This should be electric tonight at NRG Stadium in Houston with the 14-0, number 1 ranked Michigan Wolverines squaring off with the Number 2 ranked and 14-0 Washington Huskies at 6:30 PM Central on ESPN.

Michigan is one of the most controversial teams in recent memory led by their controversial coach. But their stellar performances this season, including their 27-20 victory over Alabama in overtime last Monday, have proven this team is for real.

While Michigan will try to bury you with physicality, the Washington Huskies like to electrify you. The Huskies and their dynamic offense defeated the No.3 Texas Longhorns in the Sugar Bowl semifinal game last Monday Night, 37-31. Another upset for this constantly underrated, undervalued team.

I’m looking for a classic tonight. Here is a look at the teams, the game and a prediction.

Record 2023 Season

Straight Up: Bowls 8-7, Overall, 202-54, 79% .

ATS: Bowls: 9-6. Overall, 122-128, 49%

Inside the Numbers

Michigan

Defeated No. 10 (at the time) Penn State on the road on Saturday, November 11th, 24-15. Defeated then No.2 Ohio State 30-24 at the Big House on November 25th. And then, last week, the Wolverines defeated the Crimson Tide in overtime at the Rose Bowl in the first semifinal game, 27-20.

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy has completed 230-of-314, 73% for 2,851 yards, 22 TDs against 4 ints. His clutch completion to superb running back Blake Corumon on 4th and 2 with Michigan trailing the Crimson Tide, 20-13, and 3:19 left in the game at the Alabama 40 yard line, was quite possibly the play of the season. McCarthy then hooked up with electric receiver Roman Wilson for 29. McCarthy and Wilson tied the game, along with the extra point, which was an issue for the Wolverines, on a 4 yard TD toss. He steps up when his team needs him the most.

Running back Blake Corum is also a spectacular player and the guy who makes the Wolverines go. Corum caught a TD pass versus the Crimson Tide last Monday and took it in from 17 yards in a highly physical run in the first overtime that was the game winning score for the Wolverines as they stopped Bama on its ensuing possession. On fourth and goal at the Michigan 2, Bama OC Tommy Rees called for a run/pass option. But the snap was so bad, that all Jalen Milroe could do was pick it up off the ground to his right and try to run it in. Michigan stopped him and moved on to tonight. Corum rushed for 1,111 yards and 26 TDs this season.

The key wide receivers are solid. Wilson has posted 45 receptions on the season with 12 TDs. He was a stud against the Crimson Tide. His 29 yard reception from McCarthy was terrific as he leapt between two Crimson Tide defenders, pulled down the ball, and ran it to the Bama 4 yard line. From there he took it in from 4 yards off a pass from McCarthy. Cornelius Johnson has 44 receptions for 579 yards but only 1 receiving TD.

The Michigan defense is a machine. It has the lowest scoring defense in the country allowing only 9.8 per game. That’s serious old school. They are a force that the Huskies offense will have to reckon with.

Washington

For the Huskies, their great quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., was prolific this season and should have won the Heisman in my opinion. But his team is playing for it all, and LSU’s Jayden Daniels is getting ready for the NFL draft. I’d rather be Penix.

Penix completed 336-of- 504 passes, 67%, for 4,648 yards 35 TDs against 9 ints. When he gets time, which is most all of the time as the offensive line won the Joe Moore Award for the most outstanding offensive line in the country, he picks teams apart. He’s a pretty decent runner if coach Kalen DeBoar and OC Ryan Grubb want to mix it up a little. His running back, Dillon Johnson, from Mississippi State and Greenville, Mississippi (I’ve got a good friend from there, who I went duck hunting with a while back on the Mississippi Flyway where we hit our limit at 7 AM) has rushed for 1,162 yards and 16 TDs. He’s a little banged up heading into tonight, but said he’s ready to “rock’n roll.”

Then the o line is superb and the guys in the perimeter are the best in the country. The great Rome Oduze has caught 87 passes for 1,553 yards and 13 TDs. Ja’lynn Polk has added 65 receptions for 1,122 yards and 9 TDs. Jack Westover has 41 for 391 and 4 TDs, and Jalen McMillan has 39 for 526 and 4 TDs.

Their defense may not be as stellar as Michigan’s, but they’re physical and scrappy.

So it’ll be Michigan’s power versus Washington’s skill and speed. However, both teams can do both in reality.

Coaches

James Joseph Harbaugh

60 years old. Born in Toledo Ohio, December 23rd, 1963.

College, 143-52 (73%). National Football League, 49-22-1 (68%)

Bowls: 4-7; 1-2 CFP: 5-3 NFL Playoffs. Lost to his brother John and the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl 47 in the 2011 season. Jim was coaching the 49ers. Both of those teams have a good shot to reach this year’s Super Bowl 58 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on February 11th at 5:30 PM CT on CBS. John Harbaugh is still excelling at Baltimore and Lamar Jackson is the most elite player in the NFL right now.

James still shows a lot of interest in the NFL. With openings at the LA Chargers, the Washington Commanders, the Carolina Panthers and the Las Vegas Raiders, he’s highly sought after by NFL teams themselves. Harbaugh hired agent Don Yee on New Year’s Eve. Yee has represented Tom Brady and Sean Payton, so that’s interesting. Harbaugh is a terrific motivator, recruiter and a pretty good in game coach. He made some good decisions against the Crimson Tide, especially his 4th and 2 call late in the game with his team down 20-13 that worked.

Kalen Douglas DeBoer

49 years old. Born in Milbank, South Dakota on October 24th, 1974.

Record in College: 104-11 (90%, are you kiddin me? That’s beyond elite).

Bowls: 2-0. 1-0 in CFP with last Monday’s victory over Texas, which his team also defeated in last year’s Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antone in his first season in Seattle. He won 3 NAIA National Championships as head coach at Sioux Falls (South Dakota)from 2005-2009. He was 12-6 at Fresno State, going 9-3 in 2021 and is 25-2 at Washington.

Phenomenal offensive mind and spectacular person. He’s so likable that you want him to excel.

Game Details

No.1 Michigan (14-0) vs. No.2 Washington (14-0)

NRG Stadium, Houston, 72,220

6:30 PM CT

E-S-P-N

Fowler, Herbstreit, Holly, Molly

Suds r Us, 8182 Highway 31 South if you’re interested: Marcus “Tiger” Woods, ACC

Wolverines by 5 1/2

Final Analysis and Decision

The line has gone up from 4 1/2 this morning to 5 1/2. I’m not sure what the gamblers are thinking because the Huskies have been doubted all season, and they have come through every time. They were a 9 1/2 point underdog to Oregon in the PAC-12 Championship Game and won; they were a 4 1/2 point underdog to Texas and defeated the Longhorns in the Sugar Bowl. To me, Kalen DeBoar is a better “college” football coach than Jim Harbaugh. I picked against them versus Oregon and against Texas. I’m not going to do it again. Give me DeBoar and the Huskies.

Washington 31, Michigan 28

Big Luke Combs

Here’s an awesome music vid from Luke. When he’s not missing a meal, Luke is a stellar country singer. Love his stuff.