The Kansas City Chiefs sit ninth right now, and have been as high as second in the NFL during the season, and haven't been lower than 13th. The team they beat to get into the Big Game - the Cincinnati Bengals - is ranked No. 1 with its strength of schedule.

See where I'm going here?

When the Chiefs beat the 49ers a few years back in this game, San Fran was bolstered by a stingy defense and rolled roughshod through the competition thanks to a rather weak schedule. Sounds like an Eagles team that will take the field today.

Many want to bring up Kansas City's "injuries," including Patrick Mahomes' ankle. Hmmm, imagine that, a banged up offensive line and a quarterback who had a flat tire in the AFC Championship, and yet the team is still here.

Kansas City has won seven straight, its last loss against the Bengals team it beat to get here, back in December. And the area of improvement down the stretch has been defense.

Through their first seven games, the Chiefs allowed an average of 24.5 points on 369 yards per game. Over their last 10 of the regular season, they've yielded a mere 19.7 points and 299.6 yards per game.

The upstart Jaguars and high-flying Bengals couldn't muster more than 20 points in their playoff games.

I think we're going to see the Eagles' best effort, there's no denying what they're capable of, and Jalen Hurts is an impressive specimen. But Andy Reid and Mahomes (whose ankle treatment has been extensive if you've done your research, and read the actual therapy he's endured) are in their third championship in four years. That's experience the Eagles won't be able to match.

The second half will be all Kansas City, as the adjustments will be made, thanks to their familiarity of being here - like against the 49ers when the Chiefs won it all in 2020 - and in a thriller, Reid and Mahomes win another.

I remember watching the Pac-12 Media Day last July, and seeing Caleb Williams own the spotlight, while Penix just humbly took his place on stage and in interviews. He remained gracious. He was as professional as they come. And I will tell you this, he's ready for the next level, whenever he arrives.

Unfortunately on Monday, he won't be ready for a defense that smothers the opposition, wears you down up the middle, and can bring edge rushers at you upon snap. And herein lies the problem for Penix, who is far from a two-way quarterback.

In 14 games this season, you know how many rushing yards Penix has? A whopping 13 (insert Price of Right wrong answer sound here, "wha-wha, wha, whaaaa"). I'll give it to him, he can fling it, and he can place it on a dime. But under duress, constant pressure for every moment he steps back, it'll be hard to overcome.

Michigan's defense has limited the opposition to just seven passing touchdowns, a 55.5% completion percentage and a bleak 140 yards through the air per game. Overall, offensive units are gaining only 226.9 yards per game.

On the other side of the ball, it's natural to wonder if the Wolverines have the type of offense that can keep up Washington, right? It doesn't matter. 

When you allowed the fewest yards per game during the regular season in the FBS (243.1), and you're tied for the most defensive TDs (five), all you need is a disciplined offense that is good enough to manage the clock, move the ball efficiently and get points by any means necessary.

I mean, J.J. McCarthy does rank in the top 10 in passing efficiency, and the Wolverines do have the third-best fourth-down conversion rate nationally. They're also extremely disciplined, having committed only 40 penalties in 14 games.

Overall, resiliency and calm have me convinced the Wolverines are the right side of this game. Jim Harbaugh suspended? Twice? No problem, the team played through the adversity and won. The sign-stealing controversy they got caught for - and nobody else has when we all know so many teams do it - distractions wouldn't prevail. Alabama comes back and forces overtime? Eh, our defense will stymie the Tide and McCarthy will stay poised.

The Huskies are a tremendous team, I'll give them that. But they allow too much offense. Penix can't save the day when his defensive counterparts can't slow the opposition. Washington's stop unit ranked 94th in the nation, allowing more than 400 yards per game. The Huskies ranked 120th in giving up 267.1 yards through the air, per game. Teams scored more than 30 points in six of their 14 games. Their red-zone defense ranked tied for 73rd (84.0%).

Fact is, Penix can't do it all when he's facing a defense that is better than Texas (semifinal), better than Oregon (Pac-12 championship), and better than any defense he faced during conference play.

Michigan is far better than Washington on the whole, and when the smoke clears, the Wolverines look more like a 6- or 7-point winner for the National Championship, sending Harbaugh to the NFL with a shiny new ring.

Lay the points.