College Football Playoff National Championship Michigan vs Washington Preview, Prediction- 5 Best Bets Michigan vs Washington- Bowl Rankings: How Good Were All The Bowls 1-42CFP National Championship Experts PicksPredictions | Point Total | MVP | One Big Call- Ranking all 40 All-Time CFP TeamsPete Fiutak on X | CFN on XCollege Football News on FacebookPete Fiutak on Threads | CFN on ThreadsWashington is 14-0, it’s already among the greatest football seasons in school history – if not the best, regardless of how this ends up – and it’s a massive step forward for the program as it goes into life in the Big Ten next season.It’s a fun team with a fun fan base in a fun city with a fun style of play, and now it’s one win away from its first national title since sharing one with Miami in 1991. Here are 10 reasons why Washington will win the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Washington doesn’t screw up. You can’t make mistakes and beat Michigan, because Michigan doesn’t make mistakes. Okay, so the Huskies have a bit of a penalty issue, but they haven’t turned the ball over multiple times in any of their last six games. They had more than one giveaway in just three games No one is stronger in tight games and big moments than Washington. There’s something to be said for never bucking when things get tight. Sometimes Washington played close games because it struggled, and other times it pulled games out of the fire. Eight of the last ten games were decided by eight points or fewer, and the wins over Stanford and USC were stressful. It’s still 14-0.8. The Texas game showed that the defense can picked on and all could be fine. Let’s be honest – Texas had a weird day against Washington. However, Quinn Ewers and the Longhorn passing game rolled for over 300 yards, the UW D allowed close to 500 yards in all, and … (say it with me) it’s still 14-0 The Texas game showed that Michael Penix Jr. can be pressured and all could be fine.There’s some debate about this. You don’t stop the Washington passing game with pressure, but if you don’t at least apply a little bit, you’re dead. Texas didn’t get to Penix Jr. all that often – he was fantastic at moving in the pocket – but it bothered him. The Longhorn D line did what it was supposed to do, and it still got rolled for 430 passing yards.6. It’s the first time in a long time Michigan might not have the best offensive line on the field. The Washington O line won the Joe Moore Aware for having the best offensive line in the country, and why? Honestly, it’s because of the offensive style, but it was also fourth in the nation in sacks allowed, fifth in tackles for loss allowed, and was great for the ground game. The pressure is on both sides, but the REAL stress is almost entirely on the Michigan side of the field. This has the feel like things are just getting started for Washington. The program has been amazing over the last several years, it took a step forward, it’s going into the Big Ten, and the sky’s the limit. For Michigan, NCAA sanctions might come crashing down hard, Jim Harbaugh might be the Las Vegas Raider head coach ten minutes after the confetti flies, and this might be the culmination of a great run. 4. The coaching staff is just that good. All that about the system, and the style, and the culture, and the in-game adjustments, and the way to maximize the talent, and the ability to get past Oregon twice, beat Texas, win the Pac-12, and get here – head coach Kalen DeBoer and the staff are fantastic. They handled Steve Sarkisian and the Texas staff just fine.3. The wide receivers are just that good. Ohio State has some great receivers, and so does Alabama. Michigan handled them just fine, but the speed, NFL talent, and depth of the Washington targets – particularly Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk – are about to push the Wolverine secondary hard, and … The passing game is like nothing Michigan has faced all season. Yeah, it’s sort of easy to be great against the pass when you don’t face a slew of teams that can throw. Ohio State’s O was good, but it wasn’t like the 2022 version. Penn State? No. Maryland? Sort of, but nothing like Washington. Alabama? Yeah, but in a different way than what Michigan is about to see. It’ll have to be ready to give up a few home runs, because …1. Michael Penix Jr. is really just that good. He was solid at Indiana, but he didn’t have the parts around him or the offense to blow up like he has over the last two seasons in the DeBoer system in Seattle. 9,289 yards and 66 touchdowns in two seasons isn’t bad. He’ll keep driving the deep passes, won’t make the giant mistakes, and he brings six years of experience to this game.There’s a good chance he really is the best player on the field as he takes the Washington Huskies to a national champinship win.College Football Playoff National Championship Michigan vs Washington Preview, Prediction- 5 Best Bets Michigan vs Washington- Bowl Rankings: How Good Were All The Bowls 1-42CFP National Championship Experts PicksPredictions | Point Total | MVP | One Big Call- Ranking all 40 All-Time CFP Teams
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