It’s that thrilling time of year again in college football—conference championship weekend. Nine conferences are gearing up to crown their champions, and the stakes? They’re sky-high, with playoff dreams on the line in almost every matchup.
The top two teams, No. 2 Indiana and No. 1 Ohio State, are set to collide in the Big Ten championship game. The SEC’s got its own fireworks with Georgia facing Alabama, and the ACC championship tosses in a surprise: Duke vs. Virginia, both with playoff hopes still flickering.
Let’s check out the key games and betting lines for this wild weekend.
Big Ten Championship: Indiana vs. Ohio State
No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers meet the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes in the weekend’s most anticipated clash. Both teams are undefeated at 12-0, but Ohio State gets a slight nod from the oddsmakers.
Opening Line: Ohio State -5.5
Money line: Indiana (+164); Ohio State (-198)
Over/Under: 47.5 (O -112, U -108)
The FPI projection gives Indiana a 51% shot to win outright. That’s about as close as it gets. Whoever wins almost certainly locks up the No. 1 seed for the postseason.
Key Players to Watch
Indiana’s quarterback has been a revelation, running the offense with confidence and a steady hand. Ohio State’s defense, though, is the real deal—so it’s shaping up as a classic offense vs. defense battle.
SEC Championship: Georgia vs. Alabama
No. 3 Georgia squares off against No. 9 Alabama in the SEC Championship. Georgia rolls in at 11-1, Alabama at 10-2. Both have plenty to prove.
Opening Line: Georgia -2.5
Money line: Georgia (-135); Alabama (+114)
Over/Under: 47.5 (O -115, U -105)
Despite Georgia being favored, the FPI says Alabama’s got a 51% chance to win. Feels like a toss-up, doesn’t it?
Game Dynamics
Expect a slugfest. Both squads bring serious firepower on offense and defense. Georgia’s balanced attack will have to find cracks in Alabama’s stubborn defense.
ACC Championship: Duke vs. Virginia
Here’s a twist: unranked Duke takes on No. 17 Virginia for the ACC crown. Virginia’s 10-2 and favored, but Duke’s shown they can surprise people.
Opening Line: Virginia -2.5
Money line: Duke (+154); Virginia (-185)
Over/Under: 57.5 (O -115, U -105)
The FPI puts Virginia at a 56% chance to win, but Duke’s been scrappy lately. Wouldn’t count them out just yet.
Implications for the Playoff
Miami, with a 10-2 record, missed the ACC title game thanks to tiebreakers—even though they’re ranked higher than both finalists. So yeah, whoever wins here could sneak into the College Football Playoff. That’s a pretty wild scenario.
Other Notable Matchups
Sun Belt Championship: Troy vs. James Madison
No. 25 James Madison is a heavy favorite against Troy. They’re sitting at 11-1 and look primed to take control.
Opening Line: James Madison -21.5
Money line: Troy (+1400); James Madison (-3200)
Over/Under: 47.5 (O -105, U -115)
James Madison has a whopping 91% probability to win. Not much suspense here, unless Troy pulls off a miracle.
Conference USA Championship: Kennesaw State vs. Jacksonville State
This one’s expected to be tight, with Kennesaw State only a slight favorite.
Opening Line: Jacksonville State -1.5
Money line: Kennesaw State (-135); Jacksonville State (+114)
Over/Under: 59.5 (O -110, U -110)
The FPI gives Kennesaw State a 52% shot to win. Could go either way, honestly.
American Athletic Championship: North Texas vs. Tulane
No. 24 North Texas meets No. 20 Tulane. Should be a fun one to watch.
Opening Line: North Texas -3
Money line: North Texas (-135); Tulane (+114)
Over/Under: 67.5 (O -108, U -112)
North Texas is given a 58% chance to pull it off, according to the FPI.
Mountain West Championship: UNLV vs. Boise State
Boise State comes in as the favorite against UNLV in the Mountain West title game.
Opening Line: Boise State -1.5
Money line: UNLV (+170); Boise State (-205)
Over/Under: 58.5 (O -115, U -105)
The FPI has Boise State at a 66% probability to win. Not a lock, but they’re in the driver’s seat.
Big 12 Championship: BYU vs. Texas Tech
No. 11 BYU faces off with No. 4 Texas Tech. Texas Tech is the clear favorite here.
Opening Line: Texas Tech -12.5
Money line: BYU (+410); Texas Tech (-550)
Over/Under: 49.5 (O -108, U -112)
Texas Tech is given a 67% chance to win, according to the FPI. Looks like they’re expected to handle business.
MAC Championship: Miami (OH) vs. Western Michigan
Western Michigan edges in as a slight favorite here.
Opening Line: Western Michigan -2.5
Money line: Miami (OH) (+110); Western Michigan (-130)
Over/Under: 43.5 (O -108, U -112)
The FPI projection gives Western Michigan a 51% shot to win outright.
College football fans are in for a wild weekend. Stakes are high, and every snap matters just a bit more.
Want the latest odds or a deeper dive on the numbers? Check out ESPN’s betting lines page.
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