Tyler Stearns |
The 2023 college football season finale is slated for Monday, January 9 in Houston’s NRG Stadium. Washington and Michigan will play for the title in what will be a fitting end to the historic rivalry between the PAC 12 and BIG 10. Both teams looked convincing against high quality opponents in their semifinal games, with Michigan employing late game heroics to best Alabama and Washington holding onto its lead in the face of a last minute push by Texas. Washington dominated offensively as quarterback Michael Penix Jr. had 420 yards passing and two touchdowns. Michigan’s defensive line stole the show with five sacks in the first half and six in total creating pressure nearly every other down. Their respective performances have created high expectations coming into the national championship game from viewers and pundits alike.
So who is the best bet to win, Vegas oddsmakers aside? On paper, Michigan is the favorite with just two losses in the last three seasons and only one loss with JJ McCarthy as the starting QB. Their defense ranks first in the country having allowed just 10.21 points per game according to Michigan’s official website. Michigan’s offense has complimented their staunch defense as well, putting up an average of 36 points per game.
Washington is not new to the underdog role, however. Both times they played Oregon, they were expected to lose, most notably in round 2, where Vegas favored the Ducks by 10 points considering Washington's late stretch of mixed showings against WSU, USC, Stanford, Oregon State, and Utah. Nonetheless, Washington took care of business every time whether it looked pretty or not. Their success this season derived in large part from their offense, with the partnership of Michael Penix and Rome Odunze producing the most dangerous QB-WR duo in the country. Their running game has also come eon strong, with Dillon Johnson rushing for over 1000 yards, most importantly gaining over 600 yards after first contact. Another strength is the offensive line which is the backbone to their offense. The Joe Moore award winning front opened up holes for the running backs and created a lot of space for Penix to operate in the pocket. The defense has been opportunistic if not great, making plays late in games to secure important wins for the Huskies. Case in point is Elijah Jackson swatted down pass from Quinn Ewers to seal Washington’s berth in the title game.
Michigan has had an incredible season dominating opponents, battling adversity and breaking through offensive stagnation to rally against Alabama to realize an undefeated season and a shot at the National Title. Despite this strong body of work, I am taking the Washington Huskies to come out on top. The combination of a dominant pass game, a strong run game and an opportunistic are are the ingredients that make for success. However, it is the coaching of Kalen DeBoer and his staff that makes the difference. When you look at the Huskies schedule, how they won, the courage displayed in key fourth down calls, shots taken down field when most expected conservative play calls, a clever blitz package and the list goes on. It is leadership intangibles that have created the bonds that have united a team and inspired success. It is a formula that works once more for the Huskies as they go on to a victory Monday night.
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