The CFP is set with the top four teams but who will come out on top and win the national championship?
The four teams are locked into the college football playoff but it didn’t come without a lot of controversy. Alabama and Texas snuck into the playoff with one loss, but undefeated and ACC Champion Florida State was left out.
It was the first time a Power Five undefeated team was left out, but Alabama beat No. 1 Georgia in the SEC Championship and in the eyes of the committee that was enough.
The semifinals are now set for New Year’s Day with the championship game coming live from Houston, TX on Jan. 8. Before we get to those games in just over three weeks, we take a stab at predicting what will happen in those games.
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Alabama vs Michigan – Rose Bowl
There was a huge argument on if Alabama should even be in the playoff, but they did beat the top-ranked Bulldogs and finished the year as SEC Champs. They still could have beat Georgia, but they needed a miracle the week before just to beat rival Auburn.
Jalen Milroe has been great at quarterback for the Crimson Tide after getting benched during the USF game. He finished the year with 2,718 yards through the air for 23 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also went over 100 yards twice on the ground.
The Crimson Tide also have a top-10 defense and it was on full display as they shut down the Bulldogs in the SEC Championship game and will be looking to do the same against the Wolverines.
The Wolverines will be no stranger to facing a top defense as they have played three of the top five defense in the last four games. In yards per game average, Penn State is No. 1, Ohio State is No. 3 and Iowa is No. 5. The Wolverines were No. 2 themselves while Alabama is at No. 18.
Michigan’s offense didn’t look awesome against those teams, but they did score at least 24 points in each game and against Penn State they didn’t throw a pass in the second half. They aren’t an explosive offense, but they can grind out drives and have been great in the red zone.
The Michigan defense has been great this year and has given up over 20 points just twice this year and held nine opponents to 10 or fewer. They will have their hands full with Milroe, but they have shown they can stop any team this year.
Alabama has the recent history and the name on their chest, but Michigan has been building for this game for the last three years. The Wolverines finally break through and get their first playoff win and move on to the final.
Michigan 24 Alabama 20
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Texas vs Washington – Sugar Bowl
Texas snuck into the playoff thanks to their win over Alabama at the beginning of the year. It also proved its point in the Big 12 title game as it routed Oklahoma State 49-21. Quinn Ewers had his best game of the year as he threw for 452 yards and four touchdowns in the win.
The offense is peaking at the right time after struggling a bit during a three game stretch in which they won by three, three and 10 against Kansas State, TCU and Iowa State. The Longhorns had their share of close calls, but when they are playing at their best they have looked like one of the top teams in the country.
Washington also has had its close calls this year, but the Huskies showed up when it mattered and always found a way to win.
They ware led by Heisman finalist Michael Penix Jr. who threw for 4,218 yards and 33 touchdowns this year. The ground game was solid also as Dillon Johnson rushed for 1,113 yards and averaged 5.5 yards a carry.
The defense has been suspect for the Huskies at times this year as they have given up 30 or more points five times this year and 20 or more in all but four games. They have stepped up when needed, though, and it helped them beat Oregon twice to win the Pac-12 title.
Texas offense has been good this year and gives them an edge over Washington, but the Huskies have found ways to win every game. We think they do it again and set up a final with the Wolverines.
Washington 38 Texas 35
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Washington vs Michigan – CFP Final
The next time these two teams will meet will be in a Big Ten conference game, but this will have more riding on it. The Wolverines and Huskies will both be gong for their first CFP title and first national championship since the 90s. The Huskies last won a title in 1991, while Wolverines last claimed a championship in 1997.
These two teams have played 13 times with Michigan winning the last two and eight of the meetings. The last time they met was in 2021 with the Wolverines winning 31-10 in Ann Arbor.
The teams look much different since that game as Penix Jr. was at Indiana and JJ McCarthy was on the bench.
The Huskies have a great offense, but Michigan would be the best defense they have faced all season long. We know Washington can score, but can they against Michigan?
The Wolverines have shown they can beat very good defenses and the Huskies are not nearly on the same level as some of the teams in the Big Ten.
We think it makes a difference and the Wolverines win the National Title for the first time in 26 years.
Michigan 38 Washington 28
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