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
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