Michigan and Washington 2024 College Football National Championship Betting Preview

The 2024 college football national championship game has arrived. I chip-in a Michigan-Washington betting preview in my coverage at Off Shore Gaming Association with an Opinion/Lean on the side plus a player prop, stats and additional information you can bet on.

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Date: Monday, Jan. 9
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN.com/watch
Location: NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas
Line: Michigan -4.5 and Total 56

We’re leaning Michigan’s way again in the 2024 college football national championship after cashing in a bet and Pick in the Wolverines 27-20 overtime win in the New Year’s Six College Football national semifinal game last weekend during the college bowl season.

College football 2023-24 bowl schedule, odds and results (Forbes)

That all followed another winning season of Top 25 college football picks along with conference championship games.

I add more Michigan-Washington national championship coverage in Forbes, including key stats and information you can bet on.

Michigan’s stronger, balanced offense should have success against a Huskies defense that allows 404 yards per game at 5.5 yards per play vs. FBS opponents.  The Wolverines averaged 5.9 yards per play against ‘Bama despite making some mistakes while rushing for 131 yards. Quarterback JJ McCarthy passed for 221 yards (17-of-27, 8.2 yds per pass) and 3 TDs against a stronger and more talented Alabama defense in the national semi’s. Michigan’s defense held the ‘Tide to 288 yards at 4.4 yards per play. Washington rush defense ranks 119th in the nation in expected points added (EPA) per play, and once the Wolverines show their strong running game, McCarthy will have plenty of shots to complete more passes and tack on yards.

Recall Washington was held to 272 yards at 5.1 yards per play at Oregon State and the Beavers stronger defense in a 22-20 win. Penix passed for just 162 yards on 13-of-28 passing with 2 touchdowns. Penix led the country in passing with 4,648 yards vs. FBS opponents and torched Texas in the national semifinals with 430 passing yards and 532 total yards at 7.2 yards per play. Penix also had 324 passing yards vs. Oregon in the Pac 12 title game as the Huskies rolled up 482 yards at 6.2 yards per play.  But Michigan’s dominant defense held FBS opponents to 4.1 yards per play and a nation-low 243 yards per game including 150 passing yards per game (No. 2).

Washington is 25-2 SU since they hired head coach Kalen DeBoer and QB Michael Penix, Jr. joined him in Seattle after they were together at Indiana where Penix started his college career. Meanwhile, Michigan QB JJ McCarthy is 26-1 SU as a starter with Michigan, and we’re likely seeing the last game for Jim Harbaugh as head coach of the Wolverines before he moves back to coach in the NFL.

You can bet on it.