Bowl Games 2023-24: Odds, Predictions and Full Schedule for College Football Playoff
The final four-team College Football Playoff has the potential to be the best one yet.
The Rose Bowl pits two of the biggest brands in the sport against each other, as the Alabama Crimson Tide faces the Michigan Wolverines.
Alabama has been one of the most successful programs in the playoff era, but it comes into New Years' Day as the underdog against a Michigan team that is making its third straight playoff appearance.
Michigan failed in its first two CFB Playoff semifinal games, but that poor record can be thrown out the window by this version of the Wolverines.
The Sugar Bowl between the Texas Longhorns and Washington Huskies appears to be the more wide-open game on paper.
Two of the best quarterbacks in the FBS and three premier wide receivers will be on display in New Orleans, and all of them are capable of making big play after big play, while the Rose Bowl has the potential to be low-scoring because of the way Michigan controls the pace of games.
Monday, January 1 (5 p.m. ET, ESPN)
It's no secret how Michigan wants to play.
The Wolverines want to enforce their will on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball from the first snap.
Michigan has no problem running the ball 30-40 times per game behind its duo of Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards.
That style of play actually suits the Rose Bowl matchup with Alabama because the Crimson Tide's two best defensive players are their cornerbacks.
The Wolverines can avoid Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold at all costs and still control the game. They are one of only a handful of FBS programs who could do that with success.
Alabama allowed just 78 rushing yards against the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game, but the week before, it let up 244 ground yards to the Auburn Tigers.
The Crimson Tide also allowed over 100 rushing yards in Top 25 matchups versus the LSU Tigers and Tennessee Volunteers, but a bulk of those ground yards came from the opposing quarterback.
J.J. McCarthy is Michigan's No. 3 ground threat at best, but can open up the Bama defense with a few runs to extend drives in support of Corum and Edwards.
McCarthy's aerial success will likely come across the middle with tight end Colston Loveland to avoid McKinstry and Arnold's skill sets on the outside.
Alabama's quarterback, Jalen Milroe, will be its key to winning since we all assume Michigan's front seven will contain the Crimson Tide rushing attack.
Milroe has had a handful of clutch throws this season for the Crimson Tide, but four of his six interceptions occurred against Top 25 opponents and he only completed more than 70 percent of his passes in one of five ranked matchups this season.
Michigan needs to put pressure on Milroe in order to create a few mistakes that could either become turnovers, or switch the field position battle that the Michigan offense can take advantage of.
Alabama is slightly more error prone than the Michigan machine and that should be the SEC side's downfall in Pasadena.
Monday, January 1 (8:45 p.m. ESPN)
Washington relished the underdog role in the Pac-12 Championship Game and it will do the same in the Sugar Bowl.
The Huskies delivered a statement in Las Vegas that it could thrive on both sides of the ball against a high-quality opponent.
Michael Penix Jr. has arguably been the most clutch quarterback this season. He made a few fourth-quarter plays in November to keep the Huskies' undefeated campaign alive.
Penix has the luxury of working with 1,400-yard wide out Rome Odunze, as well as 1,000-yard receiver Ja'Lynn Polk and 1,100-yard rusher Dillon Johnson.
Washington's offensive quartet wreaked havoc on all defenses this season and that could lead to another high point total against a Texas defense whose two highest point concessions came against Top 25 foes.
Texas' offense can counter with its pair of star wide receivers, and we should expect Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell to break loose for a few big plays.
The Longhorns are at a disadvantage on the ground due to the season-ending injury to leading rusher Jonathan Brooks.
The Washington front seven could slow down freshman running back C.J. Baxter and force Quinn Ewers into some long-yardage situations on second and third downs.
Ewers can still make plays out of those situations, but Texas' play-calling will become more predictable if it can't run the ball.
Washington proved in the Pac-12 Championship Game that its defense can win it games, and if it provides the offense with a head start in New Orleans, it can sustain whatever offensive fireworks that Ewers and Co. produce.
Gambling problem? Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369).
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visiting ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), visiting OPGR.org (OR), or calling/texting TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).
Odds and lines subject to change. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.
