Michigan vs Washington Natty Preview

Image Source: Microsoft Bing AI Generator

For the 2nd time since the creation of the current College Football Playoff in 2014 (Ohio State from the Big Ten Conference Squared off vs Orgeon from the Pac 12 Conference in the inaugural CFP Championship), no team from the SEC conference will appear in the CFP National Championship, The Michigan Wolverines (representing the Big Ten Conference) and the Washington Huskies (representing the Pac 12 Conference) face off in the final CFP 4-team format ( The CFP Field will expand to 12 teams in 2024) where both teams enter Monday’s matchup undefeated. The Wolverines are seeking their 1st national championship since 1997, While the Huskies are seeking their 1st national championship since 1991. 

Road to the Natty 

Michigan (14-0) 

Defeated Alabama 27-20 in OT (Blake Corum's 17-yard run sealed the deal for Michigan) at the CFP Semi-finals (Rose Bowl). Michigan's defense sacked Alabama QB Jalen Milroe 6 times & the Crimson Tide only converted on 3 out of 14 possessions on 3rd and 4th down. Michigan has outscored its opponents by 26 points per game, leading the country in scoring defense. Michigan held its opponents to fewer than 10 points in 8 of their 14 opponents this season. 

The Wolverines rank 1st in Total Defense, Scoring Defense, & 2nd in turnover margin and passing Defense. Offensively the Wolverines ranked 14th in scoring offense and  70th  in Total offense. Michigan's defense registered 38 sacks this season and has held opposing QBs to just 56 % completion percentage. Michigan is led by Quarterback JJ McCarthy (230/314, 2851 Yards, 22TDS & 4 INTS, Running Back Blake Corum (237 Carries, 1111 Yards, 25TDS) & Defensive End Jaylen Harrell who leads the team with 7.5 Sacks. 

Washington (14-0) 

Defeated Texas 37-31 in the CFP Playoff (Sugar Bowl). Micheal Penix Jr leads the Huskies, 29/38 430 yards, 2 TDs. Elijah Jackson batted Qwin Ewer’s pass intended for AD Mitchell to seal the victory for the Huskies. Washington has won 10 straight games by 10 points or fewer entering Monday’s game Seven of those teams they faced were ranked at the time of the matchup. The last double-digit win for the Huskies was a 59-32 win over Cal on September 23rd. 

The Huskies ranked  2nd in Passing offense & 10th ( in Scoring offense and total offense). Washington defensively ranks 53rd (in Scoring Defense and turnover margin) & 94th in total defense. The Huskies' offensive line won the Joe Moore Award for the best offensive line in the country. Washington is led by Heisman finalist Micheal Penix Jr (336/504, 35 TDS & 9 INT), Running Back Dillion Johnson ( 222 Carries 1162 yards, 16 TDS), Wide receivers Rome Odunze (87 Rec, 1553 yards, 13 TDS) & Ja’Lynn Polk (65 Rec, 1122 Yards, 9 TDS). 

Keys to A Victory 

Michigan Wins if……..

• Pressure to Penix Jr. The Wolverines are the best in College Football in applying pressure to opposing QBs. In their matchup vs Alabama, they pressured Jalen Milroe 12 times and sacked him 6 times. 

• Limit the amount of possessions for Washington's offense by establishing a strong run game of Corum and Donovan Edwards to eat up the clock. 

• Limit and contain the dynamic Huskie’s Wide-receiver duo of Odunze & Polk

Washington Wins if ……….

• Control the tempo.  Must play to their strength by passing the ball and making this game a track meet to wear down the Wolverine's defense. 

• Run the ball on 1st Down, get the Wolverines to guess, and have their safeties drop in coverage to set up confusion on other future downs. 

• Penix Jr escapes the Wolverine's pressure and exploits potential mismatches. 

Prediction

Michigan 27 Washington 24 

Bairstow career night propels Rams to 4th straight win

IMAGE Souce (Around The Horns Twitter Page)

(Richmond, VA)  VCU Rams defeated the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs  Saturday afternoon 87-73. The victory is their 4th consecutive win and their 4th consecutive game scoring 80 or more points. Sean Bairstow led the Rams with his career-high 22 points, while Gardner-Webb was led by Quest Aldridge with 13 points. 

Gardner-Webb’s Lucas Stieber 3-pointer put the Runnin’ Bulldogs on the board (19:38, 1st half). Max Shulga countered with a 3-pointer (18:46, 1st half) to tie the game at 3. Zeb Jackson followed and sank a 3-pointer to put VCU up 6-3 (18:22, 1st half). Gardner-Webb had their biggest lead of 5 (13-8, 13:38, 1st half). Michael Belle's layup gave the Rams a 25-21 lead ( 7:23, 1st half). Max Shulga 3 3-pointer plus a jumper from Sean Bairstow gave the Rams an 8-point lead (38-30, 2:19 1st half). The Rams went into halftime with a 42-36 lead. 

Sean Bairstow jumper (18:33, 2nd half)  extended the Rams lead to 18. Gardner-Webb countered with a run of their own. The Rams went on a 12-0 run including dunks by Tobiu Lawal, and 3-pointers by Joe Bamisile & Max Shulga to give the Rams a 62-41 lead with 13:18 remaining in the game. Gardner-Webb got the lead down to 10 (66-56, 8:20 remaining ), but it wasn't enough as the Rams maintained their lead to win 87-73.

Box Score 

At the Podium 

After today's win, we spoke with Head Coach Ryan Odom, Sean Bairstow, Joe Bamisile, & Tobi Lawal

What's Next

- The Rams (8-5 ) return to the STU on Wednesday, January 3rd as they begin conference play and face ST Bonaventure. The tip-off is 9 pm.

Rams win A-10 Opener vs Umass 65-45

(Richmond, VA)  VCU Lady Rams defeated UMass Minutewomen 65-45 in their first 1st A-10 conference matchup of the season. The Rams won their 9th consecutive game and Coach Beth O'Boyle's 250th win at VCU. Jennifer Ezeh who came off the bench led the Rams with 12 points while, Kristin Williams, Stefanie Kulesza, & Tori Hyduke scored 8 points apiece to lead the Minutewomen.

Timaya Lewis-Eutsey's field goal put the Rams on the board. Following a minutewomen score the Rams went on a 5-0 run to put the Rams up 7-2 (6:47 remaining 1st quarter).UMass countered with a 6-0 run as they led 8-7 (4:57 remaining in the 1st quarter). VCU led 17-16 heading into the 2nd quarter. Mary-Anna Asare & Sarah TE-Biasu layups gave the Rams a

21-16 lead (7:49 remaining 2nd quarter). Tori Hyduke's free throw tied the game at 23 (4:25 remaining 2nd quarter). Grace Hutson & Jennifer Ezeh led an 8-0 scoring run for the Rams as they took a 31-23 lead (1:46 remaining 2nd quarter). Rams went into halftime with a 33-27 lead.

Mykel Parham's layup & Mary-Anna Asare's 3-pointer put the Rams up by 11 points to start the 3rd quarter. The Rams maintained a double-digit lead throughout the 2nd half. The Rams had their biggest lead of the game as they led by 24 points (65-41, :56 remaining in the 4th quarter). Rams went on to win 65-45.

Box Score 

At the Podium 

After today's win, we spoke with Head Coach Beth O'Boyle & Jennifer Ezeh

What's Next

- The Rams (12-1) head down the road to face their rival University of Richmond on January 3rd. The tip-off is 6 pm.