SuperBook Sports previews the College Football Playoffs

Rose Bowl: (4) Alabama vs. (1) Michigan

It’s been a tumultuous year for Michigan, as head coach Jim Harbaugh has served not one, but two suspensions. The first came in the form of a three-game ban as the school self-imposed a penalty around recruiting violations. The second came after the Big Ten laid down the law for violating the league’s sportsmanship policy.

A sign-stealing scandal rocked the Wolverines and college football this season, but fear not. Led by stud QB J.J. McCarthy and running back Blake Corum, Michigan still managed to go 13-0 and earn the No. 1 seed in the playoff. They took down No. 10 Penn State along the way by a score of 24-15, archrival and No. 2 Ohio State by a score of 30-24 and Iowa 26-0 in the Big Ten Championship. They’re one of just two undefeated teams fighting for the ultimate prize.

Alabama had a wild road to get to this point, including beating Auburn on a fourth-down miracle in the regular season finale and stunning Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. Both those were by final scores of 27-24. It’s safe to say the Crimson Tide isn’t battle tested.

Things looked bleak after a 34-24 home loss to Texas on Sept. 9, but Bama ran the table from that point on and head coach Nick Saban might have done his most masterful coaching job yet. They have ranked wins over Ole Miss, Tennessee, LSU and Georgia, and survived another SEC gauntlet to get to this point and finish the season 12-1.

It might have been controversial they made the playoff over Florida State, but the committee needed to pick the best four teams in the country. And Alabama is certainly one of them.

The playoff hasn’t been kind to Michigan and Harbaugh the last two seasons, as they lost to Georgia by a score of 34-11 in the 2022 Orange Bowl and were stunned by TCU, 51-45, in the 2023 Fiesta Bowl. They desperately need to win at least a semifinal game, so there’s a ton of pressure on the Wolverines.

Meanwhile, Saban has won the playoff three times, capturing the National Championship trophy in 2016, 2018 and 2021. He’s also made the final a ridiculous six times in the nine years it’s been played. He knows how to get past this round.

Bud Parmalee’s Pick: Alabama ML (+110)

All you have to do is Google the video of Michigan seeing that Alabama would be their opponent for a hint of how this one will go. The news clearly made the Wolverines uncomfortable. No one wants to see a Saban-led team this time of year, and even kids that were in middle school when this thing started know it’s generally a losing proposition. The Crimson Tide have all the momentum in the world and Michigan has survived throughout the year, playing three single-digit games to close their regular season. Yes, Harbaugh wasn’t on the sideline, but a team like Maryland only lost 31-24. Their road ends too early once again, as Alabama pulls the minor upset by a final score of 24-20.

Sugar Bowl: (3) Texas vs. (2) Washington

This is an intriguing battle between two teams that have never won a game in the College Football Playoff. Texas, a program with a proud history, has never made the tournament. Washington was the No. 4 seed back in 2017, but bowed out against Alabama in the Peach Bowl semifinals and scored just seven points.

Someone’s got to get their first playoff win. The reward will be a spot in the National Championship Game.

For the Huskies, they had to beat Oregon not once but twice to make it this far. They handled the No. 8 Ducks at home by a score of 36-33 in October then took down No. 5 Oregon in a thrilling Pac-12 Championship Game by a score of 34-31. Throw in close ranked wins over No. 20 USC, No. 18 Utah and No. 11 Oregon State and these guys are battle tested.

In fact, Washington’s last nine (!) games have all been won by 10 points or fewer, with eight of the nine being by single-digits. They play close games, but they always win them, at least this season.

For Texas, it’s been a magical ride. The fanbase had high expectations, but they rose through the roof when they went into Tuscaloosa on Sept. 9 and beat Alabama in a true road game, 34-24. QB Quinn Ewers threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns that night, putting all the Arch Manning chatter to rest for the year. He followed that up with 300-yard games against Kansas, Oklahoma, TCU and Oklahoma State in a 49-21 Big 12 Championship beatdown.

The only Longhorns blemish came at the hands of the hated rival Sooners, a disappointing 34-30 defeat in the Red River Rivalry. But they rebounded quite nicely, won every game the rest of the season and got the help they needed to make the dance. Their last two victories were by a combined 78 points, so they ride plenty of momentum entering the Sugar Bowl. 

For as good as Ewers has been this season, Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. is the best player in this game. The Heisman Trophy finalist threw for a ridiculous 4,218 yards and 33 touchdowns to go along with just nine interceptions. Penix also scored three more TDs on the ground.

He loves getting the football to Rome Odunze, a stud wideout who caught 81 passes for nearly 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns. Ja’Lynn Polk also caught an even 1,000 yards through the air and scored eight times himself. The Longhorns will have their hands full trying to contain this offense. Add in Dillon Johnson going for more than 1,100 yards on the ground and 14 touchdowns, and it’s a well-balanced attack that should be able to put up plenty of points. This could turn into a shootout.

Bud Parmalee’s Pick: Washington ML +165

It seems like every time the Huskies played a tough opponent, that was going to be the week they lost. Heck, they were significant underdogs in the Pac-12 title game, despite already beating Oregon once. They proved the doubters wrong that night, just like they had done all season. This line might be inflated because Vegas knows they’ll get more action on a traditional powerhouse like Texas. And while the Longhorns had a special year, they’re in the playoff because of their victory over Alabama. It’s an amazing win, but also one that came four months ago over a very different Crimson Tide team that was trying to find its identity. Don’t be fooled by Washington being an underdog in a game that looks like a coin flip. Take the moneyline juice and cash your ticket when the Huskies win a thriller, 35-34.