Finally, some semblance of change is due for a college football playoff that has typically featured the same four teams: Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Alabama. Those four schools represent 20 of 28 total playoff appearances.
The rookie hopefuls, No. 2 Michigan and beloved No. 4 Cincinnati of the Group of 5, have a chance to reach the playoffs with victories on Saturday. Top-ranked Georgia has made one playoff appearance in seven years, resulting in a 2019 national championship loss to No. 3 Alabama. Meanwhile, Crimson Tide has stayed out of the playoffs only once.
All four teams are playing in their respective conference championships this weekend. A win nearly secures a playoff spot and a loss removes any of the top four, save perhaps Georgia, from consideration.
The Oklahoma State No. 5 is on the outside hoping that any team other than the Bulldogs will lose and open a spot. That is, if the Cowboys can beat No. 9 Baylor for the Big 12 title.
There is a possibility that something strange will happen: After all, it is college football. Notre Dame, which is dormant without a conference championship, may finish in the playoffs for the third time in the program’s history, albeit without its head coach. And the rest of the Top 10 are hopeful that chaos will unfold.
Some of Sports Illustrated’s biggest college football fans discussed which conference championship they are looking forward to this weekend. Before they give their picks, here is the schedule for the Power 5 conference championship games as well as the AACs.
Pac-12 Championship Game
- No. 10 Oregon (10-2) vs. No. 17 Utah (9-3)
Big 12 Championship Game
- No. 9 Baylor (10-2) vs. No. 5 Oklahoma State (11-1)
- Spread: Oklahoma State -5
SEC Championship Game
- No. 3 Alabama (11-1) vs. No. 1 Georgia (12-0)
AAC Championship Game
- No. 21 Houston (11-1) vs. No. 4 Cincinnati (12-0)
ACC Championship Game
- No. 16 Wake Forest (10-2) vs. No. 15 Pittsburgh (10-2)
Big Ten Championship Game
- No. 13 Iowa (10-2) vs. No. 2 Michigan (11-1)
© Kyle Robertson / Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Richard Johnson of SI Betting:
I’m definitely tempted to say the SEC championship game, but that’s not the most important in my mind because either way both teams have been in the dance. But the Big Ten championship game is absolutely fascinating to me because of the Michigan angle. They have just overcome the most important pothole. No chance of disappointment here … right?
The Pick: Big Ten
Molly Geary from SI College Sports:
Cincinnati has a chance to make history, but unless all hell breaks loose, it will only do so with a win on Saturday. Houston has not lost since the first week of the season and is uniquely positioned to play the latest spoiler for something few thought possible: a Group of 5 team making the playoffs.
The choice: AAC
Kevin Jairaj / CFP Images / Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
Frankie Taddeo from SI Betting:
92. That’s the number. Alabama has been the betting favorite 92 times in a row. The last time you were classified as underdog by gamblers? 2015 against Georgia. Alabama taught punters a lesson to never doubt Nick Saban, as Tide won 38-10 when Calvin Ridley and Derrick Henry led the way to a victory over Nick Chubb and the Bulldogs. Well, that line was just +1, a virtual pitch. We are far from being a launch this weekend since this line was opened at -5 and later it has been bet up to -6.5. I jumped all over the opener and won’t look back. The Bulldogs are the most comprehensive team in the country and have awarded bettors an 8-4 ATS mark. Look for that record to improve after the SEC Championship, as Georgia will become even stronger prohibitive favorites to win the National Championship. Roll Tide will be Roll Tears after the Bulldogs give Alabama its second loss of the season. However, a loss shouldn’t eliminate Tide from the college football playoffs in my opinion, as they are a far superior team that has played a much tougher schedule than Cincinnati. Hopefully the committee does well next week.
The choice: SEC
Bill Enright from SI Betting:
We’ve seen Alabama lose a few times over the past few years, heck, we even saw them lose this year, but they haven’t been a loser in six seasons. There is something unsettling about seeing the +6.5 alongside Crimson Tide. Like seeing snow in July, it is unnatural. So while I hope Georgia wins, I’m not so sure they’ll cover. This is less about the Bulldogs becoming SEC champions and more about Alabama potentially losing two games in the same season.
The choice: SEC
Matt Ehalt from SI Betting:
Alabama-Georgia is the game with the biggest implications, but I’m most intrigued to see how Michigan fares against Iowa. Jim Harbaugh secured the biggest win of his tenure as Michigan coach by beating Ohio State, but that opens the door. to a possible disappointment this week. Michigan should win, but that same energy that allowed him to intimidate the Buckeyes may not be there. Michigan’s loss would also open the door for another team to enter.
The Pick: Big Ten
Craig Ellenport from SI Fantasy:
It seems to me that making Alabama more than a 3-point dog is a sign that punters are hoping Georgia will be crowned SEC champion. At 6.5 points, they are begging you to take the tide. And when books ask people to stand aside, you know what that means. And that’s a shame, because nothing would thrill me more than the prospect of a Bama victory sending the playoff selection committee into utter chaos. Fans from Cincinnati, Oklahoma State and Notre Dame are rooting for Georgia this weekend. Assuming Michigan defeats Iowa, an Alabama win would create a virtual free-for-all for the last spot in the playoffs. It would be great to see. Unfortunately, it will not happen.
The choice: SEC
Albert Cesare / USA Today Sports
Opinion of Madeline Coleman, writer for SI News:
The ACC Championship is interesting this season because it has been a rough year for the conference, and the title game will feature two teams that historically have not competed frequently in the championship. At the beginning of the year, Clemson was the favorite to win the Atlantic, but Wake Forest, which has been a growing powerhouse led by Dave Clawson, reached its second 10-win season in program history and is fighting for its third ACC conference. . title in the program history. Meanwhile, in the Coastal division, Miami and North Carolina were predicted to battle for a chance to play in Charlotte, but instead, Pitt dominated a 7-1 conference record and is heading into his first title game. in conference since facing Clemson in 2018. The Panthers are led by quarterback Kenny Pickett, who has emerged as a contender for the Heisman Trophy.
The choice: ACC
SI Betting’s Kyle Wood’s Opinion:
The Big 12 will crown a conference champion who is not named Oklahoma for the first time since 2014. However, the state of Oklahoma expects the title to remain in the state of Sooner. The Cowboys get Baylor, who won a portion of the last conference title outside of Oklahoma, and a team they beat by 10 points earlier in the season. A trip to the playoffs would round out a great year for Oklahoma state, which saw Oklahoma leave the conference in search of greener (financial) pastures. The Cowboys beat the Sooners to keep OU out of the conference title game and Lincoln Riley left for a new job. This game should be interesting, especially with a low point total of 46.5, a sea change from the happy big 12 scoring image that still endures.
The Pick: Big 12
Check the latest odds on SI Sportsbook
More bets:
• Composite grades from college championships
• My favorite bet: first Super Bowl score
• Week 12 Bad Beats and Big Payouts
• NFL Power Ratings
• Fantasy rankings for week 13
www.si.com
Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.