2022 CFP Title Odds: Michigan Vaults to 2nd Behind Georgia After Ohio State Upset

Joseph Zucker @@JosephZuckerFeatured Columnist IVNovember 26, 2022

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 26: Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) on the field with Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh prior to the college football game between the Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes on November 26, 2022, at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Michigan took a big step toward clinching a second straight College Football Playoff berth with a 45-23 win over Ohio State on Saturday.

At +250 (bet $100 to win $250), the Wolverines are now the second betting favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook to win the national championship behind Georgia. The Buckeyes, on the other hand, are tied for the fifth-best odds with Alabama.

br_betting @br_betting
Bama with the 5th highest College Football Playoff odds <a href="https://twitter.com/DKSportsbook?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DKSportsbook</a> 👀👀 <a href="https://t.co/TInOjmrUiI">pic.twitter.com/TInOjmrUiI</a>

The newest installment in Michigan and Ohio State's legendary rivalry was likely a CFP eliminator. The Buckeyes could still reach the semifinals but need some combination of TCU, USC and perhaps even LSU to lose in Week 13.

Stewart Mandel @slmandel
Three playoff spots: Georgia Michigan TCU (which I now think is in even if it loses in Big 12 title game, as long as it's close) If USC loses and Georgia beats LSU ... Who the heck is the fourth team?

From the other side, this result cemented why the Wolverines are not only the biggest threat to Georgia, but also perhaps good enough to dethrone the reigning national champions.

The quarterback combination of J.J. McCarthy and Cade McNamara clearly wasn't good enough in last year's Orange Bowl. The pair combined to finish 18-of-36 for 237 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Now that he had a full season as the backup under his belt, the hope was that McCarthy could raise the offense's ceiling as the starter ahead of McNamara. Saturday represented those hopes becoming a reality.

✨ Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content

The sophomore signal-caller threw for 263 yards and three touchdowns against Ohio State, beating the Buckeyes deep on multiple occasions.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
CORNELIUS JOHNSON CANNOT BE STOPPED 💨 (via <a href="https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CFBONFOX</a>)<a href="https://t.co/wVgrqI86Dp">pic.twitter.com/wVgrqI86Dp</a>

Especially if Blake Corum can shake off his knee injury once bowl season is around, Michigan will have an offensive balance it lacked in 2021.

Were the Wolverines and Bulldogs to meet for a second year in a row, the latter would almost certainly be the favorites. But Jim Harbaugh's squad has made positive strides in 2022 and at the very least made a convincing case to be the No. 2 playoff seed.