The College Football National Championship is upon us and it is hard to believe that the College Football season will be in the rearview in just 24 hours. We are in for a good one tonight as a battle of 2 undefeated foes ensues for all the marbles. The 14-0 Big 10 Champion Michigan Wolverines will take on the pride of the Pac 12 in the 14-0 Washington Huskies. While Michigan was predicted by many at the start of the year to make it to the big dance, Washington kind of came out of nowhere and shocked the college football world with their impeccable season led by QB Michael Penix Jr. Michigan has had success as a favorite all season long as they were never the underdog in a single game this season. Meanwhile, Washington has succeeded in the underdog roll as they have multiple impressive victories when people were counting them out, namely vs Oregon in the conference championship game and against Texas in the playoff semifinals. Both teams will play in their preferred roll on Monday Night as Michigan enters the game as a 5 point favorite with a total set at 55.5. Who will prevail tonight? Let's get into the picks to see where my money will be tonight and to see who I think will come out victorious is College Football's final game of the 2023-24 season.
Under 55.5 -110 (1u)
I like tonight's National Championship game to be lower scoring than what the bookmakers have the line set at. Tonight's game features a top passing attack in Washington going against one of the best pass defenses in the country in the Michigan Wolverines. I think Michael Penix and company will struggle against Michigan's defense tonight and I think that keeps this game lower scoring. Michigan's front 7 gave Alabama fits in the semi final matchup and I expect more of the same from them in this matchup. Penix will likely be flushed out of the pocket and will be uncomfortable all night, causing him to not have as much success that we're used to seeing from the Heisman Trophy Finalist. On the flip side, I look for Michigan to do what they do best on offense and that's run the football. I think Michigan will be able to have success running on Washington's defense and I think that will result in slow, methodical drives for the Wolverines. Not all of these drives will result in points and I think 55.5 points is just too many in this matchup. Lastly, I always look for unders when teams play in a neutral setting in a big game. I think both teams start slow just trying not to make a mistake and trying to acclimate themselves to an unfamiliar setting. Everything lines up on the under for me tonight and I have placed 1u on the play.
Michigan -5 -110 (3u)
Michigan -5 is my favorite play in this ball game. Michigan is simply the better team in this matchup and though Washington has played well in their roll as an underdog, I ultimately think Michigan will be too much for them in this matchup. As mentioned above, I think Michigan's front 7 will cause problems for Michael Penix and Washington offensively. Penix is going to be forced to make some tough throws and I think Michigan's secondary is good enough to force a couple of turnovers on some iffy throws from Penix. I think Michigan's defense will be too much for the Huskies offense and I don't think Washington will be able to score much tonight. Offensively for Michigan, I think they"ll be able to control the trenches and will have plenty of success in the run game, as well as have success with play action off of the run game. Michigan should be able to control this game from start to finish and their advantage in the trenches, both offensively and defensively is going to make the difference tonight. Blake Corum should be in for a big game in his final start for the Wolverines and I look for him to bring home the a National Championship to Ann Arbor. This game may be close early but I expect Michigan to pull away late in what I expect to be a 38-17 type of game. Back the Wolverines to be College Football's National Champion for the 2023-24 season.
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