College Football Championship Expert Picks for Washington vs. Michigan
Our Sportsbook Review analysts put together their college football championship expert picks for Monday’s CFP final between Washington and Michigan. The picks are based on the top NCAAF odds, and this page will serve as your one-stop shop for Monday’s title game.
It all comes down to this: Washington vs. Michigan in a battle of unbeaten teams in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship Game, which kicks off Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET at NRG Stadium in Houston.
The Wolverines (14-0) enter Monday's heavyweight clash as the favorites by our College Football Championship odds after outlasting Alabama in overtime in last week's thrilling Rose Bowl.
The Huskies (14-0) outplayed Texas for the first 59 minutes of the Sugar Bowl but needed a clutch defensive stop to score their 10th consecutive win by 10 or fewer points.
Now the nation's lone remaining undefeated teams face off Monday in a preview of next year's Big Ten rematch in October. Can Michigan cap off an eventful season with its first national title since 1997, or will Washington score one final win for the Pac-12 and secure its first title in 32 years?
To accompany our Washington vs. Michigan prediction and Washington-Michigan player props, here are our best college football championship expert picks (odds via our best college football betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
College Football Championship expert picks
Not intended for use in MA
Affiliate Disclosure: Sportsbook Review may receive advertising commissions for visits to a kid sportsbook
College football championship picks: Washington vs. Michigan
SGP: Michigan ML and Blake Corum anytime TD (-125 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Typically, a championship game in any sport can bring out more casual bettors. Sometimes people just want to have a little action on a big game that they are watching, and it doesn’t always have to be more complicated than that.
If that’s the case, this is the one bet I would recommend making to have a little rooting interest in this matchup. And don’t worry, BetMGM is offering a bargain with -125 odds on this same-game parlay, especially when you consider the rest of our best sports betting sites are charging between -130 and -147 for the same wager.
With a price of -125, this SGP has an implied probability of 55.6%. Of course, each of the two individual legs have a much better chance than that, with Michigan’s moneyline value sitting at -200 and Blake Corum’s touchdowns odds trading around -380.
The Wolverines’ talented tailback has accumulated 25 total touchdowns for an undefeated Michigan squad this season. Corum has actually scored multiple touchdowns in each of his last six games since early November, which is why he's listed around +150 to score two-plus times in the national title game.
Betting can be fun, especially for a championship game when markets are as sharp as ever. So we are placing a responsible wager on this SGP, and rooting for the Wolverines to finish the job en route to their first national championship since 1997.
–– Shane Jackson (SBR | )
Washington team total Over 24.5 points (-105 via ESPN BET) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
For all the pomp and circumstance surrounding Monday's title game, the prevailing narrative is that of an unstoppable force (Washington's offense) against an immovable object (Michigan's defense). I'm not so sure I see it the same way.
Sure, the Wolverines owned the nation's top scoring defense (9.5 PPG) and ranked third in EPA/play allowed in the regular season. But that came against a mostly uninspiring group of Big Ten offenses, all of which lacked the explosiveness that we've seen from Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. and his arsenal of future NFL wideouts for the better part of two seasons.
Consider that Michigan's defense ranked 41st in explosive rate allowed through the air entering last week despite facing seven offenses ranked outside the top 100 in passing explosiveness. That feels like a serious issue opposite Penix, who leads the nation in attempts of 20-plus yards downfield (108) at the helm of an offense that ranked seventh in EPA/play and fourth in success rate entering bowl season.
Both of those marks easily outpaced Alabama, which scored 20 points in the CFP semifinals - the third opponent to score 20-plus on the Wolverines in their last four games. That came even as the Crimson Tide's offensive line was manhandled all game long, with a handful of errant snaps derailing their scoring attack in key situations, too.
As impressive as Michigan's pass rush is, I'd be shocked if it has the same impact on Monday. The Huskies' offensive line transformed from an inconsistent unit early in the year to arguably the nation's best entering the postseason, and they didn't allow a sack last week against Texas' star-studded defensive line.
I have bigger questions about Washington's ability to slow down Blake Corum, which is why I'd only endorse an outright play on the Huskies with three-star confidence. When it comes to this offense, though? Get your popcorn ready.
–– C Jackson Cowart (SBR | )
Vermont sports betting with our best Vermont sportsbook promos, and be sure to download the best Vermont sports betting apps! 21+ and present in VT. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.
