National Title Preview: What I'm Watching Monday Night (Plus NFL Week 18 Pickapalooza)

The Big Ten Conference has to feel great that this year's national title is a rematch next year in a conference game. After having Alabama and Georgia face off as conference foes twice in the CFP, everyone else feels is feeling some type of way.

Here is what I will be watching on Monday night and what my final prediction is.

1. Will Johnson vs Rome Odunze

Michigan built their team to beat Ohio State's offense, a downfield passing game with NFL wide receivers. Washington is the perfect version of that. In order to stop the pass, you need stud corners, and if you want to know anything about Will Johnson just look at the number he wears. Charles Woodson wore #2 to a Heisman, you do not wear that unless you want those expectations. He mirrored Marvin Harrison Jr. until he got injured in The Game this year, and they had some great battles. Johnson is long and lanky and loves to attack on inside breaking routes, much like that pick.

Rome Odunze is my favorite receiver to watch in college football. He feels like the perfect blend of what DeAndre Hopkins was at Clemson and what CeeDee Lamb was at Oklahoma. He wins as the outside receiver on balls that for normal receivers are 50/50 but for him and DHop are 70/30:

And he wins as a big and physical slot receiver on deep crossers like Lamb:

Obviously he has to play outside some for Washington to be at their best, but how often will he venture into the slot, and will Johnson follow him there? The Huskies have three NFL receivers, but one of them is the security blanket for their quarterback. He has to get open.

2. Will Donovan Edwards Be Unlocked?

Last year, Edwards took over after Blake Corum's injury, carrying the offense with 216 yards versus Ohio State, 185 versus Purdue, and 116 versus TCU. This season has been a disappointment, culminating in Pasadena where he had 4 carries for only 11 yards and no receptions. Will Edwards continue to be pushed to the side during this run? Washington runs quite a bit of man, so I could see him motioning out wide and running a go route if a linebacker follows him outside, much like this play against Purdue this year:

Something is off with his running game this year but he may be the best receiving back in college football. I think he will get a chance to show us that on Monday night.

3. Washington's Offensive Line vs Pressure

A lot was made about Texas' front seven before the Sugar Bowl and Washington gave up zero sacks. That is a heck of a way to shut everyone up. Michigan got after Alabama with a ton of pressure, including six sacks, five in the first half. Michael Penix Jr. is a way better processor than Jalen Milroe, and he is the best pocket passer in college football. If Michigan never gets home, it is over.

Jesse Minter, Michigan's defensive coordinator, is the former DC for the Baltimore Ravens. He used Patrick Queen to get home on blitzes from the middle linebacker spot and does the same with Michigan's two inside linebackers. On this play, he uses a stunt from Kris Jenkins Jr. to free up Colston for a sack:

Let's see who wins.

4. Time Management

Another way that the Huskies are unlike any team in college football is how they can shift gears on offense, similar to the 2010's Patriots in my mind. They can go tempo, an all-out assault downfield (they averaged 11 yards per attempt against Texas). They can also take the air out of the ball, snapping it with under 10 seconds on the play clock and chewing up yards on the ground with the underrated Dillon Johnson, who is expected to play on Monday. If they get a lead, it is hard to catch up.

Michigan can also pound the rock with the best of them. Blake Corum has no problem taking a ton of carries and they have two capable backups should he need a spell. The game will not be as fast as the Rose Bowl (both teams burned the clock) but the second half could go by quickly if a team sits on a lead. Stay close, or else the oxygen will get sucked out.

5. The Quarterbacks

I love these two signal callers. Both are true leaders and you can see the confidence they instill in their teams. Penix Jr. is on a historic run at Washington after an up-and-down run with the Hoosiers. His maturity, his arm talent, and his presence makes the Huskies who they are. JJ can be off at times but has the ability to let it rip, is the leader of his team, and has the ability to take off and make big time plays with his feet. I predict true greatness on the field on Monday night. Penix Jr. will have more yards and touchdowns, but the impact from both will be outsized.

Predictions

First Pick: u55.5 (-110)

Second Pick: Washington +4.5 (-110)

Final Score: Michigan 27 - Washington 24

NFL Picks

If you followed along this year, I won you some money on college football picks. However, I fell off the wagon in NFL. Spread myself too thin I guess. We are at a positive margin, so I could take the week off and declare victory. But Ted Williams had a chance to sit out the final day of the 1941 season to secure his .400 average and he chose to play the double header versus the A's. He went 6-for-8 and finished at .406. Can I be like the Splendid Splinter? I'm doing a pick for each of the Week 18 games below rather than a preview, feel free to fade.

Steelers at Ravens: Ravens +4 (-110)

Texans at Colts: u47.5 (-110)

Browns at Bengals: u37.5 (-110)

Vikings at Lions: Vikings ML (+154)

Jaguars at Titans: Titans +5.5 (-110)

Jets at Patriots: Patriots -1.5 (-112)

Falcons at Saints: Falcons ML (+142)

Buccaneers at Panthers: Buccaneers -4.5 (-110)

Bears at Packers: Packers -3 (-110)

Broncos at Raiders: u38 (-110)

Eagles at Giants: o42 (-110)

Seahawks at Cardinals: Cardinals ML (+114)

Chiefs at Chargers: u35 (-110)

Rams at 49ers: Rams +4 (-110)

Cowboys at Commanders: Commanders ML (+525)

Bills at Dolphins: Bills -3 (+110)

Season Totals

College Football Picks: 48-44-3 (+7.30 units)

NFL Picks: 32-36-5 (-6.77 units)

Overall: 80-80-8 (+0.53 units)