Seconds after Quinn Ewers’ fourth-down pass to Adonai Mitchell fell incomplete to give Washington a win in the Sugar Bowl, the Huskies opened as a 4.5-point underdog against Michigan in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
If that number doesn’t increase at BetMGM before kickoff on Monday night in Houston, it will be the fourth-smallest championship spread of the CFP era:
2022: Georgia -3 vs. Alabama
2018: Alabama -3.5 vs. Georgia
2020: LSU -4 vs. Clemson
2019: Alabama -5 vs. Clemson
2015: Oregon -5.5 vs. Ohio State
2016: Alabama -6 vs. Clemson
2017: Alabama -6.5 vs. Clemson
2021: Alabama -9.5 vs. Ohio State
2023: Georgia -13.5 vs. TCU
The favorite has covered in four straight games after failing to cover in the first five games. And in three of the four ATS wins, the cover margin has been at least 12 points.
Only two teams have covered the spread while failing to win the game: Clemson (+6) lost to Alabama, 45-40, in 2016, and Georgia (+3.5) lost to Alabama, 26-23, in 2018.
In the other seven games, the winner has covered the spread by at least 10 points, including both times the underdog won straight up: Clemson (+5) smashed Alabama, 44-16, in 2019, and Ohio State (+5.5) smashed Oregon, 42-20, in 2015.
Visit the BetMGM online sportsbook for more national championship betting, including the total, moneylines, prop bets, and parlays. And for BetMGM customers in Michigan, check out updated Michigan sportsbook promos.