Washington vs Michigan CFP National Championship Prediction, Odds & Best Bets: Who Will Have a Magic Monday in Houston?

One game remains in the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS season, and it’s for all of the marbles. In a matter of months, Michigan and Washington will be conference foes, but before then, they will meet Monday in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas (7:30 pm ET, ESPN).

On October 5, the Wolverines will face off in a Big Ten matchup in Seattle. And along with being a potentially pivotal conference clash, it will be a rematch of the tenth and final title tilt of the four-team CFP era, as well as the last football game for a member of the current iteration of the Pac-12.

Of those ten title games, Monday’s game in Houston will be just the fourth #1 vs #2 matchup.

Previous #1 vs 2 Matchups in the College Football Playoff Championship Game

• 2016: #2 Alabama 45, #1 Clemson 40
• 2017: #2 Clemson 35, #1 Alabama 31
• 2019: #2 Clemson 44, #1 Alabama 16

Will #2 defeat #1 for the fourth time in four tries? Michigan will be looking to be the fourth #1 team to win, all in the last five years.

Will Washington allow the Pac-12 in its present form to bow out with its first national championship since USC 19 seasons ago? Or will Michigan give the Big Ten its first national title since Ohio State became the first CFP national champion nine years ago?

Washington vs Michigan Odds

Odds are courtesy of BetOnline. If you’re interested in trying them out, we recommend checking out our BetOnline review.

Spread

• Washington +4.5 (-115)
• Michigan -4.5 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 56.5 (-110)
• Under 56.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• Washington +167
• Michigan -192

2023 Season Results for #2 Washington (14-0, 9-0 Pac-12)

• Boise State (9/2 – home): won 56-19
• Tulsa (9/9 – home): won 43-10
• Michigan State (9/16 – away): won 41-7
• Cal (9/23 – home): won 59-32
• Arizona (9/30 – away): won 31-24
• Oregon (10/14 – home): won 36-33
• Arizona State (10/21 – home): won 15-7
• Stanford (10/28 – away): won 42-33
• USC (11/4 – away): won 52-42
• Utah (11/11 – home): won 35-28
• Oregon State (11/18 – away): won 22-20
• Washington State (11/25 – home): won 24-21
• Oregon (12/1 – Pac-12 Championship Game): won 34-31
• Texas (1/1/24 – Sugar Bowl/College Football Playoff Semifinal): won 37-31

2023 Season Results for #1 Michigan (14-0, 9-0 Big Ten)

• East Carolina (9/2 – home): won 30-3
• UNLV (9/9 – home): won 35-7
• Bowling Green (9/16 – home): won 31-6
• Rutgers (9/23 – home): won 31-7
• Nebraska (9/30 – away): won 45-7
• Minnesota (10/7 – away): won 52-10
• Indiana (10/14 – home): won 52-7
• Michigan State (10/21 – away): won 49-0
• Purdue (11/4 – home): won 41-13
• Penn State (11/11 – away): won 24-15
• Maryland (11/18 – away): won 31-24
• Ohio State (11/25 – home): won 30-24
• Iowa (12/2 – Big Ten Championship Game): won 26-0
• Alabama (1/1 – Rose Bowl/College Football Playoff Semifinal): won 27-20 (OT)

Bet on the College Football Playoff National Championship at BetOnline

Players to Watch for Washington

Washington Offense

• QB Michael Penix Jr.: 336 of 504 (66.7%), 4,648 yards, 35 TD, 9 INT passing; 3 rushing TD
• RB Dillon Johnson: 222 carries, 1162 yards (5.2 YPA), 16 TD rushing; 22 catches, 166 yards (7.5 YPC)
• WR Rome Odunze: 87 catches, 1,533 yards (17.9 YPC), 15 TD (13 receiving, rush TD, punt return TD)

Washington Defense

• LB Edefuan Ulofoshio: 90 tackles, 8 TFL, 3 sacks, INT, TD
• CB Jabbar Muhammad: 44 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 INT, 19 pass breakups
• EDGE Bralen Trice: 46 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 7 sacks

Players to Watch for Michigan

Michigan Offense

• QB J.J. McCarthy: 230 of 314 (73.2%), 2851 yards, 22 TD, 4 INT passing; 60 attempts, 171 yards (2.8 YPA), 3 TD rushing
• RB Blake Corum: 237 attempts, 1111 yards (4.7 YPA), 25 TD rushing; 16 catches, 117 yards (7.3YPC)
• WR Roman Wilson: 45 catches, 735 yards (16.3 YPC), 12 TD

Michigan Defense

• LB Junior Colson: 89 tackles
• DB Mike Sainristil: 36 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks, 5 INT, 2 forced fumbles, 2 TD
• DL Jaylen Harrell: 30 tackles, 9 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles

Washington vs Michigan Football Head-to-Head Results

Michigan Leads 9-5-0

• 2021 (Ann Arbor, MI): Wolverines 31, Huskies 10
• 2002 (Ann Arbor, MI): Wolverines 31, Huskies 29
• 2001 (Seattle, WA): Huskies 23, Wolverines 18
• 1993 (Pasadena, CA – 1993 Rose Bowl): Wolverines 38, Huskies 31
• 1992 (Pasadena, CA – 1992 Rose Bowl): Huskies 34, Wolverines 14
• 1984 (Ann Arbor, MI): Huskies 20, Wolverines 11
• 1983 (Seattle, WA): Huskies 25, Wolverines 24
• 1981 (Pasadena, CA – 1981 Rose Bowl): Wolverins 23, Huskies 6
• 1978 (Pasadena, CA – 1978 Rose Bowl): Huskies 27, Wolverines 20
• 1970 (Seattle, WA): Wolverines 17, Huskies 3
• 1969 (Ann Arbor, MI): Wolverines 45, Huskies 7
• 1954 (Ann Arbor, MI): Wolverines 14, Huskies 0
• 1953 (Ann Arbor, MI): Wolverines 50, Huskies 0
• 1916 (Ann Arbor, MI): Wolverines 66, Huskies 7

Washington vs Michigan Prediction and Betting Picks

Prediction: Washington 34, Michigan 26

I will take this quote from my Texas vs Washington Sugar Bowl preview and apply it here:

“There are two ways to look at the fact that Washington enters the Sugar Bowl with four consecutive one-score games and seven one-score games for the season.

On one hand, you can reasonably wonder if the bubble will inevitably burst after that many close games.

But if you like to live life with an optimistic point of view, like I do, their success in close games, no matter the opponent or venue, is why the Huskies are a strong pick for Monday’s game.”

Lo and behold, Washington somehow did the damn thing in another close one on New Year’s night.

They very nearly pulled defeat out of the jaws of victory, with Texas moving within 12 yards of pulling off a near-miraculous comeback.

Instead, the Huskies, who have bent and broken plenty defensively this season but have somehow held firm on numerous key occasions this season, delivered again when it mattered to deny the Longhorns in the late seconds.

Picks: Washington +4.5 & Washington/Michigan over 56.5 (Both -110 at BetOnline – Bet this play and get a 100% BONUS if on your first cryptocurrency deposit)