College Football Playoff championship preview, matchups

HOUSTON — The Post’s Zach Braziller breaks down the national championship game (Monday, 7:30 p.m., ESPN) between No. 1 Michigan and No. 2 Washington at NRG Stadium.

When Michigan has the ball

Michigan wants to run the ball down your throat, and Washington is susceptible to getting pushed around up front. Both units came up big when it mattered in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Michigan’s offense awoke just in time to knock off Alabama. Washington’s defense stood tall at the end against Texas after nearly breaking. But neither is necessarily dominant, both prone to inconsistency. Keep an eye on Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy. He had been in a slump, until leading that memorable, game-tying, eight-play, 75-yard drive in the final minutes of the Rose Bowl. He has started 27 games at Michigan and won 26 of them.

Edge: Michigan

When Washington has the ball

One word can appropriately describe this matchup: Fascinating. It will be Michigan’s top-ranked scoring defense (9.5 points) against Washington’s 11th-ranked scoring offense (37.6). It will be the second-ranked passing defense (150.0 yards) against the top-ranked passing offense (350.0). It will be Michigan’s fierce front seven, which helped produce 39 sacks — tied for the 10th in the country — against Washington’s electric attack led by Heisman Trophy runner-up Michael Penix Jr. and his elite trio of receivers: Rome Odunze, JaLynn Polk and Jalen McMillan. Michigan held Alabama to its second-lowest point total of the season in the Rose Bowl. Washington torched Texas’ 13th-ranked scoring defense for 532 total yards and 37 points in the Sugar Bowl.

Edge: Even

Special teams

Both teams have quality kickers. Michigan’s James Turner and Washington’s Grady Gross have missed a combined seven kicks in 39 attempts. The Wolverines, it should be noted, really struggled on special teams against Alabama. Returner Semaj Morgan muffed a punt and misread another, which backed Michigan up deep in its own end. Long-snapper William Wagner also had a bad snap that led to a botched extra point.

Edge: Washington

Coaching

Both coaches are in their first national championship game. Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh has a monstrous edge in experience, coaching in his fourth playoff game, and the big stage is obviously not new to him, having coached in eight NFL playoff games and a Super Bowl with the 49ers. This is only Washington’s Kalen DeBoer’s fourth year as a Division I head coach. Both men have obviously done terrific jobs, particularly DeBoer, who has guided the Huskies to eight one-possession victories.

Edge: Michigan

Players who could decide the game (non-quarterbacks)

WR Rome Odunze, Washington

The junior had 10 100-yard receiving games this season, including five straight, emerging as a projected top-10 draft pick. Second in the country in receiving yards with 1,553, he can wreck a game. Just ask the entire Pac-12.

CB Will Johnson, Michigan

A standout sophomore, Johnson is a lockdown cornerback, producing three interceptions and four passes defensed while missing parts of four games due to injuries. The All-Big Ten first-team selection will be needed at his best to slow down Odunze and Washington’s potent aerial attack.

Edge Jaylen Harrell, Michigan

One of the keys to the Wolverines’ dominant defense, Harrell is a force on the edge, producing team-highs of 7.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss in addition to two forced fumbles.

Prediction

Defense wins championships, and so does balance. Michigan has the edge in both categories. The Wolverines will control the clock and play from ahead the entire way, keeping Penix and Co. frustrated on the sideline. As he was against Alabama, McCarthy is at his best late, leading a long game-ending drive that results in Michigan’s first national championship since 1997.

Michigan 28, Washington 20