Category: Championship Week

Boise State vs San Jose State: Mountain West Championship Prediction, Game Preview

Boise State Broncos vs San Jose State Spartans: Mountain West Championship prediction and game preview.

Boise State vs San Jose State: Mountain West Championship prediction and game preview.

Boise State vs San Jose State: Mountain West Championship Broadcast

Date: Saturday, December 19
Game Time: 4:15 PM
Venue: Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Network: FOX

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Boise State (5-1) vs San Jose State (6-0) Game Preview

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Three Reasons Why You Should Watch The Mountain West Championship

– This might be one of the roughest college football seasons ever. There are a whole lot of issues, nothing seems right, and everyone just seems like they want to get through it. Meanwhile, San Jose State has become one of the season’s best stories as it goes through a historic run.

The program has had just one winning season since 2006 and just three since 1992. The 11-2 2012 season was amazing, but this is the first ever 6-0 start for the program, and now there’s a shot at the program’s first conference championship since taking a piece of the 1991 Big West title, and the first outright title since 1990. On the flip side …

– Boise State is going for its fifth Mountain West title since 2012 and its 15th conference championship since 1999. This hasn’t been a normal year for a Bronco program that came into the season hoping for at least a New Year’s Six bowl spot, but it’s here, it’s unbeaten in conference play, and it’s getting a chance to hold on to its title. After battling through injures, COVID, and all the issues everyone else is, winning this title wouldn’t just be thrown on the pile – it would be a terrific achievement.

– The Mountain West is here. Remember, this was one of the first conferences to tap out early on, and it came back, put together a season, had to relocate a few teams, and it got to a championship game in what turned out to be an interesting season.

The world might be paying attention to the ACC Championship while this is going on, and the second half of the Sun Belt title – maybe – but this has the potential to be one of the best games of the day. These two teams are going to bring a great fight.

Why Boise State, San Jose State Will Win
What’s Going to Happen, Prediction, History

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Coastal Carolina vs Louisiana: Sun Belt Championship Prediction, Game Preview

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers vs Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns: Sun Belt Championship prediction and game preview.

Coastal Carolina vs Louisiana: Sun Belt Championship prediction and game preview.

Coastal Carolina vs Louisiana: Sun Belt Championship Broadcast

Date: Saturday, December 19
Game Time: 3:30 PM EST
Venue: Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC
Network: ESPN

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Coastal Carolina (11-0) vs Louisiana (9-1) Game Preview

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Three Reasons Why You Should Watch The Sun Belt Championship

– Can Coastal Carolina somehow move up into a New Year’s Six bowl game? It’s 12th in the latest College Football Playoff rankings despite having more wins and a better resumé than No. 9 Cincinnati. If the Bearcats struggle in the American Athletic Conference championship against Tulsa – or lose – and the Chanticleers rock the Ragin’ Cajuns, there could be a shot at one of the high-profile bowl games, likely against an SEC team.

– Can Louisiana finally get the respect it deserves? Totally lost in all the rankings is how the Ragin’ Cajuns beat Iowa State 31-14 in Ames to start the season – they should be ranked ahead of the sixth-ranked Cyclones, and they’re 19th. This is the chance not only to get revenge for the only loss of the year, but to finally get over the Sun Belt title hump after losing the last two years against Appalachian State.

– The first game was fantastic. Coastal Carolina came up with a walk-off 40-yard field goal in the 30-27 win. Neither team was ever up by more than a score, Coastal Carolina outgained Louisiana by one yard, and it was a wildly entertaining, even game that could’ve gone either way. This year, more than ever before, being the Sun Belt Champion means something.

Technically – after the Sun Belt went 3-0 against the Big 12 – the Sun Belt champion will have done more than the Big 12 champion.

Why Coastal Carolina, Louisiana Will Win
What’s Going to Happen, Prediction, History

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National Signing Day Recruiting Updates: USA TODAY College Wire Features

The latest college football news, notes, and features from the USA TODAY college wire site publishers for Thursday, December 17

The latest college football news, notes, and features from the USA TODAY college wire site publishers for Thursday, December 17

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Early signing period: Jeremy Pruitt details every player that signed with Tennessee

Early signing period: Jeremy Pruitt details every player that signed with Tennessee

An update on former 5-star LSU TE Arik Gilbert

An update on former 5-star LSU TE Arik Gilbert

Logan Diggs updates recruiting decision

Logan Diggs updates recruiting decision

Jim Harbaugh (finally) talks about Michigan QB signee J.J. McCarthy

Jim Harbaugh (finally) talks about Michigan QB signee J.J. McCarthy

Could the all-time leader rusher at Texas return to the playing field?

Could the all-time leader rusher at Texas return to the playing field?

Look: Florida fans are mad at Kirby Smart again

Look: Florida fans are mad at Kirby Smart again

Vols’ early signing period tracker

Vols’ early signing period tracker

UGA Football Signing Day Hub: Live updates, analysis and more

UGA Football Signing Day Hub: Live updates, analysis and more

Alabama Football 2021 National Signing Day Commitment Tracker

National Signing Day: Meet the 2021 Alabama Crimson Tide Recruiting Class

Early Signing Period: Meet the 2021 Auburn Tigers Recruiting Class

Early Signing Period: Meet the 2021 Auburn Tigers Recruiting Class

LSU Football 2021 National Signing Day Commitment Tracker

LSU Football 2021 National Signing Day Commitment Tracker

Florida football recruiting tracker: Live updates on early signing period

Florida football recruiting tracker: Live updates on early signing period

Oklahoma football recruiting tracker: Live updates on early signing period for 2021

Oklahoma football recruiting tracker: Live updates on early signing period for 2021

National Signing Day: Meet the 2021 Texas Longhorns Recruiting Class

National Signing Day: Meet the 2021 Texas Longhorns Recruiting Class

Notre Dame Football: Early signing day prospect decisions to watch

Notre Dame Football: Early signing day prospect decisions to watch

USC Trojans 2021 National Signing Day Tracker

USC Trojans 2021 National Signing Day Tracker

 

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Alabama vs Florida: SEC Championship Prediction, Game Preview

Alabama Crimson Tide vs Florida Gators: SEC Championship prediction and game preview.

Alabama vs Florida: SEC Championship prediction and game preview.

Alabama vs Florida: SEC Championship Broadcast

Date: Saturday, December 19
Game Time: 8:00 pm
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Network: CBS

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Alabama (10-0) vs Florida (8-2) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on the NFL, go to BetMGM 

Three Reasons Why You Should Watch The SEC Championship

– Let’s not dwell on what this game could’ve been. Okay, fine … dwell away – and without mentioning the shoe.

This could’ve and should’ve been a huge moment for the SEC, for Florida, and for fans who wanted to see this as some sort of a College Football Playoff quarterfinal – at least for the Gators.

Oh it’ll be fun, and we’ll all have a good time, but Florida’s total gag 37-34 loss to a mediocre LSU team that embodied the It Just Means More attitude of the SEC changed the narrative.

Now, unless Alabama gets blown out, it’s in the College Football Playoff win or lose – it was almost certainly in before Florida lost to LSU – and it’s going to take something like a 30-point dominant blowout for the Gators to get back into the CFP discussion. However …

– While the playoff ramifications for this are almost certainly gone, the Heisman is up for grabs. No, Trevor Lawrence isn’t going to win it. No, it’s not going to be Justin Fields, either – the sample sizes for both are too small. Your 2020 Heisman winner will come from this game, and it’s going to be …

Alabama has QB Mac Jones and WR DeVonta Smith, and RB Najee Harris deserves more credit than he’s getting. All three are good enough to win it, and all three might cancel each other out.

Florida’s Kyle Trask has thrown 40 touchdown passes in ten games and averages 372 yards per outing. Expand that out to 15 games, and he’ll have almost identical numbers as 2019 Joe Burrow, but with a lot more picks.

Florida doesn’t have to win for Trask to take the Heisman, but he’s got to do that whole 400-yard, three-plus touchdown thing that he makes look so routine.

It’s time for the stars to put on a show, because if they don’t, the Heisman talk next week will be thrown into a tailspin.

– The SEC Championship really is a big deal. Of course if you’re in the SEC and you’re good enough to play this game, it’s more about the snazzy t-shirt than anything else – considering you’re probably good enough to win the national title, too – but this is it. This is the conference championship that started it all when Alabama picked off Florida 28-21 back in 1992.

Alabama has won eight of these things, and Florida checks in with seven. Nick Saban is going for his sixth in nine seasons, and Dan Mullen is going for a win that might not get Florida to the College Football Playoff, but would be a tone-setter for the program.

Why Alabama, Florida Will Win
What’s Going to Happen, Prediction, History

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Cincinnati vs Tulsa: AAC Championship Prediction, Game Preview

Cincinnati Bearcats vs Tulsa Golden Hurricane: AAC Championship prediction and game preview.

Cincinnati Bearcats vs Tulsa Golden Hurricane: AAC Championship prediction and game preview.

Cincinnati vs Tulsa: AAC Championship Broadcast

Date: Saturday, December 19
Game Time: 8:00 pm
Venue: Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Network: ABC

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Cincinnati (8-0) vs Tulsa (6-1) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on the NFL, go to BetMGM 

Three Reasons Why You Should Watch The AAC Championship

– Is it remotely possible? Could Cincinnati get into the College Football Playoff? With the No. 9 ranking in the latest round of the College Football Playoff top 25, the committee couldn’t have put out a bigger “NOT INTERESTED” sign.

However, that’s partly because the Bearcats haven’t played since November 21st. If they come out and destroy Tulsa, and if Clemson loses badly to Notre Dame, and if Ohio State gets shocked by Northwestern, there might be a groundswell of support to get the Group of Five team into that fourth spot. It’s style points time to the nth degree for UC, but …

– Tulsa has had a wonderful season and is the real deal. It’s lone loss came to Oklahoma State in the opener – a 16-7 fight that was even closer than that – and then came the run of six straight wins including thrillers over UCF, East Carolina, SMU and Tulane to get shot at the program’s first American Athletic Conference title and third FBS conference championship after taking the 2005 and 2012 Conference USA titles.

– How much do you like defense? Cincinnati has an offense, but after three straight wild shootouts in the AAC Championship, get ready for what might be the polar opposite. It’s going to have to battle with the SEC Championship, a slew of other college games, and the Panthers vs. the Packers. This might be the closest fight of the bunch.

Why Cincinnati, Tulsa Will Win
What’s Going to Happen, Prediction, History

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Notre Dame vs Clemson: ACC Championship Prediction, Game Preview

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs Clemson Tigers: ACC Championship prediction and game preview.

Notre Dame vs Clemson: ACC Championship prediction and game preview.

Notre Dame vs Clemson: ACC Championship Broadcast

Date: Saturday, December 19
Game Time: 4:00 pm
Venue: Bank of America stadium, Charlotte, NC
Network: ABC

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Notre Dame (10-0) vs Clemson (9-1) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on the NFL, go to BetMGM 

Three Reasons Why You Should Watch The ACC Championship

– Okay, it’s just us here and we can speak frankly. Ohio State is going to beat Northwestern and Alabama is going to beat Florida. Yawn.

Two spots in the College Football Playoff are almost certainly going to be taken up by the Tide and the Buckeyes, and a third will be taken up by the ACC Champion no matter what. (However, if Northwestern shocks Ohio State, assume both Clemson and Notre Dame are in, and ignore everything else you’re about to read.)

It’s going to come down to this …

Who loses this game and by how much?

If Clemson wins and Notre Dame looks okay, it’s a done deal. It’s not locked in, but the obviously projection is that in the scenario, Clemson is the 2 or 3 – it doesn’t matter – to the Rose Bowl vs. Ohio State, and Notre Dame will play Alabama in the Sugar. And other scenario makes things weird.

If Clemson gets blown out, then Notre Dame is the 2, and then there’s a massive fight between the Texas A&M crowd – assuming the Aggies take care of Tennessee – and those who still might thing a second ACC team deserves to be in. If Clemson loses in a close battle, there’s still going to be a fight since no two-loss team has ever made it into the CFP.

If Notre Dame gets rim-rocked, then that’s a different fight. There isn’t an obvious other option – the idea of a rematch of the Alabama 52-24 win over Texas A&M is hardly appealing – and the Irish still might make it in considering it would be 1-1 against the Tigers.

It’s comparing apples to a different, weirder type of apples, but the precedent might be Oklahoma vs. Kansas State 2003. OU got destroyed by Kansas State 35-7 in the Big 12 Championship and still made it into the BCS Championship, anyway.

– Now we get to see Trevor Lawrence be Trevor Lawrence. No, Clemson didn’t lose in the first meeting with Notre Dame – the best game of the season, a 47-40 overtime win for the Irish – because Lawrence didn’t play. DJ Uiagalelei went off for 439 yards and two touchdowns with no picks and a rushing score.

However, Lawrence is Lawrence, he has thrown six touchdown passes and no interceptions in two ACC Championships, he’s the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and now the team’s main man gets a shot at the Irish.

– Does Ian Book have any shot at the Heisman? No, but if he’s amazing and ends up beating Clemson a second time, he’ll be on several ballots. There’s no Kyle Trask flash, and he doesn’t have the explosive weapons around him like Mac Jones enjoys, but he’s a chain-moving machine, he has been close to flawless this year, and he’s more than good enough to hit Clemson for a second straight 300-yard game – he threw for 310 with a touchdown in the first meeting.

Why Notre Dame, Clemson Will Win
What’s Going to Happen, Prediction, History

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Oklahoma vs Iowa State Championship Prediction, Game Preview

Oklahoma Sooners vs Iowa State Cyclones: Big 12 Championship prediction and game preview.

Oklahoma vs Iowa State: Big 12 Championship prediction and game preview.

Oklahoma vs Iowa State: Big 12 Championship Broadcast

Date: Saturday, December 19
Game Time: 12:00 pm
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Network: ABC

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Oklahoma (7-2) vs Iowa State (6-2) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on the NFL, go to BetMGM 

Three Reasons Why You Should Watch The Big 12 Championship

– Is there any shot the Big 12 Champion can get into the College Football Playoff? Not really, but …

If Texas A&M loses to Tennessee, and Notre Dame rocks Clemson, and Northwestern beats Ohio State, and the winner in this Big 12 Championship destroys the loser, and …

Nah. Don’t get all tied up in that – no matter what the narrative is during the broadcast – and just enjoy what should be another great game between the two.

Iowa State won the first time around 37-30 with a good late rally that was almost dead even. Iowa State outgained OU 417 yards to 414. They each committed nine penalties, turned it over once, and it ended up being one of the best games of the Big 12 season.

Here comes Round 2.

– Iowa State won a piece of two Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships … in 1911 and 1912. The program has never won a Big 6 title, it never won a Big 7 title, and it never won a Big 8 or Big 12 championship, either.

Iowa State football started in the 1890s and first joined a league in 1908, and now it has a chance to win its first ever outright, all-to-itself, no-splitsies conference championship and go off to – most likely – the Cotton Bowl. For a team that started off the year with a 31-14 loss Louisiana and was 3-2, the Cyclones are one win away from the dream season.

On the flip side …

– Remembering there’s a six-year break in there, since 2000, Oklahoma has won ten of the last 14 Big 12 Championship Games including the last four and five of the last six. Throw in the non-title game years, and IU has won five Big 12 titles in a row.

Out of the four it lost, two were won by 2005 and 2009 Texas teams that played for the national title, one was won by a 2001 Colorado team that kept Texas out of the national championship, and the other was a stunning 35-7 Kansas State win over a 2003 Sooner team that went to play for the national championship anyway.

Win this again and just throw it on the pile.

Why Oklahoma, Iowa State Will Win
What’s Going to Happen, Prediction, History

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Ohio State vs. Northwestern: Big Ten Championship Prediction, Game Preview

Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Northwestern Wildcats: Big Ten Championship prediction and game preview

Ohio State vs. Northwestern: Big Ten Championship prediction and game preview.

Ohio State vs. Northwestern: Big Ten Championship Broadcast

Date: Saturday, December 19
Game Time: 12:00 pm
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Network: FOX

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Ohio State (5-0) vs Northwestern (6-1) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on the NFL, go to BetMGM 

Three Reasons Why You Should Watch The Big Ten Championship

– What does Ohio State have to do to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff? At this point, just win, and the team is almost certainly in no matter what – at worst, the CFP No. 4 Buckeyes will be one of a possible four Power Five conference champs with a win – and will almost certainly be off to the Rose Bowl as the 2 or 3 seed. However, it wouldn’t be a bad thing just to cement the spot with a dominant performance.

– Northwestern has a few Big Ten championships with the 1995 season the last outright title, and now under Pat Fitzgerald it’s in the title game for the second time in three seasons. Absolutely no one is talking about the possibility of something bigger, though.

Could Northwestern actually get into the College Football Playoff if it beats the No. 4 team in the country and is a 7-1 Big Ten champion? The loss to Michigan State might make it too tough a task, but a win would put pressure on the committee.

– It’s happening right out of the gate. It’s not one of the night games like it usually is, kicking off at noon at the same time as the Big 12 Championship and before the NFL games. It’s going to be a tone-setting game for the rest of Championship Saturday – maybe. Notre Dame and Clemson will know where they stand in the afternoon ACC Championship.

Why does that matter in any way? If Ohio State wins in a blowout, one spot is locked in. If it stumbles in a loss or doesn’t look great, that could change the narrative a bit, especially for the SEC Championship and Florida’s distant dream of getting into the CFP.

Why Ohio State, Northwestern Will Win
What’s Going to Happen, Prediction, History

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Nebraska vs Rutgers Prediction, Game Preview

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Rutgers Scarlet Knights prediction and game preview.

Nebraska vs Rutgers prediction and game preview.

Nebraska vs Rutgers Broadcast

Date: Friday, December 18
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Venue: SHI Stadium, Piscataway, NJ
Network: BTN

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Nebraska (2-5) vs Rutgers (3-5) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on the NFL, go to BetMGM

Why Nebraska Will Win

Can the Husker running game show up? It’s one of the strangest quirks of the Nebraska season that it’s 0-3 when it comes up with 200 yards on the ground, but the team really does work better when it’s able to get the rushing attack going – even if the results don’t show it.

Rutgers has to maintain control of the game throughout, and that starts with dominating on the defensive front – it’s 0-3 when allowing 200 rushing yards or more.

There’s no downfield passing game for the Knights, the offensive line gives up WAY too many plays behind the line, and moving the chains has been a chore.

Why Rutgers Will Win

The biggest difference between bad Rutgers and improved Rutgers? Takeaways and defensive pressure.

The team started out the season with with seven takeaways against Michigan State, didn’t do too much over most of the season, and then picked it back up with four takeaways in the last two games.

Nebraska? It’s been good for two turnovers or more in five of the seven games – all losses. The team is 0-5 with the multiple giveaways and 2-0 when  there aren’t.

The Scarlet Knights continue to lead the Big Ten in tackles for loss, there’s good pressure on the quarterback, and the special teams are solid – especially the punting game.

What’s Going To Happen

There are certain NFL teams – like the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers – that just don’t seem to know how to win. There are good parts, a whole lot of things look good, and the effort is there, but it all just doesn’t seem to work.

That’s Nebraska.

It’s not like the team is getting embarrassed, and it hasn’t been too bad on the lines, but there’s always some element that’s missing in every game. The run defense couldn’t stop Mohamed Ibrahim and the Minnesota attack, there were too many interceptions against Rutgers, the secondary couldn’t figure out Purdue …

There was always something.

It’s a fun Friday afternoon start time, the snowstorm that hit the area is supposed to be gone, and Rutgers is about to win back-to-back games for the first time since the end of the 2014 season.

CFN Experts Picks College | NFL

Nebraska vs Rutgers Prediction, Line

Rutgers 27, Nebraska 23
Bet on Nebraska vs Rutgers with BetMGM
Nebraska -6.5, o/u: 54
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5

Must See Rating: 3

5: The idea of watching Mank
1: Actually watching Mank

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USC vs Oregon: Pac-12 Championship Prediction, Game Preview

USC Trojans vs Oregon Ducks: Pac-12 Championship prediction and game preview.

USC vs Oregon: Pac-12 Championship prediction and game preview.

USC vs Oregon: Pac-12 Championship Broadcast

Date: Friday, December 18
Game Time: 8:00 ET
Venue: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
Network: FOX

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

USC (5-0) vs Oregon (3-2) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on the NFL, go to BetMGM 

Three Reasons Why You Should Watch The Pac-12 Championship

– USC probably has a weeeeeee bit of a better shot at the College Football Playoff than you might think. It would take an amazing performance by the Trojans, an ugly blowout, and a whole lot of luck from Notre Dame beating Clemson in the ACC Championship, and a Northwestern upset over Ohio State in the Big Ten title game wouldn’t hurt, but at least there would be a decent discussion if the Pac-12 champion is unbeaten. But …

– Oregon is pretty good at this whole CFP dream-killing thing. It was hardly a sure thing that Utah was going to the College Football Playoff last year if it won the Pac-12 Championship – Oklahoma would’ve been in the discussion – but it had a better-than-decent shot.

Oregon 37, Utah 15 ended that, and the game wasn’t even that close. It’s been a rough few weeks for the Ducks with two straight losses, but the season is made – and there’s possibly a trip to the New Year’s Six – with a win.

– These two have played fantastically fun games throughout this abbreviated season. The last three Oregon games were all decided by four points or fewer, and USC has played three thrillers – coming back late to beat Arizona, Arizona State and UCLA – and a fun one against Utah. This should be fun.

Why USC, Oregon Will Win
What’s Going to Happen, Prediction, History

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