FAVORITE TEAMS

PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIP – 5PM PT / 8PM ET [ABC] (FRIDAY)

#13 OREGON (11-1) VS. #5 UTAH (11-1)

Last year, Utah defeated Oregon 32-25 with a backup quarterback and running back. This season, Utah’s one win away from their first potential playoff berth in school history. Even thought Utah’s favored, Oregon has the experience to play hard and close in with any team they’ve faced this season. The only way Oregon can upset Utah is if their offense can play consistent. There’s times where they stall and their defense eventually suffers and gives up points. Oregon’s win sends them to the Rose Bowl, while Utah’s win potentially gets them into the playoff depending on the situation with Georgia, Oklahoma, or Baylor. Otherwise, they’re Rose Bowl bound instead.

BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP – 9AM PT / 12PM ET [ABC]

#7 BAYLOR (11-1) VS. #6 OKLAHOMA (11-1)

Everyone remembers Oklahoma’s astounding comeback at Baylor a few weeks ago. Now they meet once again and Baylor wants to avenge that loss. Baylor handled both Texas and Kansas and their defense allowed 10 points or less in those two games. Oklahoma managed to play a near perfect game without turnovers being involved while their defense did their job by forcing it. Oklahoma’s the favorite to win as long as quarterback Jalen Hurts doesn’t turn the ball over and the defense does their best to contain Baylor’s high-flying offense the whole game. The winner awaits for a potential playoff spot depending on Clemson, Georgia, and Utah. Otherwise, they’ll be in the Sugar Bowl.

MAC CHAMPIONSHIP – 9AM PT / 12PM ET [ESPN2]

MIAMI (OH) (7-5) VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN (8-4)

They meet for the second time in the conference championship since 2007. Miami (OH) also won the last two meetings by three scores. This matchup is 3-3 since. Central Michigan made a huge bounce back this season after a poor one-win season. They went from averaging 15 points per game to about 33 points per game behind quarterback Quinton Dormady, running back Jonathan Ward, and a group of receivers and tight end. Miami (OH) has the defense to keep this game close while Central Michigan’s offense can potentially succeed. If the Chippewas are unable to get things moving, Miami (OH) will feast on their struggles.

SUN BELT CHAMPIONSHIP – 9AM PT / 12PM ET [ESPN]

LOUISIANA (10-2) VS. #21 APPALACHIAN STATE (11-1)

Louisiana is 0-7 against Appalachian State all-time, but their last three have been improved with the last loss being 17-7. Quarterback Zac Thomas literally did more to help App State win. In Lousiana’s two losses this season, they failed to score 30 plus points. Appalachian State nearly went undefeated before Georgia Southern thwarted their run for the second straight year. They’re aiming for their first 12-win season in school history and also could be the first Sun Belt team to do it too. Louisiana improved enough to either keep the points low or get into a shootout with them. Both teams average 39 points per game but Louisiana allows 18 points per game while App State allows 19. It’s a conference title rematch that was meant to be but Louisiana could play motivational football to try and upset App State finally.

C-USA CHAMPIONSHIP – 10:30AM PT / 1:30PM ET [CBS SPORTS NETWORK]

UAB (9-3) AT FAU (9-3)

UAB, under Bill Clark, now has 3-straight winning seasons since returning to football in 2017, including going 6-6 in 2014 before going hiatus. FAU bounced back after coming up a win short of bowl-eligibility last season. FAU can score and their defense returns to their 2017 selves. Their 2017 defense picked off opponents 20 times. So far this season, they picked them off 19 times (1st in the nation). The Blazers are looking for their second straight conference title in school history. While FAU’s competitive again, UAB’s looking consistent in competition and their defense can wreak havoc in the backfield, including forcing 17 fumbles (tied 4th in the nation). Both made their first conference title appearance and won. Either UAB wins by scoring 20 plus points and prevents opponents from scoring over 21, or FAU wins by scoring a lot of points to make UAB’s offense struggle to keep up.

AAC CHAMPIONSHIP – 12:30PM PT / 3:30PM ET [ABC]

#20 CINCINNATI (10-2) AT #17 MEMPHIS (11-1)

Cincinnati and Memphis meet again, but Memphis now won 4-straight against them. It was heated, intense, and entertaining to watch last week. Cincinnati tried their best to keep up with them, but they only scored more than a touchdown in the second quarter while the rest of their quarters were only 10 points total. Now this is the Bearcat’s chance to even the score, but quarterback Desmond Ridder’s health status is an issue. Hopefully backup QB Ben Bryant has learned from the last game and the offensive staff tweaks the playbook to make him more comfortable. Otherwise, Memphis’s third straight conference title appearance could be The One they finally win their first in the AAC since 1971 when they were in the former Missouri Valley Conference.

MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP – 1PM PT / 4PM ET [ESPN]

HAWAI’I (9-4) AT #19 BOISE STATE (11-1)

Hawai’i makes their first Mountain West conference title appearance after winning their first division title. They’re also the first non-California team to play too. They face Boise State once again and the first meeting this season wasn’t good when they lost 59-37. They also lost seven straight times to the Broncos in the last 12 seasons. No matter who the quarterback is for Boise State, they’re still winning games and the passing game for the most part is still consistent. The only issue is ball control due to 18 fumbles with seven of them lost. Boise State makes their fourth conference title appearance in six years and third straight and looking for their ninth 12-win season in school history. For Hawai’i to win, they must bring their A-game on offense, have better ball-control, and try stalling Boise’s offense.

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP – 1PM PT / 4PM ET [CBS]

#4 GEORGIA (11-1) VS. #2 LSU (12-0)

In the 28th meeting of the SEC Championship, Georgia makes their third straight appearance while LSU finally triumphs over the state of Alabama after a 7-year drought to return for the conference championship. LSU currently leads this conference championship meeting 2-1 against Georgia and won three of the last four against Georgia too. With Alabama out of the way, both teams finally play for their own right to a National Championship appearance. LSU’s offense is capable enough to play basically anyone, but they never faced a defense like Georgia’s. Georgia’s only way into the playoff is through LSU and they need quarterback Jake Fromm to play up to his expectations if they want to get back in.

ACC CHAMPIONSHIP – 4:30PM PT / 7:30PM ET [ABC]

#23 VIRGINIA (9-3) VS. #3 CLEMSON (12-0)

There’s not much to explain about Clemson because we already know who they are. Virginia’s only shot at upsetting Clemson is quarterback Bryce Perkins carrying this team to victory, but he needs a lot of help from his offense to make it happen though. The defense must pressure quarterback Trevor Lawrence and slow down running back Travis Etienne. This is the biggest task that Virginia’s ever faced this season and unless Clemson’s not ready to play by the time the game starts, this could be a long night for Virginia.

BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP – 5PM PT / 8PM ET [FOX]

#8 WISCONSIN (10-2) VS. #1 OHIO STATE (12-0)

How many times have we seen Wisconsin appear in the conference championship to only lose? Three times. After winning the first two annual conference championships in the Big Ten, they went 0-3 since and lost to Ohio State twice. Wisconsin’s defense returned to form for the most part and their offense still has running back Jonathan Taylor and hopefully quarterback Jack Coan lead them to a bounce back. Ohio State’s likely in the playoffs even if they lose unless the committee says otherwise and chaos ensues. Quarterback Justin Fields is the engine that makes this offense run, and this defense is dangerous behind the presence of defensive end Chase Young. I’m hearing that Wisconsin has an outside chance of making the playoffs. If that’s even possible, they would have to watch the chaos start with Clemson, Georgia, Utah, and Oklahoma/Baylor losing, followed by Wisconsin winning in convincing and motivating fashion to be the first two-loss team to appear in the playoffs.