IRVING, TX — With the first round of appetizer bowl games now in the books, now it is time for the main course with the College Football Playoff semifinals featuring No.1 Michigan vs. No.4 Alabama and No.2 Washington vs. No.3 Texas to get fans appetites watering.
(1) Michigan Wolverines vs. (4) Alabama Crimson Tide: Cheating? Stealing signs, advance scouting? Whatever semantics one wants to use to vilify the Maize and Blue to make you feel comfortable is one thing, but a team doesn’t need to steal signs in going 0-2 in the CFP playoffs, including losing 51-45 to TCU.
For Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, he needs this win in the worst possible way to get that that whole cheating monkey off of his back. Will he against arguably the greatest football head coach of his era?
Doubtful.
Alabama is Alabama, and Nick Saban isn’t Ryan Day, nor is the Crimson Tide psychologically soft like their rivals from Ohio State. This Alabama team just defeated the two-time defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC title game and have the quietest confidence backed by a rock-solid championship pedigreee that will make short work of the Wolverines in Pasadena.
Score: Alabama 43 Michigan 21
(3) Texas Longhorns vs. (2) Washington Huskies: If their Alamo Bowl duel was Part I, then Part II between Quinn Ewers and Michael Penix Jr. in the Sugar Bowl has all the makings of a classic.
In what was a back and forth thriller between former transfer portal QB’s via Ohio State (Ewers) and Indiana (Penix Jr.), Washington hung on for a 27-20 win, thanks to Penix Jr. passing for 287 yards and two TD’s
One year later, both teams meet up again, with the stakes much higher.
Texas and Washington both have wide-open high scoring offenses with explosive playmakers such as Huskies WR Rome Odunze (81 catches, 1,428 yards receiving, 13 TD’s averaging 17.6 ypg), a projected top ten pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft and Longhorns wideout Xavier Worthy (73 catches, 969 yards, five touchdowns and 13.3 ypg) who could prove to be deciding factors.
More than likely, this game will come down to which team can establish themselves on the ground consistently.
Sophomore Texas RB Jonathon Brooks comes into the game rushing for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 6.1 yards a carry, while junior Huskies RB has rushed for 1,113 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 5.5 yards a carry.
Whichever back can get untracked and loose first, will decide the outcome of what will be arguably the best game of the year.
Score: Washington 41 Texas 37