Tag: championship week college football picks

FCS Championship North Dakota State vs Montana State Prediction, Game Preview

FCS Championship: North Dakota State vs Montana State prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Saturday.

FFCS Championship: North Dakota State vs Montana State prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, January 8

FCS Championship: North Dakota State vs Montana State How To Watch

Date: Saturday, January 8
Game Time: 12:00 pm ET
Venue: Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: North Dakota State (13-1), Montana State (12-2)
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FCS Championship: North Dakota State vs Montana State Game Preview

Why Montana State Will Win

Montana State did the work for the North Dakota State, taking out a South Dakota State team that handed the Bison their only loss of the year.

The Bobcats got a massive day from QB Tommy Mellott in his amazing run through the FCS playoffs.

Starting quarterback Matt McKay entered the transfer portal just before the playoff started, Mellott stepped in and has been brilliant with four touchdown passes and no picks to go along with 339 rushing yards and six scores over the three games.

His job is to keep on running – and not turn the ball over.

The Montana State offense was among the best in the FCS in turnover margin helped by a fantastic offensive front that doesn’t allow much of anything in the backfield.

The formula is simple for the Bobcats. Don’t make mistakes – they don’t get penalized – rely on the defense, make tons of timely plays in the backfield, and capitalize on everything.

However …

– College Football Expert Picks, National Championships

Why North Dakota State Will Win

North Dakota State can play that game, too.

Turnovers aren’t a problem for the Bison. There aren’t enough flags to get into a twist over, and the defense led the nation in points allowed throughout the FCS season.

The formula for North Dakota State is simple. Own third downs on both sides of the ball. Repeat.

The offense can put up points in bunches, but it’s the other side of the ball that should be able to take over. The D allowed over 24 points just once all year – the 27-19 loss to South Dakota State – and allowed 20 or fewer in 13 games.

The D has been on a dominant run in the FCS playoffs – allowing 24 points over the three games – and now it gets to focus on stopping Mellott, unless …

– NFL Expert Picks, CFN Week 18

What’s Going To Happen

Can Montana State get healthy again?

It was able to get by South Dakota State without a few key parts, but the one guy it needs to have back is leading rusher Isaiah Ifanse – who ran for over 1,500 yards and ten scores, but missed the South Dakota State game.

The Bobcats have been able to find ways all year to push through bumps and bruises, and they got through the late-season quarterback change.

However, North Dakota State is too good defensively to let anyone in the Montana State backfield go off.

Mellott has been great, but he’s not going to be able to bomb away quite like he did against South Dakota State. He’ll be fine, though, and the defense will keep this game in range throughout.

North Dakota State will control things just a wee bit more.

FCS Championship: North Dakota State vs Montana State Prediction, Lines

North Dakota State 23, Montana State 17
Line: North Dakota State -7.5, o/u: 42.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 5

5: “Ray Donovan: The Movie”
1: “This Is Us: Season 6″

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

USC vs Cal Prediction, Game Preview

USC vs Cal prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Saturday.

USC vs Cal prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, December 4

USC vs Cal How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 4
Game Time: 11:00 pm ET
Venue: California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA
How To Watch: FS1
Record: USC (4-7), Cal (4-7)
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USC vs Cal Game Preview

Why USC Will Win

Anything interesting happening with the USC football program?

No, Lincoln Riley won’t hit the ground running and coach up the Trojans against Cal – although, he sort of should; why not? – and there might be a whole slew of new parts to the puzzle about to transfer in over the next several months, but for now, closing out a disappointing season at 5-7 would be something positive in the dismal run.

The offense still works.

The team fought the good fight against a solid BYU team – losing 35-31 – with the O well balanced with over 200 yards rushing and passing. The Cal defense hasn’t seen a strong passing game in a whole.

The Bears were run over by UCLA last week and haven’t dealt with anyone who prefers to throw since early October. USC – for all of its issues – still leads the Pac-12 in total offense, is good at controlling the clock, and the line should be able to hold up just fine.

But …

– College Football Expert Picks, Championship Week

Why Cal Will Win

Cal hasn’t been bombed on by anyone but Sacramento State.

It got hit with a 300-yard day from future NFL starter Carson Strong in the opening week loss to Nevada, and it allowed over 200 yards through the air over the first half of the season, but that’s been about it.

The defense has been better, the offense that couldn’t go anywhere against UCLA was able to run at will the week before against Stanford, and now the team finally gets a home game for the first time since October.

Throw in just how gassed and beat up this USC team is in every way – this was a legitimate Pac-12 title contender that never got going and had its legs cut from under it early on – and Cal should be able to fight on through as long as QB Chase Garbers is able to have a decent day.

It’s been a struggle for him – especially when the team was depleted by Covid. When he’s on, though, the team wins.

– NFL Expert Picks, CFN Week 13

What’s Going To Happen

Oh, you think you’ve had enough college football for one day, do you?

After all of the fun from the conference championship games are over, and we’re all going through what the College Football Playoff will be and who’ll take the Heisman, we get one last late night snack to effectively close out the 2021 college football regular season – Army-Navy game aside.

It won’t be anything pretty, but considering this is the bowl game for both sides, there should be a little extra juice.

USC will get the passing attack rolling early on, but Cal – finally at home and as healthy as it’s been in a while – just a bit sharper as it plays like the version that beat Oregon State and Colorado in Berkeley before all of the Covid issues.

– College Football Schedule: Championship Week Predictions, Lines

USC vs Cal Prediction, Lines

Cal 34, USC 27
Line: Cal -4, o/u: 58
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5

Must See Rating: 3

5: The King’s Man
1: CMA Country Christmas

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Heisman Top Candidates: Who Wants To Win?

ACC Championship: Pitt vs Wake Forest Prediction, Game Preview

ACC Championship: Pitt vs Wake Forest prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Saturday.

ACC Championship: Pitt vs Wake Forest prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, December 4

ACC Championship: Pitt vs Wake Forest How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 4
Game Time: 8:00 ET
Venue: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
How To Watch: ABC
Record: Pitt (10-2), Wake Forest (10-2)
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ACC Championship: Pitt vs Wake Forest Game Preview

Why Pitt Will Win

The pass rush.

It gets overlooked with QB Kenny Pickett and the high-flying offensive fun show taking up most of the spotlight – and rightly so – but Pitt has just enough of a defense to be a problem for the Wake Forest attack.

In this – what’s sure to be a wild and crazy offensive show – merely holding serve might be enough.

The Panthers have gone back-and-forth with Oklahoma State throughout the late part of the season for the nation’s top spot in sacks, and they’re phenomenal at generating tackles for loss. Again, just coming up with one big sack might just be enough.

And then there’s the other big part of the Pitt puzzle – control.

Pickett and company might throw the ball a ton and put up a bazillion yards of total offense – fourth in the nation averaging 512 per game – but this is also an attack that owns the clock and is more measured than warp-speed.

Pitt leads the ACC in time of possession, and Wake Forest really, really doesn’t. The Panthers will have the ball for around ten minutes more, but …

– College Football Expert Picks, Championship Week

Why Wake Forest Will Win

You don’t need to control the clock and the tempo when you’re scoring 43 points per game with blinding speed.

The idea is to keep defenses on their heels and make them live in a constant backpedal.

Spread everyone out, let QB Sam Hartman – who only seems like he’s been there long enough to have been Tim Duncan’s recruiting chaperone – make the right read, and the brilliant Demon Deacon receivers will take it from there.

No, Wake Forest might not own the clock, but it controls games in a different way. There aren’t enough penalties to matter and there aren’t any turnovers – the team leads the ACC in turnover margin.

And yeah, no one’s going to confuse the Wake Forest defense for Georgia’s, but this group does get into the backfield to generate pressure and it’s phenomenal at taking the ball away.

The offense makes the other side press and take chances to keep up. That’s when the interceptions happen. However …

– NFL Expert Picks, CFN Week 13

What’s Going To Happen

Look, we all know you’re going to be watching the Big Ten Championship that’s going on at the same time. It’s Michigan, it’s for the College Football Playoff – it’s okay.

This game will be better.

The MAC Championship between Kent State and Northern Illinois will push this for the day’s most entertaining offensive fun-show, but it’ll be a back-and-forth fight full of big pass plays and lots of momentum swings.

Demand close to 800 passing yards between these two terrific quarterbacks, no safe leads, and expect the Pitt defense to close this out late with a few big plays in the backfield.

– College Football Schedule: Championship Week Predictions, Lines

ACC Championship: Pitt vs Wake Forest Prediction, Lines

Pitt 44, Wake Forest 38
Line: Wake Forest -3, o/u: 71.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5

Must See Rating: 5

5: The King’s Man
1: CMA Country Christmas

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Big Ten Championship: Michigan vs Iowa Prediction, Game Preview

Big Ten Championship: Michigan vs Iowa prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Saturday.

Big Ten Championship: Michigan vs Iowa prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, December 4

Big Ten Championship: Michigan vs Iowa How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 4
Game Time: 8:00 ET
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
How To Watch: FOX
Record: Michigan (11-1), Iowa (10-2)
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Big Ten Championship: Michigan vs Iowa Game Preview

Why Iowa Will Win

Oh poor Iowa …

Big underdog, no offense, no chance, sort of backed into this, it’s all about Michigan and finally being able win something massive under Jim Harbaugh.

This team is here for a reason.

No, the offense isn’t anything special – it was the worst in the Big Ten for most of the year until Indiana decided to take over the bottom spot – and there are a whole slew of matchup issues, but you don’t get to 10-2 in the Big Ten without doing something right.

The takeaways have returned. The Hawkeyes got to No. 2 in the nation after pounding on every possible turnover chance, but the production slowed against the better teams – Purdue, Wisconsin, Minnesota – before coming back with two takeaways against Illinois and Nebraska to close things out.

This isn’t going to be the type of team that hangs 50 on the board with a big offensive show, but it’s going to be measured, stay in control, and it’s not going to screw up.

There aren’t a lot of penalties, the team leads the Big Ten in turnover margin, and it needs to come up with multiple takeaways to pull this off. When there’s pressure and stress, the turnovers sometimes follow – and all the pressure and stress is on Michigan.

But …

– College Football Expert Picks, Championship Week

Why Michigan Will Win

Michigan doesn’t turn the ball over.

It gave away two fumbles against Northwestern and won easily, it turned it over twice against Michigan State and it mattered, and that was it.

There’s no reason to take any big chances.

Iowa’s offense doesn’t have enough pop to crank up the production, and unlike most normal Kirk Ferentz teams, it’s going to get owned on the lines.

The Michigan defensive front should dominate a mediocre Hawkeye offensive line that allows way too many plays in the backfield and doesn’t do anything for the run, and the Wolverine offensive front five leads the nation in fewest tackles for loss allowed and doesn’t give up sacks.

– NFL Expert Picks, CFN Week 13

What’s Going To Happen

It’s Michigan under Jim Harbaugh. We’re about to see if it’s allowed to have nice things.

Within 30 seconds after the breakout win over Ohio State finally ended, a large portion of TTUN (That Team Up North) Nation started freaking out that the team was finally going to get over the Buckeye hump only to blow it in the Big Ten Championship.

Nah.

Oh, it won’t be easy – Iowa really is good enough defensively to grind this down; no one has scored more than 27 on the Hawkeyes this year – and all bets are off if Michigan starts turning the ball over, but the lines will take control as the game goes on, the defense will rise up with a huge second half, and even though no one in Maize and Blue will be able to breathe easily until midway through the fourth quarter, yeah …

Michigan is going to be the 2 seed and – most likely – off to Arlington, Texas.

– College Football Schedule: Championship Week Predictions, Lines

Big Ten Championship: Michigan vs Iowa Prediction, Lines

Michigan 26, Iowa 17
Line: Michigan -11, o/u: 43.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 5

5: The King’s Man
1: CMA Country Christmas

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American Athletic Conference Championship: Cincinnati vs Houston Prediction, Game Preview

American Athletic Conference Championship: Cincinnati vs Houston prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Saturday.

American Athletic Conference Championship: Cincinnati vs Houston prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, December 4

American Athletic Conference Championship: Cincinnati vs Houston How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 4
Game Time: 4:00 ET
Venue: Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
How To Watch: ABC
Record: Cincinnati (12-0), Houston (11-1)
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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

American Athletic Conference Championship: Cincinnati vs Houston Game Preview

Why Houston Will Win

Shhhhhhhhhh, it’s been a very, very quiet Houston team that’s been able to sneak on through the season with 11 straight wins after dropping the opener to Texas Tech, and now it’s here with more than enough talent to play the spoiler role.

It’s not just about taking the American Athletic Conference title for the Cougars. Win this, and they might get the New Year’s Six bowl slot.

There isn’t that Notre Dame win like Cincinnati has, and there’s not even an Indiana – Houston didn’t beat a Power Five team – but the offense has been able to roll with a whole lot of points, the special teams makes a whole lot of big plays, and the defense is like nothing Cincinnati has seen since South Bend.

This Houston defense can swarm.

It’s amazing against the run – it held everyone but Navy to under 150 yards and allowed fewer than 100 yards in six of the last eight games – the pass rush is a terror, and this group takes the ball away in bunches.

The Cougars lead the American Athletic Conference in turnover margin, they’ve forced multiple takeaways in five of the last eight games, and Cincinnati turns the ball over WAY too often – three giveaways in three of the last four games.

– College Football Expert Picks, Championship Week

Why Cincinnati Will Win

Yeah, Houston has done a whole lot of big things and it’s been building to this point, but …

Houston’s schedule makes Cincinnati’s slate look like the SEC West.

Not to schedule-shame the American Athletic Conference, but Houston has played – according to the official NCAA stats – the second-easiest schedule in college football ahead of only Coastal Carolina.

The best win was over … SMU? Tulsa? There’s not a whole lot of meat on that bone.

No, Cincinnati’s schedule really isn’t that great – everyone knows the problem at this point when it comes to the College Football Playoff discussion – but even with a few close calls against some awful teams, the defense was still a rock when it had to be, the special teams has come up with huge plays to change around games – Indiana and East Carolina were the two biggies – and the offensive line has stepped up as games have gone on.

The Houston offensive line has ben fine. It hasn’t been special, and that could be the big difference against a Cincinnati defensive front that holds up well and should live in the backfield in this.

– NFL Expert Picks, CFN Week 13

What’s Going To Happen

How much will the Houston control matter?

Cincinnati is usually able to get teams to play on its terms, but it never seems to have the ball – time of possession doesn’t seem to mean much to Luke Fickell and this team.

On the flip side, Houston dominates the clock and the pace, keeping the ball for over 33 minutes per game as it makes teams press. Cincinnati will come up with a few mistakes as it tries to make something big happen to keep drives alive.

And then it’ll make something big happen to change the momentum around.

Houston will be deep in this for a full four quarters, but for the second year in a row, Cincinnati – thanks to a brilliant drive from QB Desmond Ridder – will pull out the American Athletic Conference championship in a thriller.

And then it’ll quickly check on what’s happening in the SEC Championship that’s going on at the exact same time.

– College Football Schedule: Championship Week Predictions, Lines

American Athletic Conference Championship: Cincinnati vs Houston Prediction, Lines

Cincinnati 31, Houston 30
Line: Cincinnati -10.5, o/u: 53
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 5

5: The King’s Man
1: CMA Country Christmas

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Rankings CFN 1-130 Rankings | AP | Coaches
Bowl Projections, CFP Predictions
Heisman Top Candidates: Who Wants To Win?

SEC Championship: Georgia vs Alabama Prediction, Game Preview

SEC Championship: Georgia vs Alabama prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Saturday.

SEC Championship: Georgia vs Alabama prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, December 4

SEC Championship: Georgia vs Alabama How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 4
Game Time: 4:00 ET
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
How To Watch: CBS
Record: Georgia (12-0), Alabama (11-1)
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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

SEC Championship: Georgia vs Alabama Game Preview

Why Georgia Will Win

Okay, Georgia defense. It’s time to show just how good you really are.

The Alabama offensive line has talent – lots and lots of talent. It has future NFL players, all-star skill, depth, and all the guys you’d expect a Nick Saban team to have at this stage of the program’s consistent dominance.

It also doesn’t provide a lick of pass protection.

QB Bryce Young is talented and savvy enough to overcome the issues – for the most part – but no matter how many ways you want to spin it, if you’ve scored three points for the first 58ish minutes and you need to go 97 yards to save your season against a very-good-not-Georgia Auburn D, something isn’t quite right somewhere on your O.

Georgia’s defense has been a brick wall all season long.

It allows just 79 rushing yards per game, it’s the best in the nation in pass efficiency defense, No. 2 in pass D, and it leads the country in total defense.

This isn’t the team to go against when your offense is still trying to figure some things out.

Best of all for the Dawgs, it’s not like they’ve had to tax their top players in a whole slew of high pressure situations. No one doubts that this group can rise up when needed – it did that in the opener against Clemson – but it’s been so good at getting the job done early that this is about as fresh a team as you’ll find this late into the year.

However …

– College Football Expert Picks, Championship Week

Why Alabama Will Win

That team that’s coming out of the tunnel as the SEC West champion has guys, too.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, the pass protection hasn’t been great, the offensive line hasn’t been consistent, and the defense has a weird way of checking out for long stretches from time to time, but the team is here.

Auburn could’ve taken care of business for everyone by just staying in bounds, or coming up with a stop when the Tide offense had 1st and 97 to go, but nope.

Does Alabama have the talent to hang around with Georgia? Of course.

Can it run with the Dawgs? Does it have the athletes? Does it have the We’re Alabama And Georgia Isn’t arrogance/confidence? Duh.

Georgia might be playing at a dominant-high level, but it also hasn’t had to deal with anyone that amazing for a while.

Tennessee is fine, and Kentucky is good, and Auburn and Arkansas are solid, but Georgia didn’t have to play Alabama in the regular season. It didn’t have to face Ole Miss, and it didn’t deal with the Mississippi State curveball.

No, of course there’s no dogging the Georgia schedule against nine bowl bound teams – no, there’s NO dogging 12-0 from the SEC – but it’s going to need to find a gear that it hasn’t had to use since early September.

To be kind, let’s just say Alabama is battle tested.

Yeah, Alabama has the guys, and it has …

– NFL Expert Picks, CFN Week 13

What’s Going To Happen

Bryce Young.

Really, do you believe that Stetson Bennett is ready to deliver an SEC Championship against an Alabama team has it on Georgia in one key area – pass rush.

Georgia’s pass rush is fantastic. Alabama leads the SEC in sacks and tackles for loss, and Bennett’s not going to have the 19 days to throw he enjoyed throughout the season.

However, this is going to be a LONG game.

Alabama will have the early energy. Young and company will score on its first drive, the charged up D will get off the field after a sack, and Bama will get a field goal off of its second drive.

For about a half, Alabama will play like the team that needs this to stay alive for the College Football Playoff, and Georgia will play like the team that’s in no matter what.

Social media will have handed Young the Heisman, Cincinnati fans will start freaking out as their team – playing Houston at the same time as this – struggles through its own start, and then …

Georgia will settle in.

The running game won’t take over, but it’ll be effective enough to take the pressure off of Bennett. The defense will start to stuff everything the Alabama ground game tries to do, it’ll hold firm on a deep Tide drive, and everything will slowly turn before a turnover leads to a late lead.

Young will march the Tide down the field with one last shot to pull it off, but his fourth down pass in the final moments will be broken up in the end zone to give Georgia the national – uh, er, sorry – SEC championship.

– College Football Schedule: Championship Week Predictions, Lines

SEC Championship: Georgia vs Alabama Prediction, Lines

Georgia 27, Alabama 23
Line: Georgia -6.5, o/u: 49.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 5

5: The King’s Man
1: CMA Country Christmas

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Rankings CFN 1-130 Rankings | AP | Coaches
Bowl Projections, CFP Predictions
Heisman Top Candidates: Who Wants To Win?

Sun Belt Championship: Appalachian State vs Louisiana Prediction, Game Preview

Sun Belt Championship: Appalachian State vs Louisiana prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Saturday.

Sun Belt Championship: Appalachian State vs Louisiana prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, December 4

Sun Belt Championship: Appalachian State vs Louisiana How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 4
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: Cajun Field, Lafayette, LA
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: Appalachian State (10-2), Louisiana (11-1)
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Sun Belt Championship: Appalachian State vs Louisiana Game Preview

Why Appalachian State Will Win

The 41-13 loss to Louisiana back on October 12th didn’t represent Appalachian State’s best work.

The offense turned it over three times, finished with just 211 yards, and everything was awful right out of the gate in a weird weeknight blowout loss.

Since then the Mountaineers have won six straight, the defense allowed 17 points over the last three games and 14 points or fewer in each of the last four, and the running game kicked it all back in again.

The offensive line has been phenomenal in pass protection, the defense is the best in the conference – the run D allowed 175 yards or fewer in every game but the loss to the Ragin’ Cajuns – and now the team gets to make amends.

In the first meeting, the offense turned it over four times, failed to convert on a third down chance, and it never looked or played like it normal.

But …

– College Football Expert Picks, Championship Week

Why Louisiana Will Win

Louisiana had a little something to do with Appalachian State’s performance.

This hasn’t always been the most consistent of teams this year, but it keeps on winning.

Levi Lewis and the passing attack has been able to fill in the gap when the running game didn’t blow up, the defense allowed 21 points or fewer in nine of the last ten games, and turnover margin has played a monster role in a whole lot of good, tough wins.

Going to Liberty was supposed to be a problem. The Ragin’ Cajuns came up with six takeaways on the road.

Going to Troy was supposed to be a problem. The Ragin’ Cajuns came up with three takeaways on the road.

The veteran offense has failed to turn the ball over in any of the last three games and only lost the ball more than once in one game – a 28-27 win over Arkansas State.

On the flip side, Appalachian State might take the ball away in bunches, but the offense has given it up multiple times in six of the last ten games.

Louisiana isn’t losing the turnover battle in this, and …

– NFL Expert Picks, CFN Week 13

What’s Going To Happen

The run defense will hold up again.

New Florida head coach Billy Napier will be around for one more game with his Louisiana team, and at home his team will come up with a big day on D and an efficient enough performance on O.

Appalachian State will get cranked up early and come up with a big first quarter, but Louisiana will slowly keep coming with a few long scoring drives to stay in it.

Two takeaways will help get the Ragin’ Cajuns over the hump.

– College Football Schedule: Championship Week Predictions, Lines

Sun Belt Championship: Appalachian State vs Louisiana Prediction, Lines

Louisiana 27, Appalachian State 24
Line: Appalachian State -3, o/u: 53
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 4

5: The King’s Man
1: CMA Country Christmas

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Mountain West Championship: San Diego State vs Utah State Prediction, Game Preview

Mountain West Championship: San Diego State vs Utah State prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Saturday.

Mountain West Championship: San Diego State vs Utah State prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, December 4

Mountain West Championship: San Diego State vs Utah State How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 4
Game Time: 3:00 ET
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, CA
How To Watch: FOX
Record: San Diego State (11-1), Utah State (9-3)
– Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+
– Today’s Best Bet to Lock in Now

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Mountain West Championship: San Diego State vs Utah State Game Preview

Why Utah State Will Win

Get this offense rolling and look out.

The Aggies have been great in the first year under Blake Anderson, cranking up the offense to be second in the Mountain West behind Fresno State, doing a great job of moving the chains on third downs with a strong midrange passing attack that can open things up and work deep.

San Diego State’s defense might be amazing, but this isn’t the type of team that wants to get behind.

Everything about the Aztecs is about controlling clock and tempo. Fresno State was able to get up fast in the 30-20 win in late October, and the SDSU offense couldn’t get back into the game.

The Utah State defense is good enough at getting into the backfield to screw up the Aztec offense, and veteran QB Logan Bonner – a playmaker at Arkansas State before following Anderson over to Utah State – isn’t going to panic or buckle against everything the SDSU D brings.

– College Football Expert Picks, Championship Week

Why San Diego State Will Win

Underestimate San Diego State at your own peril.

The Aztecs had to beat Boise State to get to Mountain West Championship, and they looked like they were dead.

The Broncos rolled out to a 16-3 lead midway through the second quarter and appeared to have the right formula to roll to a win like they did against Fresno State.

San Diego State flipped a switch.

Jordan Brookshire stepped in at quarterback and was brilliant, WR Jesse Matthews kept rolling through his fantastic season, and the amazing defense locked down hard.

The Aztecs are second in the nation against the run behind Wisconsin, they’re great at forcing takeaways – coming up with three against Boise State – and they’ve been able to hold up against most of the big bombers on the slate.

Jake Haener and Fresno State were able to get the job done in the win, but Nevada’s Carson Strong bombed away and UNLV threw for 372 yards, and it didn’t matter because the run defense took over.

And …

– NFL Expert Picks, CFN Week 13

What’s Going To Happen

San Diego State should be able to control the game with its ground attack.

It’s all slowed down a bit over the second half of the season. The Aztecs dominated on the ground in the first five games – including against Utah and Arizona – with over 200 rushing yards in each, but the offense became more balanced as defenses started to load up more to stop the deep backfield.

Utah State’s run defense is about to have a hard time.

Wyoming was able to run for 362 yards on the Aggies a few weeks ago, and while that was a bit of an anomaly, San Diego State will start to do a bit of that.

Utah State hasn’t faced a whole slew of tough ground games – it came up with the win over Air Force in a shootout – and now it will have to deal with the Aztec lines.

This won’t be scintillating. It’ll be clinical.

– College Football Schedule: Championship Week Predictions, Lines

Mountain West Championship: San Diego State vs Utah State Prediction, Lines

San Diego State 26, Utah State 17
Line: San Diego State -6, o/u: 50
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5

Must See Rating: 4

5: The King’s Man
1: CMA Country Christmas

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Heisman Top Candidates: Who Wants To Win?

MAC Championship: Kent State vs Northern Illinois Prediction, Game Preview

MAC Championship: Kent State vs Northern Illinois prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Saturday.

MAC Championship: Kent State vs Northern Illinois prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, December 4

MAC Championship: Kent State vs Northern Illinois How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 4
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: Kent State (7-5), Northern Illinois (8-4)
– Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+
– Today’s Best Bet to Lock in Now

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

MAC Championship: Kent State vs Northern Illinois Game Preview

Why Kent State Will Win

The Kent State offense is going to do the Kent State offense thing.

It’s the No. 1 offense in the MAC – averaging 490 yards per game – with one of its most impressive performances coming in the 52-47 win over Northern Illinois in early November.

The FlashFast style goes a million miles per hour – time of possession means nothing to this team – with a tremendous balance and always at peak efficiency.

In the first go-round against the Huskies, the Golden Flashes came up with 360 rushing yards, and 322 yards through the air, and it all worked.

Northern Illinois does a whole lot of things right, but it doesn’t come up with takeaways – it’s dead last in America with just one pick – and Kent State is among the best teams going in turnover margin. As frenetic as this attack is, it doesn’t screw up.

Kent State has turned it over just ten times this season. It’s 1-5 when giving the ball away – eight of the ten giveaways game in the five losses – and it didn’t turn the ball over in any of the wins until the key victory over Miami University in the regular season finale to get here.

– College Football Expert Picks, Championship Week

Why Northern Illinois Will Win

The Kent State defense is going to do the Kent State defense thing.

The Golden Flashes almost play defense like they want the other side to score just so the offense can get the ball back faster.

Kent State took Northern Illinois totally out of its game, and it still almost won.

In a perfect Huskie world it runs, runs some more, controls the game, and almost none of that happened in the first meeting with Rocky Lombardi throwing for 532 yards and three touchdowns.  However, NIU was still able to control the clock – keeping it for over 35 minutes.

Kent State just doesn’t stop the run. It allowed over 300 yards three times and over 200 yards to other times – it’s 1-4 when giving up 200 yards or more. Northern Illinois ran for 131 yards the first time around, and it’s about to pound up in this.

However …

– NFL Expert Picks, CFN Week 13

What’s Going To Happen

It would be better for Northern Illinois to play outside in the elements.

Kent State has shown it can rock on offense no matter what, but inside at Ford Field it’s going to be just a half-click quicker.

It’s all about which defense can hold serve, and Northern Illinois just doesn’t generate enough of a pass rush and doesn’t take the ball away.

They won’t combine for 1,345 yards of total O and 99 points like they did the first time around, but they won’t be far off.

– College Football Schedule: Championship Week Predictions, Lines

MAC Championship: Kent State vs Northern Illinois Prediction, Lines

Kent State 41, Northern Illinois 37
Line: Kent State -3.5, o/u: 74
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 4.5

5: The King’s Man
1: CMA Country Christmas

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Rankings CFN 1-130 Rankings | AP | Coaches
Bowl Projections, CFP Predictions
Heisman Top Candidates: Who Wants To Win?

Big 12 Championship: Oklahoma State vs Baylor Prediction, Game Preview

Big 12 Championship: Oklahoma State vs Baylor prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Saturday.

Big 12 Championship: Oklahoma State vs Baylor prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, December 4

Big 12 Championship: Oklahoma State vs Baylor How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 4
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
How To Watch: ABC
Record: Oklahoma State (11-1), Baylor (10-2)
– Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+
– Today’s Best Bet to Lock in Now

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– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Big 12 Championship: Oklahoma State vs Baylor Game Preview

Why Oklahoma State Will Win

The Cowboys took a punch.

They were in big, big trouble against Oklahoma with College Football Playoff viability on the line. The defense that hadn’t surrendered more than 24 points all year – and had allowed just 23 over a four game span leading up to Bedlam – hadn’t been the problem, but the team was down 33-24 in the fourth quarter.

The D stepped up, the O took over helped by a muffed OU punt return, and the team got the win and survived.

Now it’s time to get back to business.

Baylor is tough, dangerous, and disciplined, but it might not have QB Gerry Bohanon at 100% thanks to a leg injury, and it shouldn’t matter all that much even if he’s a full go. Oklahoma State won 24-14 in the first meeting despite turning the ball over three times.

The offense was balanced, the running game was great, and the defense lived in the Baylor backfield.

– College Football Expert Picks, Championship Week

Why Baylor Will Win

The offense keeps on humming.

It hasn’t been quite as strong as it was over the first part of the season, but it still leads the Big 12 with 446 yards per game thanks to an offensive line that’s been great at keeping everyone out of the backfield – except Oklahoma State in the lone loss.

It’s not like the team can’t grind. The offense failed to get to 300 yards against Iowa State and still managed to equal out a tough win – and without coming up with a slew of takeaways.

The three against Oklahoma State in the first meeting didn’t add up a win, but the defense has stepped up the pressure over the second half of the season with two takeaways in four of the last five games.

All of the pressure is on the Cowboys to not only win the game, but do it convincingly enough to make the College Football Playoff committee swoon.  They’re not going to be able to get away with three takeaways again – the Baylor D is too good.

The Bears haven’t allowed more than 125 rushing yards in the last seven games since the loss to the Cowboys.

– NFL Expert Picks, CFN Week 13

What’s Going To Happen

It’s hard to beat a team twice in a season, but Oklahoma State is about to do it.

Baylor will be more than just plucky. They’ll pull out all the stops, they’ll be balanced, and they should be able to make this a fight …

And then the Oklahoma State defense will take over in the second half.

The Cowboy defensive line will crank up the intensity after not generating enough pressure early on, the secondary will clamp down, and the offense will start to pull away with two good scoring drives.

It won’t be a blowout that demands a spot in the College Football Playoff, but as as 12-1 Power Five champion, Oklahoma State will get the call.

– College Football Schedule: Championship Week Predictions, Lines

Big 12 Championship: Oklahoma State vs Baylor Prediction, Lines

Oklahoma State 27, Baylor 17
Line: Oklahoma State -5.5, o/u: 46.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5

Must See Rating: 5

5: The King’s Man
1: CMA Country Christmas

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Championship Week Schedule | CFN Expert Picks
Rankings CFN 1-130 Rankings | AP | Coaches
Bowl Projections, CFP Predictions
Heisman Top Candidates: Who Wants To Win?