College football analyst Paul Finebaum is making his pick for the upcoming College Football Playoff National Championship, and he’s leaning heavily in favor of the Michigan Wolverines. After both Michigan and Washington secured dramatic wins in the semifinals, with Michigan defeating Alabama in overtime and Washington triumphing over Texas, Finebaum believes that Michigan is the clear favorite.
Speaking on ESPN’s “First Take,” Finebaum expressed his doubts about Washington’s chances of pulling off an upset. While acknowledging Washington’s impressive journey and track record, he pointed to Michigan’s dominance over Alabama in the Rose Bowl as a significant factor in his prediction.
“I do not (think Washington can pull an upset), and I’ll add that I respect what they’ve done,” said Finebaum. “But I don’t really like the matchup.”
Finebaum did acknowledge that the matchup between Washington’s offensive line and Michigan’s defensive front is a fascinating aspect to consider. He noted that, despite Michigan’s impressive performance against Alabama, Washington boasts the best offensive line in the country.
“After being at field level at the Rose Bowl yesterday and seeing how dominating Michigan can be, I think that causes problems with one caveat though: Washington has the best offensive line in the country, that’s a fascinating matchup,” Finebaum explained. “I just saw what (Michigan) did to the best coach of all time. And Kalen DeBoer’s a really good coach, but I think Michigan is a team of destiny right now.”
The championship game will ultimately reveal whether Washington can protect their quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., for another stellar performance or if Michigan’s defense will prove too formidable for the Huskies.