Opening Michigan vs Washington Odds for CFP National Championship Game
- Michigan faces Washington in the CFP National Championship Game
- The early betting line prices the Wolverines as 4.5-point favorites in Houston
- Read below for Michigan vs Washington opening odds and analysis for the CFP National Championship game
The opening Michigan vs odds were released late Monday night after the CFP National Championship matchup was finalized in the College Football Playoff Bracket. The early Michigan vs Washington betting line lists the Wolverines as 4.5-point favorites at NGR Stadium on January 8th in Houston.
This will be the 13 all-time matchup between Michigan and Washington, with the Wolverines winning the most recent battle 31-10 in 2021. Both teams will be playing in the college football championship for the first time in the CFP era (2014-present).
Let’s take a look at the Michigan vs Washington odds for the National Championship and determine how the line might move.
Michigan vs Washington Odds – CFP National Championship
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| #2 Washington | +4.5 (-110) | +154 | O 55.5 (-110) |
| #1 Michigan | -4.5 (-110) | -185 | U 55.5 (-110) |
In the opening Washington vs Michigan odds for the CFP National Championship, the Wolverines are 4.5-point spread favorites and -185 favorites on the moneyline. The over/under is offered at 55.5 points.
Michigan’s -185 moneyline prices imply oddsmakers believe there is a 65% chance the Wolverines will win the CFP National Championship game.
Kickoff for the CFP National Championship Game is 7:30 PM ET on January 8th at NRG Stadium. ESPN will carry the broadcast from Houston.
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Michigan Dethrones Alabama
In their third straight CFP Semifinal appearance, the Wolverines finally got their first CFP victory. The top-seeded Michigan Wolverines defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide by a 27-20 score in the Rose Bowl, advancing to their first College Football Playoff (CFP) championship game.
The match was sealed for Michigan when Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe was stopped on a fourth-down sneak attempt. Michigan’s defense, instrumental throughout the game, proved pivotal in this defining moment.
JALEN MILROE IS STOPPED ON 4TH DOWN😱
THE WOLVERINES ARE HEADED TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 🏆 #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/X2x3tPzwqr
— ESPN (@espn) January 2, 2024
While the defense came up with huge stops, Michigan got clutch performances from its two offensive stars. Quarterback JJ McCarthy passed for 221 yards and three touchdowns, while running back Blake Corum rushed for 83 yards and had two total touchdowns.
This victory is particularly significant for Harbaugh, who returned to his alma mater in 2015 with high aspirations. After a challenging start and some setbacks, Michigan has emerged as an elite force since 2021, winning three consecutive conference titles and making three Playoff appearances.
Despite some potential game-changing errors in the Rose Bowl, Michigan’s overall dominance and resilience were evident throughout the game. Oddsmakers are liking the Wolverines’ chances of getting the job done in Houston.
Washington Dominates Texas
Washington punched its ticket to the CFP National Championship with a 37-31 victory over Texas in the Sugar Bowl on Monday night. Huskies QB Michael Penix Jr. continued his impressive play, throwing for 430 yards and two TDs. He completed passes to seven different players.
Michael Penix Jr my goodness
— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 2, 2024
While Washington’s defense, particularly their secondary, has struggled this season, they did a great job shutting down Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns’ passing attack. Ewers and his talented receivers were held to only 318 yards and one TD through the air by the UW defense.
Washington has been underestimated by oddsmakers all year, including being set as nearly double-digit underdogs against Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship. Vegas then set Kalen DeBoer’s team as 4-point underdogs against the Longhorns despite Washington being the higher seed.
Dillon Johnson Injury Update
Something important to note before betting on the CFP National Championship is that the Huskies’ leading running back Dillon Johnson suffered an injury toward the end of the Sugar Bowl. He required assistance being helped off the field, and his status for Monday could have an impact on the betting line.
Dillon Johnson was visibly in pain after running the ball in the final seconds for Washington pic.twitter.com/pInuT7teYy
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 2, 2024
Johnson has been an absolute beast for the Huskies this season, rushing for 1,113 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was fairly bottled up by Texas (21 carries, 49 yards), but he still found paydirt twice. Johnson has shown against tough competition such as Utah and Oregon that he can be a difference maker.
Projected Michigan vs Washington Line Movement
Michigan didn’t get much public betting love in the Rose Bowl, as bettors were firmly backing the Crimson Tide as moneyline underdogs. Sharp money did come in on the Wolverines leading up to kickoff, however, causing the line to shift from -2.0 to -2.5 at certain sportsbooks.
Washington was the public ATS play in the Sugar Bowl, as bettors are latching on to the Huskies’ underdog story. This means we expect both teams to receive a decent amount of money leading up to Monday’s kickoff.
Will the Michigan vs Washington betting line shift dramatically, though? We do expect to see some line movement toward Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines, as the initial look-ahead line had Michigan favored by seven points. Most power rankings have these two teams separated by over a touchdown on a neutral field.
UPDATE: We’ve released our official Michigan vs Washington prediction.
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Brady is the lead NHL and College Football editor at Sports Betting Dime, where he specializes in betting odds and data-driven analysis. Brady has over 10 years experience working in sports media, with work published by outlets such as ESPN, CBS Sports, Yahoo! Sports and Fox Sports.
