CFP National Championship 2024: Location, Odds and Guide for Washington vs. Michigan

College football will crown a national champion on Monday in Houston.

The top-ranked Michigan Wolverines and second-seeded Washington Huskies will square off in a matchup we will see more often moving forward.

Washington is attempting to win a title as a member of the Pac-12 for the final time before it joins the Big Ten next season.

Michigan, who has been the king of the Big Ten for the last three seasons, is looking to finish off a three-year swing in which it has been one game away from the CFB Playoff National Championship twice.

The Wolverines will try to win Monday's contest in the same way it has come out on top in every game this season.

Michigan will attempt to control the line of scrimmage and make life difficult for Michael Penix Jr. and the Washington offense.

Penix's success in the pocket in the Sugar Bowl sets up a fascinating title matchup because he should be more efficient against Michigan than Alabama's Jalen Milroe.

Game Odds

Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Washington wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk (2) brings the ball upfield after a reception during the Allstate Sugar Bowl playoff game between the Texas Longhorns and the Washington Huskies on Monday, January 1, 2024 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Spread: Michigan (-4.5)

Over/Under: 56.5

Money Line: Michigan (-192; bet $192 to win $100); Washington (+160; bet $100 to win $160)

Michigan Will Try to Control Game at Line of Scrimmage

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Michigan Wolverines wide receiver Semaj Morgan (82) catches the ball for a gain during the Alabama Crimson Tide game versus the Michigan Wolverines CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game on January, 1, 2024, at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Michigan's path to success is not a secret to anyone.

Jim Harbaugh's team wants to control the line of scrimmage and eat up a ton of time on offense.

Michigan thrived at the line of scrimmage in the first half of the Rose Bowl, as Milroe could not find a rhythm in the passing game.

Washington may be better equipped to handle the pressure, and that would make the Huskies a more formidable foe than the Crimson Tide for four quarters.

Michigan's strength on the offensive interior may be more important than the play of the defensive front seven on Monday.

The Wolverines need to dictate the pace of the contest to keep the ball out of Penix's hands.

Blake Corum, Donovan Edwards and Co. need to establish a nice tempo early on so that Michigan can kill at least six or seven minutes per drive.

Michigan would love if the game is played in the 20s or lower, and if that is the case, it can run the ball with success and rely on J.J. McCarthy to make a few key throws instead of passing the ball on 30 occasions.

Washington Win Would Be Perfect Pac 12 Sendoff

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: Dillon Johnson #7 of the Washington Huskies celebrates after a touchdown during the first quarter against the Texas Longhorns during the CFP Semifinal Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on January 01, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Washington is flying the flag for west coast football.

A Pac-12 team has not won the national championship in the playoff era and the Oregon Ducks in 2014 were the only other Pac-12 final participant.

Washington can send the Pac-12 off with a national title if it follows the same strategy as it had in the Sugar Bowl.

Penix carved apart the Texas Longhorns defense for over 400 passing yards, and he worked well with a quartet of wide receivers, led by likely first-round draft pick Rome Odunze.

Michigan does not have the top-end secondary depth to deal with all four of Washington's top pass catchers.

If the Huskies score on their first drive, it could be bad news for the Michigan defense. That would mean Penix has not missed a beat from the Sugar Bowl and could throw for a higher yardage total.

Washington's pass-first offense is the perfect counter to Michigan's run-heavy unit, and at minimum, it should give us a terrific contrast of styles on Monday night.

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