The Michigan Wolverines and Washington Huskies are going to meet in the College Football Playoff National Championship, and the odds are out on who’s favored to win between them.
Unsurprisingly, the no. 1 ranked Wolverines enter the national championship game as the slight favorites over the no. 2 Huskies. On FanDuel and DraftKings, Michigan has been listed as a 4.5 favorite over Washington, though the moneyline odds are a bit different.
Michigan Wolverines Stay Undefeated, Get Great Momentum in Rose Bowl
The Wolverines have everything going well for them, so it’s not shocking why they have been given the advantage over the Huskies.
Sure, their win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl was less than ideal. Nonetheless, it shouldn’t really be taken against them that they needed overtime to topple the Crimson Tide. After all, it’s a well-coached team that is also battle-tested.
At the end of the day, what’s important is that the Michigan Wolverines were able to hold their ground, using their top-rated defense to make the crucial stop to seal the deal in OT.
That should have a massive impact on the confidence of the team. Harbaugh’s men have always been the most fundamentally sound squad both on offense and defense this 2023 season, and they showed exactly that on Monday night.
With JJ McCarthy providing them offensive stability and Blake Corum leading the rushing attack, paired with their elite defense, it will be difficult for any team to match up with them on both ends.
Washington Huskies’ Offense, Michael Penix Jr.’s Brilliance a Threat
If there is one thing going for the Washington Huskies, though, it’s Michael Penix Jr. He is a Heisman finalist for a reason, and Kalen DeBoer has taken advantage of his gunslinger’s arm talent to create the no. 1 passing offense in the nation.
That offense was evident in the Sugar Bowl, as Penix dominated the Texas Longhorns en route to the 37-31 win for the Huskies. In the game, Penix finished on 29-of-38 pass completion for 430 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed three times for 31 yards, keeping the Texas defense on their toes all game long.
If the Huskies want to overcome the Michigan defense, Penix will really need to play his best football on Monday. He did warn the Wolverines that it’s coming, but it’s up to him to actually walk the talk.
It will definitely be interesting to see what Washington will do to counter what Michigan throws at them. The Wolverines have the head-to-head advantage in their programs’ history, having won eight out of the 13 times that they have met.
Their last meeting was in 2021, which saw Michigan take the 31-10 victory over the then Jimmy Lake-coached Washington. It’s a different time now with a different set of players and coaches, but the Huskies would probably want to get some bragging rights as well. What better way to do it than in the national championship?
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