Tag: College Football Predictions

Clemson vs North Carolina ACC Championship Prediction Game Preview

Clemson vs North Carolina ACC Championship game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Championship Week game on Saturday, December 3

Clemson vs North Carolina ACC Championship prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Championship Week, Saturday, December 3

Clemson vs North Carolina ACC Championship Prediction Game Preview

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Clemson vs North Carolina How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 3
Game Time: 8:00 ET
Venue: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
How To Watch: ABC
Record: Clemson (10-2), North Carolina (9-3)
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Why North Carolina Will Win

Here comes the passing game.

It struggled a wee bit over the last few games in losses to Georgia Tech and NC State, but Drake Maye and company should cranking it back up against a shaky Clemson secondary.

The ACC Championship and an Orange Bowl appearance are on the line. The offense will be pushing from the start.

Clemson might be loaded with NFL talent – the line has its share of next-level starters – but the pass defense couldn’t hold on against a hot South Carolina passing game last week allowing 360 yards in the stunning loss. It had a hard time against Louisville’s attack, got bombed on by Wake Forest, and got run over by Notre Dame.

Even with the problems of the last few games, North Carolina is still No. 1 in the ACC in total offense and scoring, averaging 481 yards and 37 points per game.

It’s doing this without a slew of turnovers – just two in the last five games – or penalties, and there’s a good chance the defense finally starts to take the ball away.

Forcing mistakes has been a problem for the Tar Heels, but Clemson can’t stop screwing up. The penalties have been kept to a bare minimum, but the O turned it over 15 times in the last five games.

If this is going to be a shootout, Clemson can’t blink.

However …

College Football Playoff Final Top 25 Prediction
What it means for CFP: Utah beats USC for Pac-12 title

Why Clemson Will Win

Even if the Clemson passing game struggles like it did against South Carolina, the running game should pick up the slack if needed.

DJ Uiagalelei didn’t get a whole lot of help from the receiving corps, but he wasn’t great completing just 8-of-29 passes for 99 yards with a touchdown and a pick in the loss. However, he ran for 51 yards, Will Shipley went off, and the round attack came up wit 237 yards averaging over six yards per carry.

Keeping the momentum going shouldn’t be a problem against the North Carolina defensive front.

The Tar Heels don’t get gashed too much, but they get picked apart with teams having no issues cranking up the carries because they can.

Six teams ran the ball 40 times or more against the UNC defensive front – all ran for 170 yards or more. Notre Dame was the only team that ran it more than 40 times against Clemson.

North Carolina is a dangerous team for Clemson because of the way it can throw and throw some more. On the flip side, it’s a great fit with no pass rush, no plays in the backfield, and almost no takeaways – the D hasn’t come up with multiple turnovers since mid-October.

The Tiger skill parts need all the time and room they can get. That won’t be a problem.

– Championship Week Schedule, Game Previews

What’s Going To Happen

Clemson is back in the ACC Championship.

The loss to South Carolina might have been a massive disappointment with a possible College Football Playoff trip still in play, but after missing out last year, Clemson has a chance to make it seven ACC Championships in eight years.

Of course the bar is set at a whole lot higher for the program, but being that dominant in conference play is amazing no matter what.

It’s going to take a lot of points to get there, though. This won’t be quite like the 51-45 Clemson win over Wake Forest, but it might not be far off.

North Carolina will get to 300 passing yards, the defense will give up over 450 yards of total offense, and it’ll be an entertaining back-and-forth fight before the Tiger running game takes over in the fourth quarter.

– Expert Picks College Championship Week | NFL Week 13

Clemson vs North Carolina ACC Championship Prediction, Line

Clemson 44, North Carolina 34
Line: Clemson -7.5, o/u: 63.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
Clemson vs North Carolina ACC Championship Must See Rating (out of 5): 4.5

CFN 1-131 Rankings | Rankings by Conference
Path to the Playoff: 6 teams still in the race 

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Coastal Carolina vs Troy Sun Belt Championship Prediction Game Preview

Coastal Carolina vs Troy Sun Belt Championship game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Sun Belt Championship Week game on Saturday, December 3

Coastal Carolina vs Troy Sun Belt Championship prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Championship Week, Saturday, December 3

Coastal Carolina vs Troy Sun Belt Championship Prediction Game Preview

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Coastal Carolina vs Troy How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 3
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Troy, AL
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: Coastal Carolina (9-2), Troy (10-2)
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Why Coastal Carolina Will Win

It was a rocky road, but it’s here.

It only seems like Coastal Carolina is in its third straight Sun Belt Conference Championship Game.

It didn’t get a shot against Louisiana with the 2020 title game cancelled, and last year Louisiana and Appalachian State played for the third time in the four years of the Sun Belt Championship creation.

Coastal Carolina suffered a weird home loss to Old Dominion, got destroyed by James Madison – who should actually be in this representing the Sun Belt East, but wasn’t eligible in its first year up in the FBS world – and lost star QB Grayson McCall for the season.

Again, it’s here.

It managed to win close game after close game – five victories were by a touchdown or less – thanks to another year of high-powered passing efficiency and just enough takeaways to make up for the problems on defense.

The amazing Troy defense might be a rock, but it’ll give up passing yards. The offense will also turn it over just enough to matter.

Coastal Carolina has to be quick-hitting with the passing game, there have to be a few early scores to make Troy’s offense press a bit, and the takeaways have to be there to help the O.

However …

College Football Playoff Final Top 25 Prediction
What it means for CFP: Utah beats USC for Pac-12 title

Why Troy Will Win

The loss of Grayson McCall really did hurt the Chanticleer offense.

James Madison might be No. 1 in the nation against the run, but Coastal Carolina wasn’t able to do anything through the air, either, in the 47-7 loss last week.

The Troy defense isn’t quite as strong, but it isn’t far off.

The pass rush will be coming from the start – the Coastal Carolina timing should be off from the start.

Troy has won nine straight partly because the competition has been mediocre, but it’s also because the D keeps on coming up with takeaways, it’s fantastic at generating a pass rush, and it always finds ways to keep the score low and stay in control.

Coastal Carolina’s passing game might be great, but it has a problem when the running game isn’t rocking. It has to average at least four years per carry to keep everything moving, but that’s a problem – Troy allows just 3.3 yards per pop.

– Championship Week Schedule, Game Previews

What’s Going To Happen

The Troy formula should continue to work. Run well, rely on the defense, repeat.

The Trojans are 8-0 when at least getting to 70 rushing yards – and 1-2 when it didn’t – and Coastal Carolina hasn’t allowed fewer than 90 against any FBS team.

This might not be scintillating, but it should be close throughout before Troy finally breaks through with the ground game. Coastal Carolina’s two losses came in the two worst days of the season against the run. This won’t be that bad, but Troy will come up with a time crunching drive to survive.

– Expert Picks College Championship Week | NFL Week 13

Coastal Carolina vs Troy Sun Belt Championship Prediction, Line

Troy 27, Coastal Carolina 24
Line: Troy -8.5, o/u: 48.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
Coastal Carolina vs Troy Sun Belt Championship Must See Rating (out of 5):  4

CFN 1-131 Rankings | Rankings by Conference
Path to the Playoff: 6 teams still in the race 

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Fresno State vs Boise State Mountain West Championship Prediction Game Preview

Fresno State vs Boise State Mountain West Championship game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Championship Week game on Saturday, December 3

Fresno State vs Boise State Mountain West Championship prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Championship Week, Saturday, December 3

Fresno State vs Boise State Mountain West Championship Prediction Game Preview

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Fresno State vs Boise State How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 3
Game Time: 4:00 ET
Venue: Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
How To Watch: FOX
Record: Fresno State (8-4), Boise State (9-3)
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Why Fresno State Will Win

Fresno State didn’t have its guy the first time around.

It held up well in the meeting with Boise State with the score tied at 20 late in the third quarter before allowing 20 unanswered points in the 40-20 loss. Bulldog QB Logan Fife struggled without a slew of downfield completions with no touchdowns with two picks.

That was the last time Fresno State lost.

Fife and the team picked it back up with two straight wins after losing in Boise, and then star QB Jake Haener returned and everything took off.

Starting with a miraculous comeback to beat San Diego State, the Bulldogs got rolling from there. The O led the Mountain West in yards and scoring, it’s great on third downs, and it lost just one turnover in the last four games.

Boise State was able to get by Utah State last week despite allowing over 300 passing yards. It lost the other two games when it for over 200 passing yards – BYU threw for 377 and Oregon State went for 292 – and faced no one else that could throw, a Haener-less Fresno State team aside.

However …

College Football Playoff Final Top 25 Prediction
What it means for CFP: Utah beats USC for Pac-12 title

Why Boise State Will Win

There’s something about San Diego State that allowed the stars of the Mountain West to find themselves.

Fresno State’s season kicked it into gear with two touchdowns in 13 seconds, and Boise State’s run to the Mountain West title game got rolling in the second half of the 35-13 win over the Aztecs. That’s when the rushing attack became almost unstoppable.

Air Force was able to keep it down, and BYU allowed just 104 yards in Boise State’s only loss over the last eight games, but it has been dominant on the ground with 200 yards or more in six of the last eight games after sputtering a wee bit to start the season.

The Broncos are 7-0 when running for 140 yards or more. Fresno State is 1-4 when allowing 160 rushing yards or more.

– Championship Week Schedule, Game Previews

What’s Going To Happen

It’ll be cold in Boise on Saturday, but the weather won’t affect the Fresno State passing game enough to matter.

The Boise State defense might be fantastic, but it also piled up big stats against a slew of teams that couldn’t do anything offensively.

It got San Diego State before Jalen Mayden took over – the O hit just 2-of-16 passes.

New Mexico finish the regular season with the nation’s worst offense. Colorado State wasn’t far off, Nevada was 122nd in the nation, Wyoming 117th, San Diego State 116th.

It beat the teams with struggling offenses and lost or had problems with the ones that could get past 300 yards. Fresno State will get past 300 yards.

It’s not like Fresno State beat a slew of teams with killer offenses, either – it played a lot of the same teams Boise State did. But Boise State will be able to run the ball.

The passing attack will overcome the running game in a fun 60-minute fight.

– Expert Picks College Championship Week | NFL Week 13

Fresno State vs Boise State Mountain West Championship Prediction, Line

Fresno State 30, Boise State 27
Line: Boise State -3.5, o/u: 54.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Fresno State vs Boise State Mountain West Championship Must See Rating (out of 5): 4

CFN 1-131 Rankings | Rankings by Conference
Path to the Playoff: 6 teams still in the race 

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UCF vs Tulane American Athletic Conference Championship Prediction Game Preview

UCF vs Tulane American Athletic Conference Championship game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Championship Week game on Saturday, December 3

UCF vs Tulane American Athletic Conference Championship prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Championship Week, Saturday, December 3

UCF vs Tulane American Athletic Conference Championship Prediction Game Preview

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UCF vs Tulane How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 3
Game Time: 4:00 ET
Venue: Yulman Stadium, New Orleans, LA
How To Watch: ABC
Record: UCF (9-3), Tulane (10-2)
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Why UCF Will Win

What did UCF do right a few weeks ago in the 38-31 win at Tulane? The passing attack wasn’t anything special, but the defense came up with two takeaways. The D struggled in the second half after the O came up with a 31-14 lead, but the running game took over when it had to.

The offense finished the regular season as the best in the AAC, it was the best on the ground, and it lead the way on third downs. To do it again, it all starts with the offensive line taking over right away and the running game rolling for well over 200 yards again.

The Knights mixed it up with QB John Rhys Plumlee running for 176 yards, running backs Isaiah Bowser and RJ Harvey combined for 137 yards, and that wasn’t even their best rushing performance of the season.

200 yards is the norm for the UCF ground game with 300 or more in four games. Tulane’s defense has been good overall but the line doesn’t get in the backfield enough, the disruption isn’t there, and …

College Football Playoff Final Top 25 Prediction
What it means for CFP: Utah beats USC for Pac-12 title

Why Tulane Will Win

Tulane’s defense didn’t generate any takeaways in the first meeting. That’s not the norm.

UCF didn’t turn the ball over in the win. That’s not the norm.

UCF is -5 on the year in turnover margin with six in the last two games and 13 over the last five – the Tulane game was the only one without a giveaway in the bunch. It gave it up multiple times in six of the last ten games.

On the flip side. Tulane beat SMU with five takeaways, got by Memphis with four, and force multiple takeaways in five games, winning them all on the way to finishing +7 in turnover margin.

Tulane’s offense is efficient, effective, and controlling. No, it can’t hang yard-for-yard with UCF if this gets into a battle of ground attacks, but it can keep the other O on the sidelines for long stretches.

But it needs those takeaways.

Not only is Tulane 8-0 when it forces at least one turnover, but it won by double-digits in all five games with multiple takeaways. Which is why …

– Championship Week Schedule, Game Previews

What’s Going To Happen

Tulane will win this and be off to the Cotton Bowl with a good enough defensive performance to survive.

It’ll give up yards, and UCF’s offense will take over at times, but the turnovers will be there. Tulane will be +2 in turnover margin, and that will be just enough of a difference.

That, and the running of Tyjae Spears. The star back was used as a workhorse last week with 35 carries for 181 yards and two scores in the win over Cincinnati, but that’s not normally his his role. He ripped off big yards in the first meeting with UCF, and in this he’ll take over late.

– Expert Picks College Championship Week | NFL Week 13

UCF vs Tulane American Athletic Conference Championship Prediction, Line

Tulane 31, UCF 27
Line: Tulane -3.5, o/u: 56.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
UCF vs Tulane American Athletic Conference Championship Must See Rating (out of 5): 4.5

CFN 1-131 Rankings | Rankings by Conference
Path to the Playoff: 6 teams still in the race 

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– Bowl Projections | Rankings

Ohio vs Toledo MAC Championship Prediction Game Preview

Ohio vs Toledo MAC Championship game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the MAC Championship Week game on Saturday, December 3

Ohio vs Toledo MAC Championship prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Championship Week, Saturday, December 3

Ohio vs Toledo MAC Championship Prediction Game Preview

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Ohio vs Toledo How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 3
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
How To Watch: ESPN
Record: Ohio (9-3), Toledo (7-5)
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Why Ohio Will Win

Oh would this be sweet for the Ohio program.

Four times the bridesmaid but never the bride in the MAC Championship, Ohio became known for consistent excellence under Frank Solich, but it could never quite get over the hump and win the thing.

Eastern Michigan and Kent State are the only other MAC programs that haven’t won the championship game yet.

Successor Tim Ablin was supposed to keep it all going, but the 3-9 2021 season and 2-3 start wasn’t exactly confidence-inspiring.

And then it all kicked in.

Ohio is here with a chance at winning its first MAC Championship game because the offense exploded, the passing game was amazing, and the defense made up for a slew of issues with lots and lots of takeaways.

The team is +13 on the year in turnover margin, the running game is good enough to balance things out over the last few weeks, and now it all gets a semi-reeling Toledo team that lost its last two games and three of the last five helped by a whole bunch of turnovers.

They weren’t a problem over the first half of the year, and then things got ugly with six in the loss to Buffalo has part of a run of 16 given up over the last five games.

College Football Playoff Final Top 25 Prediction
What it means for CFP: Utah beats USC for Pac-12 title

Why Toledo Will Win

Oh would this be sweet for the Toledo program.

It’s gone 13 seasons without a losing campaign, but there’s always been that one misfire here and there that kept ruining shot after shot at the MAC title. The lone exception was the 2017 MAC Championship under Jason Candle, but that wasn’t the springboard it appeared to be at the time.

Getting it done this time would be a huge moment for Candle. It wouldn’t put him back in the Next Big Thing category of coaches, but it wouldn’t hurt.

After a year with a rough late collapse at San Diego State, a 77-21 loss at Ohio State, and a rocky finishing kick with no consistency whatsoever, this one game would make everything okay.

The big plays are there, but the accuracy with the passing game isn’t. That’s okay. Keep throwing it and eventually everything will open up against the nation’s worst pass defense.

Ohio allows over 300 passing yards per game with 200 or more in every game but the win over Northern Illinois. On the flip side, the Bobcat offense lost heart-and-soul star QB Kurtis Rourke for the season just before the finale. The 196 passing yards last week against Bowling Green were the fewest outside of the blowout loss to Penn State.

– Championship Week Schedule, Game Previews

What’s Going To Happen

Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers.

Toledo is 1-5 when giving it away multiple times – the lone win over Eastern Michigan was a 27-24 right – and 6-0 when it doesn’t.

Ohio will give up a ton of yards, but it’ll make up for it by generating those two takeaways it’ll need. No, the offense won’t be able to throw like Toledo will, but the running game will get enough to take control when the pass defense needs a break after getting roasted.

By the way, the USA World Cup showdown with The Netherlands should be close to over just as this gets started – unless it goes into extra time. If this gets into a shootout, it’ll be halftime before the fun is over in Doha.

– Expert Picks College Championship Week | NFL Week 13

Ohio vs Toledo MAC Championship Prediction, Line

Ohio 30, Toledo 27
Line: Toledo -1.5, o/u: 54.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5
Ohio vs Toledo MAC Championship Must See Rating (out of 5): 4

CFN 1-131 Rankings | Rankings by Conference
Path to the Playoff: 6 teams still in the race 

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TCU vs Kansas State Big 12 Championship Prediction Game Preview

TCU vs Kansas State Big 12 Championship game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Big 12 Championship Week game on Saturday, December 3

TCU vs Kansas State Big 12 Championship prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Championship Week, Saturday, December 3

TCU vs Kansas State Big 12 Championship Prediction Game Preview

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TCU vs Kansas State How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 3
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
How To Watch: ABC
Record: TCU (12-0), Kansas State (9-3)
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Why Kansas State Will Win

Kansas State can absolutely pull this off.

It had a rough game against Texas, and there were quarterback issues in the first meeting with TCU – which turned out okay, but losing Adrian Martinez early changed the plan – but this team has the style and makeup to be terrific in this.

Best of all, there’s no real pressure.

Of course there’s a little bit – it would be nice to wear the 2022 Big 12 Champion t-shirt – but lose, and it’s almost certainly off to the Sugar Bowl. Win, and it’s off to the Sugar Bowl while potentially screwing up TCU’s shot at the College Football Playoff.

It’s been lost with all the big things TCU has done, but Kansas State has been even more dominant at times with six wins by double-digits including the last three games to get here. It’s No. 1 in the Big 12 in scoring defense, No. 2 in turnover margin, and No. 2 behind Oklahoma in rushing.

The ground game didn’t stop once Will Howard stepped in at quarterback, but  the offense as a whole has been stronger.

Deuce Vaughn continues to be a terror, Martinez will step in here and there to add a wrinkle to the mix, and the improved passing game under Howard has made everything more explosive. There’s a reason Kansas State is 4-0 when Howard starts.

But it’s about the run. As long as the Wildcats are averaging five yards per carry or more, they’ll be a problem.

TCU has allowed five yards or more per carry four times. Once was in the blowout over Iowa State last week, two other times were the close calls against Baylor and Kansas, and …

College Football Playoff Final Top 25 Prediction
What it means for CFP: Utah beats USC for Pac-12 title

Why TCU Will Win

Kansas State ran well in the first meeting and still lost.

Keep doubting TCU. Keep thinking that “this is the week” reality finally hits.

The team keep playing with more and more confidence, it found a great offensive mix that can adapt and adjust on the fly, and it helps top have the most dangerous passing combination in college football outside of Knoxville – at least before Hendon Hooker was lost for the year with a knee injury.

Max Duggan is in the Heisman race. America might not know who he is, but depending on what Caleb Williams does or doesn’t do in USC’s Pac-12 Championship game against Utah on Friday night, at the very least the chance will be there to be a finalist.

All Duggan has done is throw 29 touchdown passes with three picks to go along with five touchdown runs as the leader of this year’s out-of-the-blue College Football Playoff team. He hit Kansas State for 280 yards and three touchdowns in the first meeting.

Quenton Johnston caught four of those passes for 74 yards and a touchdown. He missed the Iowa State game with an ankle injury, but he’s ready to go for one of the most dangerous downfield passing attacks in the country. But just like it is for the other side, it’s the ground game that’s going to matter.

Kansas State is 1-3 when allowing 160 rushing yards or more and 8-0 when it doesn’t. TCU has been just fine in the time of possession battle, and it has the deep threat pop in Duggan-to-Johnston, but it’s that running game that averages close to 200 yards per game that should set the tone.

– Championship Week Schedule, Game Previews

What’s Going To Happen

Who takes a punch better than TCU? It’s going to have to do it again.

It’s not like it’s more dominant in the fourth quarter – it scored 127 in the first and 127 in the fourth – but time and again the team was able to rally back and come through when needed.

Kansas State will get out to a hot start. The almost perfect balance will shine through with a great first two scoring drives to set the tone, but everything will settle in from there.

Midway through the third, TCU will finally come through with the drive to take over – and will wrap up the College Football Playoff. As long as Kansas State doesn’t win by a bajillion, there won’t be a whole lot for the Horned Frogs to worry about. Any and all concerns would go away with a win.

Forget the Iowa State game, TCU isn’t going to take down a game like this without a little drama. It’ll be a fun back-and-forth fight with the Horned Frogs hanging on late.

– Expert Picks College Championship Week | NFL Week 13

TCU vs Kansas State Big 12 Championship Prediction, Line

TCU 34, Kansas State 31
Line: TCU -2.5, o/u: 61.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3
TCU vs Kansas State Big 12 Championship Must See Rating (out of 5): 5
Kansas State vs TCU Experts Picks

CFN 1-131 Rankings | Rankings by Conference
Path to the Playoff: 6 teams still in the race 

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New Mexico State vs Valparaiso Prediction Game Preview

New Mexico State vs Valparaiso game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the game on Saturday, December 3

New Mexico State vs Valparaiso prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Saturday, December 3

New Mexico State vs Valparaiso Prediction Game Preview

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New Mexico State vs Valparaiso How To Watch

Date: Saturday, December 3
Game Time: 3:00 ET
Venue: Aggie Memorial Stadium, Las Cruces, NM
How To Watch: FloFootball
Record: New Mexico State (5-6), Valparaiso (5-6)
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Why Valparaiso Will Win

The Crusaders shouldn’t be just a speed bump.

They’ve got an efficient enough passing game and good enough run defense to give New Mexico State problems. There’s a set style that has to work.

The Angels have to control the game on the ground, they can’t rely on the passing attack to do much, and they can’t turn the ball over. They gave it up three times in the five wins and 12 times in the six losses – they have yet to win when turnover it over multiple times.

Valpo needs the takeaways, and they have the pass rush to help force them. Get the D into the backfield, the O needs Aaron Dawson and the ground attack to take over early, and …

– Bowl Projections | Bowl Bubble: Who’s Bowl Eligible?

Why New Mexico State Will Win

This is a dangerous Valpo team, but it’s painfully inconsistent.

Dawson is a playmaker, and the combination of Sam Hafner and Kevin Spelman can get behind the line, but the offense has a problem keeping defense out to the backfield.

It’s not like New Mexico State has a big-time pass rush, but there’s enough to show up and be disruptive. The pass defense should hold on, and the offense might be able to carry over the balance from last week’s shocking 49-14 win over Liberty.

As long as there aren’t a ton of turnovers – the Aggies cleared them up for the most part of the second half of the season – they’ll be fine.

– Schedule, Game Previews

What’s Going To Happen

It’s been a fun week for New Mexico State football.

Jerry Kill’s bench destroyed Liberty as part of a run of four wins in five games, it got this game schedule, and it found out that it received a special waiver to go bowling even at 5-6 – the San Jose State game was cancelled earlier in the year and couldn’t be rescheduled.

Win or lose, New Mexico State will be in a bowl game. It’ll be a win with the Aggie defensive line generating enough pressure to stall too many promising Valpo drives.

– Expert Picks College | NFL Week 13

New Mexico State vs Valparaiso Prediction, Line

New Mexico State 44, Valparaiso 17
Line: New Mexico State -31, o/u: 55.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1
New Mexico State vs Valparaiso Must See Rating (out of 5): 1

CFN 1-131 Rankings | Rankings by Conference
Path to the Playoff: 6 teams still in the race 

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Conference championship game Buckeyes Wire predictions

We keep things going with our weekly picks and predictions with our writers selecting the winners of the top six conference championship games.

Ohio State may be sitting at home after losing to Michigan for the second straight year, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some quality games on tap for this weekend with all the conference championship games going on. In fact, if you are still rooting for the Buckeyes to get into the College Football Playoff (and why wouldn’t you), you should be closely tuned to things, especially with what’s happening in Las Vegas with the Pac-12 Championship game. Root for a USC loss and Ohio State is most likely in all of the fun again.

But there’s more than that. Every year (and every week of the season) we have a little friendly competition among our writers for world domination when it comes to picking Big Ten and some of the bigger college football games.

With the conference relegated to just one game now with the Big Ten Championship game in Indy between Michigan and Purdue, we change gears a little bit and make our predictions and picks against the spread and straight up for all of the conference championship games.

So, who will take home trophies this weekend? Here’s how we see things, but of the “pick six” variety of the six most-followed championship games.

As a reminder, if there’s an asterisk next to the pick, that means the team will win, but not cover. If there is a tie, rather than have a cage match or old-fashioned duel, we’ll settle it with less violence and go with the tried, yet true, coin flip where George Washington has the say.

EXAMPLE:
– If you think Ohio State will win minus-3.5 over an opponent: OSU
– If you think Ohio State will win outright: OSU
– If you think Ohio State will win, but NOT cover: OSU*

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

Here are our expert picks for a conference championship week, but first, here are the results so far, before all the bowl games which will get involved with as well.

North Texas vs UTSA Conference USA Championship Prediction Game Preview

North Texas vs UTSA game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Conference USA Championship Week game on Friday, December 2

North Texas vs UTSA prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Championship Week, Friday, December 2

North Texas vs UTSA Conference USA Championship Prediction Game Preview

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North Texas vs UTSA Conference USA Championship How To Watch

Date: Friday, December 2
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Venue: Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
How To Watch: CBS Sports Network
Record: North Texas (7-5), UTSA (10-2)
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Why North Texas Will Win

The Mean Green came close the first time around.

They went to UTSA, got the passing game going, and had their chances in the 31-27 loss. As long as they can keep bombing away, they’ll have a shot.

Consistency has been a bit of an issue, but no one in Conference USA gets more big plays out of the passing game partly because no on in the conference is better in pass protection. Giving QB Austin Aune time to work won’t be a problem – UTSA doesn’t have much of a pass rush to worry about.

Aune struggled with his accuracy, but he threw for 325 yards and three scores in the first meeting. He’ll come up with close to 300 yards in this to keep up the pressure.

However …

– Bowl Projections | Bowl Bubble: Who’s Bowl Eligible?

Why UTSA Will Win

North Texas might have been strong the first time around, but UTSA did win.

Frank Harris threw a pick, but the offense was well balanced, there weren’t any big problems moving the chains, and it should all work again against a North Texas defense that allows over 450 yards per game.

On a nine-game winning streak, the defending Conference USA champion has the consistency North Texas doesn’t. It has the ability to run or 250 yards, bomb away when needed, and keep things moving against a defense that’s awful at coming up with third down stops.

The Mean Green are 5-0 when allowing fewer than 150 rushing yards and 2-5 when giving up more. UTEP is 7-0 when hitting the 150 mark.

– Championship Week Schedule, Game Previews

What’s Going To Happen

North Texas isn’t going to make this easy.

Just when it seems like UTSA has things under control, the Mean Green big plays will connect to keep the pressure on.

The UTSA offense will be steady throughout, it’ll control the clock late, and the program will make it two Conference USA championships in a row in a fun back-and-forth shootout.

– Expert Picks College Championship Week | NFL Week 13

North Texas vs UTSA Prediction, Line

UTSA 41, North Texas 31
Line: UTSA -8.5, o/u: 67.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5
North Texas vs UTSA Must See Rating (out of 5): 3.5

CFN 1-131 Rankings | Rankings by Conference
Path to the Playoff: 6 teams still in the race 

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USC vs Utah Pac-12 Championship Prediction Game Preview

USC vs Utah Pac-12 Championship game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Pac-12 Championship Week game on Friday, December 2

USC vs Utah Pac-12 Championship prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch. Championship Week, Friday, December 2

USC vs Utah Pac-12 Championship Prediction Game Preview

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USC vs Utah Pac-12 Championship How To Watch

Date: Friday, December 2
Game Time: 8:00 ET
Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
How To Watch: FOX
Record: USC (11-1), Utah (9-3)
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Why Utah Will Win

How did the Utes do it the first time around?

They got down big early, rallied back, and rallied again with Cameron Rising running for a touchdown and the two in the final minute to beat USC 43-42 in one of the best games of the college football season.

The running game is going to continue to be a problem for the Trojans. They held up relatively well, but allowed over four yards per carry to go along with the 424 yards from Rising.

The Utah offense should be good for at least 400 yards – even if it doesn’t get to the 562 that were the most allowed by the Trojans all year – with the versatility to do whatever it wants.

Defensively, the Utes haven’t allowed more than 70 rushing yards in four of the last five games, and USC doesn’t have Travis Dye, who led the way with 76 yards in the first meeting.

Let Caleb Williams get his yards, accept that there will be a few explosive plays, and then let the offense do the work. Every third down stop and every empty USC possession will mean everything.

The pressure is ALL on the other side of the field. Utah is in the Rose Bowl with a win, and it’s probably in the Alamo if it loses. On the other side, USC has the College Football Playoff right there for the taking.

– Bowl Projections | Bowl Bubble: Who’s Bowl Eligible?

Why USC Will Win

USC had them.

It got up fast on Utah, got up late, and it couldn’t hang on against a strong team in one of the tougher environments in college football.

But it was on the road.

Utah managed to beat Washington State, but it’s 1-3 this year away from Salt Lake City against teams that finished with a winning record after going 1-4 last year against the good opponents that didn’t come to Rice-Eccles.

Yeah, that one win last year was over Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship, but the Utes had that team’s number. USC has a much, much better quarterback situation and even more firepower.

It’s not like Utah stopped the Trojan attack that rolled up 556 yards of total offense. It came up big when it had to, but Caleb Williams got off that field thinking he let one slip away.

There’s a reason he’s – probably – about to win the Heisman Trophy. Over the last three weeks he’s hitting even bigger shots down the field, he has been even more accurate, and he took his game up a few notches in the biggest games of the year. He’s handled the stress fine so far.

Yeah, the pressure is on, but there’s a way to tone that down – rely on the run defense.

The USC D might have been pounded on earlier in the year, and UCLA cranked up 204 yards, but the defense held up better over the last month, it rose up against the Notre Dame running game, and …

– Championship Week Schedule, Game Previews

What’s Going To Happen

Utah is going to get its yards.

The USC defensive front seemed to accept the challenge of the moment last week, but the secondary has crashed allowing over 300 yards in five of the last six games.

However, the D continues to make up for its issues with lots and lots of takeaways. The five saved the day against UCLA, the two against Notre Dame mattered, and overall the team is a whopping +24 in turnover margin.

Utah will get up fast and look like it’s in control, but Williams and the Trojans will creep on back before taking over midway through the second half after the team calms down and settles in.

It’s not going to be as much fun as the first time around, but it’ll be a blast.

One way or another, the College Football Playoff will probably be settled before Saturday.

– Expert Picks College Championship Week | NFL Week 13

USC vs Utah Pac-12 Championship Prediction, Line

USC 38, Utah 34
Line: USC -2.5, o/u: 66.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
USC vs Utah Pac-12 Championship Must See Rating (out of 5): 5
Utah vs USC Experts Picks

CFN 1-131 Rankings | Rankings by Conference
Path to the Playoff: 6 teams still in the race 

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