The college football regular season is finished, but the College Football Playoff is far from finalized. While some teams playing this weekend are already in the dance, others need the automatic bid from winning their conference championships. Let's dive into Saturday's four major conference championship games, along with Friday night's Group of 5 showdown.
👉 Check out all conference championship lines on theScore Bet here
American Conference championship (Friday night)
Game time: 8 p.m.
🏈 Pick: Tulane (+2.5)
The stakes here are simple: The winner (likely) earns a trip to the College Football Playoff as one of the five highest-ranked conference champions.
Tulane is battle-tested with wins over Power 4 opponents Northwestern and Duke. The only time North Texas played a ranked team this year, it lost to South Florida 63-36. The Green Wave's tougher schedule should prepare it for a championship atmosphere. This is also the fourth consecutive year Tulane has made the American Conference Championship. The experienced team deserves the edge.
Big 12 championship
Game time: 12 p.m.
🏈 Pick: BYU (+12.5)
Texas Tech destroyed BYU 29-7 when these teams met in early November, so the line is justified. But this game matters more for the Cougars. BYU must win to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff, while Texas Tech is in regardless of the result. While the Red Raiders have the talent advantage, that kind of difference in the importance of the outcome does impact on-field performance. I'm not saying BYU will win, but that factor alone should keep it within the number.
SEC championship
Game time: 4 p.m.
🏈 Pick: Georgia (-2.5)
For whatever reason, Alabama has been Georgia's kryptonite. The Crimson Tide have won three straight and 10 of the last 11 against Georgia. The last two wins came with Kalen DeBoer roaming the sidelines. Kirby Smart is itching to get back on the right side of history against his SEC rival, creating a revenge spot for the Bulldogs.
Beyond that angle, Georgia is a much better team now than when it lost to Alabama in late September. The Bulldogs have won eight straight, including three over ranked opponents. Georgia's defense has improved, holding ranked Texas and Georgia Tech to 10 and nine points, respectively, while its offense remains balanced. Alabama is also one of the country's best teams, but it lost to Oklahoma in mid-November and nearly lost to Auburn, one of the SEC's worst teams, last week. Give me the Bulldogs.
ACC championship
Game time: 8 p.m.
🏈 Pick: Virginia (-4.5)
Duke has no business being in the ACC title game. The conference's bizarre tiebreakers set up a championship between 10-2 Virginia and 7-5 Duke. If Virginia wins, it's headed to the CFP. If Duke wins, there's no guarantee, because the committee might consider a Group of 5 team like James Madison ahead of the Blue Devils. Remember, the five highest-ranked conference champions punch a ticket, but that doesn't have to include major conferences.
It's puzzling that this line is so low considering Virginia pummeled Duke by 17 on the road just a few weeks ago. While the Cavaliers have had some close calls, their defense has been pretty consistently good. The Blue Devils can put up points, but they'll be held in check by the ACC's second-best scoring defense. Meanwhile, Duke allows the fourth-most yards in the conference, which should allow Virginia to put quality drives together.
Big Ten championship
Game time: 8 p.m.
🏈 Pick: Ohio State (-4.5)
Ohio State finished the season 10-1-1 against the spread. There's no way I'm picking against a team that's been that profitable against the number. Ohio State arguably hasn't faced any real competition, especially in Big Ten play. However, the Buckeyes have dominated every team in their path. And since beating Oregon in October, Indiana hasn't played any juggernauts either.
The Hoosiers are real contenders, unlike last year, but the Buckeyes are more physically dominant in the trenches and own the nation's best defense. There's a reason they're the national title favorites. At this point, I'd take Ohio State as a 4.5-point favorite over anyone.
👉 Check out all conference championship lines on theScore Bet here
US: Must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER; Hope is here. Call (800)-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support (MA); Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).
ON: Please play responsibly. 19+. ON only. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call ConnexOntario 24/7 at 1-866-531-2600. Text us at 247247 or chat with us at www.connexontario.ca.
