No. 1 Michigan betting favorite to win CFP title

• David Purdum, ESPN

  • Staff WriterJan 2, 2024, 01:24 AM ET
  • Close Joined ESPN in 2014 Journalist covering gambling industry because 2008

Top-ranked Michigan has been installed as the wagering preferred over Washington in a battle of unbeatens in the College Football Playoff national championship game.The Wolverines opened as 5-point favorites at sportsbook ESPN BET with the over/under total at 55.5. The line on the title game at DraftKings opened at Michigan -4.5, while other U.S. sportsbooks made the Wolverines 3.5-point favorites over the Huskies.Editor’s Picks 1 Associated The Wolverines(14-0)outlived Alabama 27-20 in an overtime thriller in the Rose Bowl to

advance to their first CFP title game. The Huskies(14-0 )held on to distress Texas 37-31 in the Sugar Bowl and reach next week’s championship game, which will be the very first without an SEC team since 2014. The Alabama-Michigan Rose Bowl drew in heavy wagering action, the bulk of it on the underdog Crimson Tide at the majority of sportsbooks. Entering the weekend, Alabama had attracted nearly 3 times as much cash from wagerers compared to Michigan. However larger bets from expert gamblers appeared on the Wolverines on Monday, causing the line to tick up to Michigan -2.5 at some sportsbooks.Ed Salmons, a veteran Las Vegas bookie with the SuperBook, told ESPN that while the betting public was siding with Alabama, the “larger cash “was on Michigan. ESPN BET likewise reported

huge bets on the Wolverines, including a$1.35 million money-line bet on Michigan( -130) to win the game outright.The Wolverines scored on their first belongings in overtime and stopped Alabama on fourth and objective to secure an area Monday’s championship game in Houston.