyline: Michigan -305 (bet $305 to win $100); TCU +255 (bet $100 to win $255)

Via DraftKings Sportsbook


Preview, Top Comments

Michigan has rolled through the 2022 season, winning each of its first 13 games. It won a big matchup against Ohio State to end the regular season, then took down Purdue in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Now, the Wolverines will face a challenging opponent in TCU. Although the Horned Frogs lost to Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship Game, they won each of their 12 games before that. So the Fiesta Bowl has the potential to be a competitive game.

If Michigan is going to end up on top, it likely will need to find a way to limit the production of TCU senior quarterback Max Duggan, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist and is having a stellar season.

"We'll be fired up to compete against a relentless competitor like him," Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh said, per Josh Henschke of Maize & Blue Review.

Duggan has passed for 3,321 yards, 30 touchdowns and only four interceptions in 13 games. He's also rushed for 405 yards and six scores.

The talented QB is the primary reason why TCU led the Big 12 in points (40.3) and total yards (473) this season.

"Nothing but tremendous respect for the type of competitor that he is," Harbaugh said, per Henschke. "And it's going to be a huge challenge getting ready for a quarterback like that. All I have seen is just relentless competitor, super-talented, tremendous effort."

But Michigan's defense has excelled in tough matchups already this season. The Wolverines have allowed only 277.1 total yards per game, which ranked third best among FBS teams. Their 13.4 points allowed per contest ranked fifth.

In 13 games, Michigan has allowed more than 17 points only three times.

Duggan is ready for the challenge. Not only because the Wolverines have been dominant this season, but because the school has thrived for so many years.

"You get to play a great program that has so much history, and that's what you want," Duggan said, per The Athletic's Sam Khan Jr. "You want to play the best."

Michigan has had steady leadership for quite some time. Harbaugh took over as the head coach at his alma mater ahead of the 2015 season, and it took him no time to get the program on track. The Wolverines have won 10 or more games in five of his eight seasons at the helm, including his first two and the past two.

Sonny Dykes is also having immediate success at TCU. He took over as the Horned Frogs' head coach prior to the 2022 campaign. Before that, they hadn't won more than seven games in any of the previous four seasons.

"It's been quite a journey from where we were this time last year to where we are today," Dykes said, per Khan. "You got to give our players and everybody associated with our program a ton of credit for just believing and doing things the right way."

On Dec. 31, one of these two teams will be taking another big step forward and moving on to the CFP National Championship Game, which is set for Jan. 9. And at that point, they'll be only one win away from a national title.


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Shawn Michaels Says He Won't Wrestle Again amid WWE Rumors About Kevin Owens Match

Dec 22, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 08:  WWE personality Shawn Michaels appears at a news conference announcing the WWE Network at the 2014 International CES at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on January 8, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The network will launch on February 24, 2014 as the first-ever 24/7 streaming network, offering both scheduled programs and video on demand. The USD 9.99 per month subscription will include access to all 12 live WWE pay-per-view events each year. CES, the world's largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 10 and is expected to feature 3,200 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to about 150,000 attendees.  (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 08: WWE personality Shawn Michaels appears at a news conference announcing the WWE Network at the 2014 International CES at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on January 8, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The network will launch on February 24, 2014 as the first-ever 24/7 streaming network, offering both scheduled programs and video on demand. The USD 9.99 per month subscription will include access to all 12 live WWE pay-per-view events each year. CES, the world's largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 10 and is expected to feature 3,200 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to about 150,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Shawn Michaels' in-ring career is definitely over.

In an interview on the Culture State podcast (h/t Robert Gunier of Wrestling Inc.), the Heartbreak Kid addressed a recent report that he talked about potentially doing one more match after seeing Stone Cold Steve Austin take on Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 38.

"Yeah, I've had that final match. Nope," he said. "No, father time waits on no man. I'm good. I'm unbelievably happy with my career and it is now time to watch the next generation flourish."

According to Fightful Select (h/t H Jenkins of Ringside News), Michaels spoke with Owens about the WrestleMania match and told him "he'd be lying if he didn't think about doing another match" at some point.

After losing a retirement match to The Undertaker at WrestleMania 26, Michaels remained adamant for years that he wanted to honor the stipulation.

WWE got Michaels back into the ring one more time in a tag match with Triple H against The Undertaker and Kane at Crown Jewel in November 2018. The match was widely panned, with all four legends looking their age. It didn't help that Triple H suffered a torn pectoral muscle during the match.

Despite the one final bout as part of D-Generation X, Michaels did tell the Challenge Mania podcast (h/t Sean Rueter of Cageside Seats) he doesn't think that counts as an official match because the event was a "glorified house show."

The Showstopper revealed on the Sam Roberts Wrestling Podcast in 2017 he was offered a match against AJ Styles at WrestleMania 33 (h/t Dan Garland of SI.com) but said he turned it down.

If Michaels was going to do one more match, that probably would have been the time to do it. He's 57 years old now and has been the head of creative for NXT since September.


Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: profanity).

49ers' George Kittle Open to Wrestling; WWE Rumors on Roman Reigns and Bronson Reed

Dec 21, 2022
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 15: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring a touchdown  against the Seattle Seahawks during the third quarter of the game at Lumen Field on December 15, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 15: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the third quarter of the game at Lumen Field on December 15, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Getty Images)

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

George Kittle Open to Wrestling

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle could be the next NFL player to try his hand at professional wrestling.

Appearing on KNBR's Murph and Mac show (h/t Andre Porter of Ringside News), Kittle said he is "open to all opportunities" when asked about stepping into the squared circle at some point.

Rob Gronkowski, Lawrence Taylor, Steve McMichael and Goldberg are among the many former gridiron stars who have made their presence felt in wrestling.

Kittle doesn't hide his wrestling fandom. The three-time Pro Bowler pays tribute to AEW star Penta El Zero Miedo's "zero fear" hand gesture whenever he makes a first down during games.

Penta gave Kittle a custom mask when the 49ers played the Arizona Cardinals in Mexico City for Monday Night Football on Nov. 21.

It will likely be a little while before Kittle is able to get in the ring, if he ever does. The 29-year-old is preparing for the postseason after helping the 49ers win the NFC West for the first time since 2019.

WWE Taped Roman Reigns' Raw Segment

Even though Monday's episode of Raw was built around The Bloodline taking over the red brand, the group's leader wasn't actually on the show.

Per Fightful Select (h/t Sunil Joseph of Ringside News), Roman Reigns' segment at the start of the show was filmed during Friday's SmackDown taping.

Monday's show kicked off with the Tribal Chief warning Kevin Owens that he would need more help than just John Cena to take out the Bloodline. The segment continued by showing Sami Zayn and Solo Sikoa beating up Mustafa Ali in the locker room.

It was pretty apparent that Reigns wasn't at the building, otherwise he would have come out in front of the live crowd. When Zayn and the Usos were in the ring for a promo later in the show without the group's leader, it seemed like a tipoff he didn't make the trip to Des Moines, Iowa.

Even without Reigns at the arena, the Bloodline were all over the show. Zayn defeated A.J. Styles with an assist from Sikoa. The Usos didn't fare as well, losing a tag match to Owens and Seth Rollins.

Reigns will be back on TV for the Dec. 30 episode of Friday Night SmackDown when he teams with Zayn to take on Owens and John Cena in a tag match. It will be Cena's first television bout since he lost to Reigns at SummerSlam in August 2021.

Triple H Prioritized Bronson Reed

Bronson Reed made his return to WWE on Monday to help The Miz beat Dexter Lumis in their ladder match.

Per Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select (h/t H Jenkins of Ringside News), Triple H considered Reed a "priority hire" when he took over as WWE's chief content officer.

Since taking over as the top creative voice in the company over the summer, Triple H has brought back several superstars who were released by Vince McMahon in recent years.

Reed joins a group of returning superstars that includes Dakota Kai, Karrion Kross, Scarlett, Braun Strowman, Bray Wyatt, Emma, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson.

WWE originally signed Reed in 2019 and assigned him to NXT. Triple H clearly saw a lot in the Australian big man because he defeated Johnny Gargano to win the NXT North American championship in May 2021.

Reed was released by the promotion three months later. He has since been working for New Japan Pro Wrestling, with Sapp noting the promotion was "hopeful" it would have been able to keep Reed.

It will be interesting to see how the pairing of Reed and Miz works out. A number of the stars Triple H has brought back haven't made a huge impact thus far, but there's nothing wrong with having more depth on the roster to build around.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: profanity).