PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's CFB Title Game Totals Dominator - 83-52-1 CFB Totals!
(NCAAF) Washington vs. Michigan,
Total: 56.50 | -110.00 Under
Result: Win
Total: 56.50 | -110.00 Under
Result: Win
These teams actually have some recent history. They played just two seasons ago and there were 41 points scored in Michigan's 31-10 victory. The big change since then is Washington now has Michael Penix Jr., a quarterback Michigan is familiar with from his days in the Big Ten at Indiana.
No team has scored more than 24 points on Michigan all season. The Wolverines have the best defense in the country.
But what about Penix? Isn't he the best quarterback Michigan will face all season?
The answer is yes. Penix had a tremendous game against Texas in leading Washington to a 37-31 Sugar Bowl victory. But Penix isn't among the four best college football quarterbacks in my view. He also didn't put up great numbers in the three previous games leading up to Texas throwing for an average of 228.3 yards with a 5-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio in those lead-up games, which were against Oregon State, Washington State and Oregon.
Michigan ranks first in the nation in total defense and second in pass defense. The Wolverines sacked Alabama's Jalen Milroe six times in holding Alabama to 21 points in their Rose Bowl victory. Milroe is much more mobile than Penix.
Washington's star running back, Dilon Johnson, is banged-up. The Huskies have excellent wide receivers. Michigan has faced a better trio of wideouts, though, when it played Ohio State and held Buckeyes stars Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming to a combined 11 receptions for 201 yards with Harrison picking up 118 of those yards. None of Washington's wide receivers are in Harrison's upper elite class.
The Huskies ranked a respectable 50th in scoring defense giving up 23.2 points a game despite playing in the high-scoring, pass-happy Pac-12 Conference. Their run defense is above average.
Michigan turned into a heavy-oriented run machine during the final stretch of the regular season. I'm looking for the Wolverines to stay on the ground a lot. This is good for the Under keeping the clock running. It's also a positive because Michigan plays at the slowest tempo of any team in the country. So the Wolverines maintaining ball control while keeping Penix off the field is a good thing.
No team has scored more than 24 points on Michigan all season. The Wolverines have the best defense in the country.
But what about Penix? Isn't he the best quarterback Michigan will face all season?
The answer is yes. Penix had a tremendous game against Texas in leading Washington to a 37-31 Sugar Bowl victory. But Penix isn't among the four best college football quarterbacks in my view. He also didn't put up great numbers in the three previous games leading up to Texas throwing for an average of 228.3 yards with a 5-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio in those lead-up games, which were against Oregon State, Washington State and Oregon.
Michigan ranks first in the nation in total defense and second in pass defense. The Wolverines sacked Alabama's Jalen Milroe six times in holding Alabama to 21 points in their Rose Bowl victory. Milroe is much more mobile than Penix.
Washington's star running back, Dilon Johnson, is banged-up. The Huskies have excellent wide receivers. Michigan has faced a better trio of wideouts, though, when it played Ohio State and held Buckeyes stars Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming to a combined 11 receptions for 201 yards with Harrison picking up 118 of those yards. None of Washington's wide receivers are in Harrison's upper elite class.
The Huskies ranked a respectable 50th in scoring defense giving up 23.2 points a game despite playing in the high-scoring, pass-happy Pac-12 Conference. Their run defense is above average.
Michigan turned into a heavy-oriented run machine during the final stretch of the regular season. I'm looking for the Wolverines to stay on the ground a lot. This is good for the Under keeping the clock running. It's also a positive because Michigan plays at the slowest tempo of any team in the country. So the Wolverines maintaining ball control while keeping Penix off the field is a good thing.
