Six seasons into his run as Michigan coach, Jim Harbaugh was an overhyped underachiever. At the end of his seventh year, Harbaugh has rewritten the storyline, and now he’s a hungry underdog in the hunt for the national championship.

If the favorites live up to the hype in the College Football Playoff semifinals, Alabama and Georgia will advance with ease. But if there’s a surprise, Harbaugh is the best bet to crash the party on New Year’s Eve and prevent an all-SEC title game.

The Wolverines, the second-seeded Big Ten champions, are 7.5-point ’dogs against the Bulldogs in the Orange Bowl. The total of 45.5 indicates the fight will be dictated by the defenses.

“Michigan stands a puncher’s chance against Georgia because you can keep that a low-scoring game,” VSiN’s Brent Musburger said.