Monday night truly marks the end of an era in college football.
The 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship is officially the last game played in the current four-team format, and it will also be the final football game for the Pac-12 before it dissolves.
After Monday night, things are changing, but for now, we’ve got an incredible national championship game to look forward to. Let’s break it down.
Michigan (-4.5) vs. Washington – O/U 56.5
The overriding feeling around the country is that Michigan is going to walk all over Washington, but I vehemently disagree.
Sure, the Huskies played some alarmingly close games. They certainly could’ve lost to Arizona State and needed last-second field goals to beat Oregon State and Washington State.
However, this is also the same team that TWICE beat an Oregon squad that was arguably just as good as anyone. The only reason the Ducks aren’t in the playoff is because they couldn’t get past the Huskies!
Washington was criminally underrated going into the Sugar Bowl against Texas, and it’s happening again here. When are people going to figure out that this is a damn good team?
Now, I’d be remiss if I didn’t also say that I think Michigan is fantastic. Selfishly, I hope the Wolverines win because I picked them to win the championship before the season started, and I’ve routinely had them ranked first in my personal betting index week after week.
Even when they were down late against Alabama in the semifinal, I always felt the Wolverines had control over the game. Sure, the Tide made some mistakes, but Michigan handled them physically in a way you just don’t see in Alabama games very often. It was impressive.
Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards make up an unbelievable backfield duo, and Washington struggled against Texas’s rushing attack for most of that semifinal. Michigan’s offensive line and backfield should be licking their chops thinking about that matchup.
However, I do think Washington can afford to sell out against the run. The Huskies just got done containing a quarterback in Quinn Ewers who is better than McCarthy, and a receiving corps that is better than Michigan’s. If Washington can make the Michigan offense one-dimensional, things might get interesting.
If Michigan wins the game, it’ll be because they kept the ball away from Michael Penix Jr. on the other side. Penix, who should have won the Heisman, was electric in the semifinal, making breathtaking throws seemingly on every drop back.
Penix is the best quarterback Michigan will face this season by a good margin, and Rome Odunze, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Jalen McMillan make up the best group of receivers the Wolverines will match up against. The Huskies’ offensive line, which was just awarded as the nation’s best, is also likely the best unit Michigan will see.
Too many people are sleeping on this Washington offense, which has absolutely cooked in any game played in decent weather. This game will of course be played indoors in Houston, which gives Washington a huge edge.
I understand why so many believe Michigan will take this one, but Washington’s offense is dynamic enough, in my opinion, to beat anybody, and if they can get ahead early, Michigan won’t be able to take the air out of the ball.
In an incredibly ironic ending to the Pac-12 and to the four-team era, I think Washington wins a national championship in Houston Monday night.
Nick’s Pick: Washington 31, Michigan 24
By the way – The Big Ten has to be absolutely thrilled at how this has played out. This national championship matchup becomes a conference game next year when Michigan goes to Seattle in October.
ESPN has to be sick.
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