For the first time since 2014, we will have a national championship game in college football that does not include an SEC program. The Michigan Wolverines came back to force overtime against the Alabama Crimson Tide in their national semifinal and won in the extra period, 27-20. The Washington Huskies stopped the Texas Longhorns, defusing a comeback on the game’s final play to advance to the championship, 37-31. Michigan enters Monday night’s final as the favorite in this showdown between 14-0 teams. Don’t lock in your National Champiosnship betting on this game until you’ve read our prediction.
2024 College Football National Championship: Washington vs Michigan
When: Monday, January 8, 2024, 7:30 pm ET
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston
TV: ABC/ESPN
Radio: Westwood One
Live Stream: ESPN+
NCAAF Odds: Michigan -4.5 / O/U 56.5
Why should you bet on the Washington Huskies?
Washington’s perfect season included two wins over the Oregon Ducks and has shown the ability to eke out tough games; eight of their 14 wins have come by one score and have relied on a high-scoring offense and the dazzling passing of Michael Penix Jr.
As with many of the Washington wins this season, their semifinal showdown with Texas turned into a track meet. Washington outgained Texas 532 to 498, and Penix had 430 passing yards. The game was tied at 21 at the intermission, but in the third quarter, Washington put up 13 unanswered points over the next three drives, while holding Texas scoreless. The Huskies’ defense started to bend in the fourth quarter, but it held at the end. For the game, Washington forced two takeaways and five punts, as well as a nice defensive stop in pass coverage on the last play of the game.
Bet on Washington to Win Today National Championship
| 2024 National Championship Odds | SPREAD | MONEYLINE | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | -4.5 | -190 | U 56.5 |
| Washington | +4.5 | +160 | O 56.5 |
Why should you put your money on the Michigan Wolverines?
Michigan has been more dominant in terms of outcomes than Washington has this season; of their 14 wins, only two have come by just one score – Maryland and Ohio State. It helps that the Wolverines have an ironclad defense marked by a ferocious pass rush, along with an offense balanced between quarterback J.J. McCarthy and tailback Blake Corum.
Against Alabama, Michigan was able to control the line of scrimmage with their defensive front seven, posting 10 tackles for loss to six sacks and holding the Tide’s rushing attack to just four yards a carry. Even more impressively, the Wolverines’ defense was able to contain Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, who only threw for 116 yards (going 16 of 23) and averaged three yards per rushing attempt. Michigan did show some vulnerability on special teams, muffing one punt to give Alabama a short field and an easy touchdown, botching a snap on an extra point, and muffing a second punt late in the game before recovering it near their own end zone. Both lines controlled overtime, as Michigan only needed two running plays to score on their possession and shut down Milroe on a designed run on fourth-and-goal when the Tide got the ball.
Bet on Michigan to Win Today National Championship
Washington vs Michigan Final Score and Prediction for the National Championship
The main battle in this game will come between Washington’s offense and Michigan’s defense. The Wolverines’ defense put the clamps on offenses all year long, but have they seen a passing game as dangerous as Washington’s? Alabama’s passing game was also elite, but you could argue that Washington’s is at a higher level. Washington hasn’t seen a pass rush as successful as Michigan’s this year, so Penix will have his hands full getting the ball out accurately and on time. Washington tailback Dillon Johnson remains questionable after having to leave the Texas game on a card with a foot injury. He ran for 1,162 yards during the regular season and also caught a lot of passes out of the backfield. His absence would leave a gaping hole in the Washington offense. Either way, the winning team will bring a new face to the college playoff era, as neither the Huskies nor the Wolverines have won a title since college football changed from voting for a champion to the BCS and then the CFP playoff systems. Washington’s last title was shared with Miami (FL) in 1991, and Michigan’s last crown came in 1997, shared with Nebraska. Ultimately, I think that defense beats offense, particularly when the offense relies on passing, so I predict a final score of Michigan 27, Washington 24.
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Washington vs Michigan 2024 National Championship
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