The Prediction

 Faithful Blobophiles know this is a certified history nerd zone, and has been from way back. It's not my fault. My dad raised me right, or something.

Anyway, the history nerd in me doesn't necessarily want to happen what I think is going to happen in Houston tonight, but if it does, history will prevail. That's because I'm gonna go out on a limb here and predict Michigan's defense will beat Michael Penix Jr.'s offense in the College Football Playoff title game.

And if that happens?

If that happens, it will be the first time in history a coach who was suspended half the season for multiple shenanigans will raise the Big Crystal Football.

I'm talking of course about Jim Harbaugh, liar and rules flouter, who's put together a team that didn't require any lying or rules flouting to get where it is. The lying and rules flouting were just for funsies, apparently.

If Harbaugh's Michigan Wolverines win, however, it will say nothing good about college football in the year of our Lord 2023, except that cheaters do indeed sometimes prosper. The Michigan team will have earned its title, but propriety will take the L.

That has a lot of people rooting hard for Penix and Washington, and, listen, it's not like it couldn't happen. If Penix hasn't faced a defense like Michigan's, it's equally true Michigan hasn't faced anyone like Penix. Not even remotely.

Also, Washington's defense is sneaky stout, and it's facing a team that's not quite one-dimensional but lives just down the street from it. No one yet has been able to stop the Wolverines' mashing run game, but if the Huskies can slow it down a bit, then it becomes Penix vs. J.J. McCarthy. And we all know who wins that.

So ... don't be surprised if Washington, chronically undervalued all season, pulls off the upset. But the Blob still leans toward the cheaters prospering.

Call it Michigan 31, Washington 29. Something like that.