The picks are in: ESPN’s crew likes Michigan, mostly
ESPN’s “College Gameday” crew has made their picks.
Joey Galloway: Michigan
Pat McAfee: Washington
Desmond Howard: Michigan
Lee Corso: Michigan
Michigan is the favorite, according to sportsbooks
Michigan is favored by 5 points over the Huskies, according to most sportsbooks.
Sports betting has boomed in recent years, with 38 states and Washington, D.C., having legalized some form of it.
On the call tonight, Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit
ESPN’s broadcast of tonight’s game will have Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit teaming up to call their 10th straight championship game.
Holly Rowe will be on the Michigan sideline, and Molly McGrath on Washington’s. Former Big Ten referee Bill Lemonnier will serves as the rules analyst.
Huskies, Wolverines, wolves, oh my!
At first glance it might appear that Michigan and Washington share similarly branded mascots. However, not only do wolverines share more of their heritage with weasels than wolves and dogs, but some, including the Washington Department of Natural Resources, would like to call out another potential misconception:
Indeed, the state of Washington is home to a wolverine population in its Cascade Mountain Range that is also a candidate for listing as an endangered species.
Michigan has in the past tried to bring wolverines to Ann Arbor, bringing two from the Detroit Zoo to Michigan Stadium on game days in 1927, only to find that the ferocious and surprisingly large wolverines weren’t exactly friendly.
Other wolverines have called Michigan and the university home since then, but the last documented wolverine sighting in the “Wolverine State” was in 2004.
Fantasia to perform the national anthem; marching bands will entertain at the half
Before the title games kicks off, Grammy winner Fantasia, who starred in “The Color Purple,” will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Her performance will follow that of members of the Theatre Under the Stars Musical Theatre Academy…
Read the full article here