In a highly anticipated matchup, the Texas Longhorns and Washington Huskies are set to face off in the second College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The Huskies come into the game with an impressive undefeated record of 13-0, having claimed the Pac-12 championship by defeating Oregon in the conference title game. Led by quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who has been a Heisman contender all season, Washington's offense has been dominant, with Penix throwing for over 4,000 yards and 33 touchdowns.

On the other side, the Longhorns have had a successful season as well, with their only loss coming in a close game against rival Oklahoma. Despite that setback, Texas managed to win the Big 12 title and secure a spot in the College Football Playoff. Quarterback Quinn Ewers has been a key player for the Longhorns, throwing for 21 touchdowns and over 3,000 yards.

Interestingly, this is not the first time these two teams have met in a bowl game. Last year, Washington came out on top in the Alamo Bowl, defeating Texas as underdogs. However, this time around, Texas is favored to win, with Washington being the underdogs. The Longhorns are expected to rely on their strong offense and the potential vulnerabilities in Washington's defense to secure a victory and advance to the national championship.

In another important game, the Michigan Wolverines are set to face the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl. Michigan, one step away from their first appearance in the College Football Playoff championship game, will need to focus on containing Alabama's explosive plays and scrambling quarterback Jalen Milroe. The Wolverines have been strong defensively, ranking highly in limiting big passing plays and containing mobile quarterbacks.

Michigan's key to success will be putting pressure on Milroe and forcing him to throw intermediate routes, as he has struggled in that area. With a talented secondary and a solid offensive line, the Wolverines are expected to have an advantage in this matchup. However, Alabama's defense is not to be underestimated, and Michigan will need to be at their best to secure a win.

In terms of betting odds, Texas is favored to win by 3.5 points over Washington, while Michigan is favored to win by 1.5 points over Alabama. Both games are expected to be closely contested, with potential for upsets. Fans and bettors alike are eagerly awaiting these matchups to see which teams will advance to the national championship.