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2024 College Football Championship Predictions: Top Washington vs. Michigan Bets

Evans Santiago

Updated as of January 7, 2024 at 3:05 PM EST. Read time: 3 minutes and 48 seconds. For more information, visit our Twitter and Google News links.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates as we round up our college football championship predictions.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates with The Leishman Trophy after beating the Alabama Crimson Tide 27-20 in overtime to win the CFP Semifinal Rose Bowl Game at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 01, 2024 in Pasadena, California. Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images via AFP.

The upcoming game between Washington and Michigan will take place at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX on Monday. In anticipation of this event, we have compiled our top predictions for the 2024 College Football Championship using the most favorable college football odds.

The last game of the 2023 college football season showcases the two remaining teams with perfect records.

Both the Michigan Wolverines and Washington Huskies enter Monday’s championship game in Houston, TX undefeated with a record of 14-0. Michigan secured a spot in the game after defeating Alabama 27-20 in overtime at the Rose Bowl, while Washington earned their place with a 37-31 victory over Texas in the Sugar Bowl.

In honor of the exciting event on Monday, we are compiling our top predictions for the 2024 College Football Championship showdown between Washington and Michigan, based on the odds.

Excited for Monday? Check out our prediction for the FCS championship between Montana and South Dakota State.

College Football Championship predictions

Under 56.5 (-110 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐

The Wolverines usually dominate the line of scrimmage, giving them control at the front. With the top-ranked defense in the nation, they only allow an average of 10.2 points per game. Michigan’s offense focuses on ball control and capitalizes on good field position.

This positioning in the middle is what adds intrigue to the total. It would mark Michigan’s second-highest total of the season, with only one game exceeding 51 points since non-conference play. The Wolverines’ victory over Alabama in the semifinals finished Over 46 points only due to overtime.

On average, Washington tends to score in the 60s in their games. Throughout the year, they have only had two games where they scored lower than this threshold, and in both cases, they ended up surpassing it by a significant margin.

Since our projection falls slightly below this point, we are willing to take the Under at 55.5 or higher.

Scott Justin made a prediction for the Washington vs. Michigan game.

Ja’Lynn Polk Over 3.5 receptions (-130 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Although many sports betting apps focus on prop markets related to production, FanDuel stands out by offering volume-related props. This is especially important for the national title game, where we recommend betting on Ja’Lynn Polk to record four or more catches as the best bet for this matchup.

Despite being considered the third option in Washington’s deep receiver group, Polk’s impressive statistics make him a potential first-round draft pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. With 65 catches, 1,122 yards, and nine touchdowns, Polk is second on the team in all three categories.

Scott Justin made player props for the Washington vs. Michigan game.

FanDuel promo for Washington vs. Michigan

FanDuel is providing a 30% increase in winnings for all National Championship bets placed prior to the game on Monday!

This offer is eligible in all jurisdictions where FanDuel offers legal sports betting.

Washington team total Over 24.5 points (-105 via ESPN BET) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

While Michigan’s pass rush is certainly impressive, I would be surprised if it has the same level of impact on Monday. The Huskies’ offensive line has undergone a significant transformation from being inconsistent earlier in the year to potentially being the best in the nation as they enter the postseason. Last week, the Huskies did not allow a single sack against Texas’ top-tier defensive line, further showcasing their strength and ability to protect their quarterback.

I have serious doubts about Washington’s ability to contain Blake Corum, so I am only recommending a straight bet on the Huskies with a three-star confidence level. However, when it comes to their offense, be prepared for some exciting action.

Check out additional College Football Championship expert picks from Morgan Xaviero here.

J.J. McCarthy Under 7.5 rushing attempts (-125 via ESPN BET) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

After recovering from his injury during the month off, McCarthy did not rely heavily on his legs in the CFP semifinals against Alabama. He only rushed three times for 25 yards, but managed to make a significant gain on a well-executed designed run in the first half.

McCarthy’s rushing yardage prop remains in the 20s, so we recommend betting against his volume with ESPN BET. McCarthy has only had eight or more rushing attempts in two games this season, averaging 4.2 rushes per game. In his last four games, McCarthy has had six or fewer rushing attempts leading up to Monday’s game.

Since we are predicting McCarthy to have just under 20 rushing yards, there is potential value in betting on Under 25.5 rushing yards at FanDuel. This is especially true considering other sports betting apps have lowered the mark to 20.5. Therefore, this is the superior wager for the same prediction, making it a five-star play.

Scott Justin made player props for J.J. McCarthy.

DraftKings promo for Washington vs. Michigan

You can receive a free mystery boost from DraftKings for any bet placed on the college football championship. Increase your bet by 10%, 25%, 50%, or 100%!

This offer is valid in all legal sports betting areas where FanDuel operates, except for Ontario.

Make sure to opt-in for minimum odds of -500 and a maximum bet of $10.

Michael Penix Jr. Under 297.5 passing yards (-115 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This statement is evidence that the Heisman runner-up, Penix, cannot be stopped, only contained.

Despite facing the toughest test of his career in Monday’s national championship game, Penix’s passing yardage prop is approaching 300 yards. The Wolverines have been dominant on defense, allowing only 150 passing yards per game and ranking second in the nation in passing defense success rate.

I believe Penix will have success passing the ball between the 20-yard lines, but Michigan’s strategy of controlling the clock with a ball-control offense will likely prevent the Washington QB from surpassing the 300-yard mark.

Our projection for Penix is around 270 passing yards, with most top sportsbooks also predicting a total below 290 passing yards. Take advantage of this deal at BetMGM before it’s gone.

Scott Justin created player props for Michael Penix Jr.

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Written By:
Evans Santiago
Esten is the Senior Publishing Editor for UnderscoregReview.com. He has been in the sports betting industry since the legalization of mobile sports betting in New Jersey, and with UnderscoregReview prior to the launch of sports betting in Ontario. Esten’s previous stops include the USA TODAY network, including GolfWeek. He previously worked in the fantasy sports industry, with FNTSY Sports Network, theScore, and USA TODAY. Esten graduated from the College of Sports Media with a diploma in Radio and Television Sports Broadcasting after acquiring a degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Guelph. He has appeared on FNTSY Sports Network, VSiN, and VSiN’s Long Shots podcast, where he correctly called Will Zalatoris as the winner of the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship. Esten is a big proponent of the entertainment side of sports betting and loves to dip his toes into the novelty and alt-markets while chasing long shots with reduced wagers on golf outrights and futures markets. He’s also been known to sprinkle some lunch money on touchdown-scorer parlays with two notable hits still funding his bankroll. Esten looks at sports betting much like golf and advises beginner bettors to compete against themselves rather than being concerned with what others may or may not be doing based on social media claims.