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- The CFP National Championship kicks off from NRG Stadium in Houston, TX on January 8 at 7:30 pm ET
- A Michigan touchdown (+135) is chalk to be the First Score method in Monday’s game
- Wolverines running back Blake Corum (+330) is favored to be the first TD scorer
The No. 1 Michigan Wolverines are a 4.5-point favorite over the No. 2 Washington Huskies in the CFP National Championship. With the spread creeping up to 56 points, oddsmakers expect plenty of fireworks in Houston on Monday night.
Below, we’ll check out the props for first score method and the player to register the first touchdown. Also, be sure to check out our 2023-24 College Football Betting Resources and get the Best College Football Bowl Odds.
First Score Method
| 1st Score method |  |  |  |
| TD - Michigan | +135 | +135 | +135 |
| TD - Washington | +185 | +185 | +185 |
| FG - Michigan | +475 | +475 | +475 |
| FG - Washington | +500 | +500 | +500 |
| Any other - Michigan | +5000 | +5000 | +5000 |
| Any other - Washington | +5000 | +5000 | +5000 |
How will the game start?
Oddsmakers have a Michigan TD (+135) and a Washington TD (+185) favored as the first score method. A Wolverines FG (+475) and a Huskies FG (+500) are next on the board with ‘Any other’ is listed at +5000. With that longshot wager, you’re basically betting on a safety.
This is a tricky prop as there’s no way of knowing what team will start with the football. Seven of the nine CFP National Championship games have gone over 55.5 points. And the over/under of 56 points on Monday night suggests that either squad could score early.
JJ MCCARTHY IS A BEAST pic.twitter.com/OQ5T5Updo3
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) January 1, 2024
First TD Scorer
| Player | | | |
| Blake Corum | +330 | +330 | +330 |
| Dillon Johnson | +600 | +600 | +600 |
| Rome Odunze | +800 | +800 | +800 |
| Donovan Edwards | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Roman Wilson | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Tybo Rogers | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| Colston Loveland | +1100 | +1100 | +1100 |
| Ja'Lynn Polk | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Jalen McMillan | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Cornelius Johnson | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
| J.J. McCarthy | +1800 | +1800 | +1800 |
| Will Nixon | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Jack Westover | +2200 | +2200 | +2200 |
| Michael Penix Jr. | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
Corum favored to score first
Blake Corum (+330) is always a good bet to score. The Wolverines back punched in 25 touchdowns this season, including the overtime winner against Alabama in the CFP semifinal. Washington’s defense has also been vulnerable on the ground, allowing 180 yards and three rushing scores to Texas on New Year’s Day.
Dillon Johnson (+600) suffered a lower leg injury in the Sugar Bowl, but the Huskies junior RB is still expected to suit up against Michigan’s fearsome defensive front. He registered 16 rushing TDs in 2023.
Dillon Johnson was hyped for Washington’s win even as he was being carted off the field.pic.twitter.com/PZNrTzY5ms
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) January 2, 2024
Huskies pass catchers
The Huskies’ trifecta of stud receivers racked up 19 completions, 353 yards and two scores in their 37-31 CFP semifinal win over the Longhorns. Rome Odunze (+800) has the shortest odds after making 13 TD grabs in 2023, while his teammates Ja’Lynn Polk (+1200) and Jalen McMillan (+1200) are close behind.
However, don’t sleep on tight end Jack Westover (+2200), who had six receptions for 59 yards in the victory over Texas. As for the Wolverines, tight end Semaj Morgan (+4000) isn’t the worst bet after making four grabs against Alabama. However, senior receiver Roman Wilson (+1000) led the team with 12 TD receptions this year.
Best Longshot Bets
Quarterbacks are always more willing to run in big games where they have to put everything on the line to win. That makes both J.J. McCarthy (+1800) and Michael Penix Jr. (+2500) intriguing longshots to score the game’s first TD.
The Wolverines’ signal caller has rushed for 601 yards and 10 TDs over his three-year college career while the Huskies’ veteran QB has seven rushing scores in two seasons in Washington.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
