PAC-12 Championship
#5 Utah vs. #13 Oregon
Where: Santa Clara, CA
When: Friday, 8:00 PM
TV: ABC
Line: UT -6.5 O/U: 45.5
Who to Watch For: Oregon QB Justin Herbert entered the season as one of the favorites to be the first quarterback taken in next year's NFL Draft. Although that no longer looks to be the case (thanks to the play of Joe Burrow), Herbert, who has thrown for 3140 yards, 31 touchdowns and five interceptions this season, will still be one of the first signal-callers taken next April.
While Oregon has ridden Herbert's arm this season, Utah has ridden the legs of Zack Moss. Moss has toted the rock 200 times this year, rushing for 1246 yards and 15 touchdowns. He is also a good argument for Utah's inclusion in the Playoff. He got injured in the first half and did not return in Utah's lone defeat (a 30-23 loss at USC), meaning the team's only blemish came largely without the services of its best player. Luckily, his services will be available Friday night.
Playoff Implications: The PAC-12's hopes of being represented in the College Football Playoff for the first time since the inaugural CFP in 2015 rest on the shoulders of Utah. If the one-loss Utes take care of Oregon Friday night and Georgia loses to LSU Saturday, they will likely be the fourth and final Playoff team.
Fun(?) Facts: Utah's team name is the Utes. "Utes" are a segment of Native Americans who reside in Utah and Nevada. The Utes once had a head coach whose nickname was "Cactus". I'm assuming this was because he had a prickly personality and didn't drink a lot of water.
Oregon's team name is the Ducks. The team was known as the Webfoots (which is just a sillier way to say Ducks) until the 1960's. The Webfoots had several nickname-laden head coaches, including "Cap", "Doc", "Prink" (no, I have no idea what that means), and "Tex".
Pick: Utah 28, Oregon 24
Big 12 Championship
#7 Baylor @ #6 Oklahoma
Where: Arlington, TX
When: Saturday, Noon
TV: ABC
Line: OU -9 O/U: 65
Who to Watch For: Joe Burrow may be the clear favorite to win the Heisman Trophy now, but back in Week 1, it looked like Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts might run away with the award following a six-touchdown performance in his Sooner debut. The Hurts Heisman buzz has faded a bit since then, but his performance hasn't. The former Alabama starter has 4564 total yards and 49 total touchdowns this season, and he and receiver CeeDee Lamb (14 TD) are one of the most electrifying pairings in college football.
On the Baylor side, I could go with WR Denzel Mims or QB Charlie Brewer, but I would be remiss if I didn't highlight junior defensive tackle James Lynch, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Lynch has registered 10.5 sacks on the season (tied for 13th-most in the nation) and is Baylor's all-time leader in career sacks with 19. He is part of the reason Baylor had the best scoring defense in the Big 12 this season (18.4 points allowed per game).
Playoff Implications: Both teams still have a shot at making the Playoff, but they'll need some outside help to sneak in. The winner of this game will need two of the following things to happen: A Georgia loss to LSU, a Utah loss to Oregon, a Clemson loss to Virginia. The chances may not be all that high, but it's definitely possible.
Fun(?) Facts: Here's a fact(?) straight off of Wikipedia: "The Big 12 conference is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization incorporated in Delaware", a state nowhere near any Big 12 school.
Also, the Big 12 currently has 10 teams, while the Big Ten currently has 14 teams. At least the Pac-12 (formerly the Big Five, Big Six, Pac-8, and Pac-10) has stayed up-to-date.
Pick: Oklahoma 38, Baylor 31
Sun Belt Championship
Louisiana @ #21 Appalachian State
Where: Boone, NC
When: Saturday, Noon
TV: ESPN
Line: APP -6.5 O/U: 57.5
Who to Watch For: App State's high-scoring offense (38.9 points per game, 11th in the nation) is led by junior running back Darrynton Evans. The Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year has scored 20 total touchdowns this season (19 rushing, three receiving and one on a kick return). Against Charlotte on September 7, Evans ran for 234 yards and three touchdowns, and he added a kickoff return for a touchdown. He is the only player this century to have at least 200 yards rushing, three rushing touchdowns and a kick return touchdown in a single game.
Although Louisiana did not have any offensive players make the All-Sun Belt First Team, the Ragin' Cajuns actually led the conference in total offense (500.3 yards per game, eighth in the nation). A large part of that powerful offensive attack is senior wide receiver Ja'Marcus Bradley, who has recorded 48 receptions this season, totaling 760 yards and seven touchdowns.
Playoff Implications: There are no College Football Playoff implications here. There aren't even any New Year's Six implications here, since the winner of the Memphis - Cincinnati game will represent the Group of Five over Appalachian State.
Fun(?) Facts: Louisiana (AKA the University of Louisiana Lafayette) is known as the Ragin' Cajuns. According to Wikipedia, "Ragin' Cajun" is also a nickname given to political consultant James Carville, U.S. Army Lieutenant General Russel Honore, former wrestler and current cartoonist John LeRoux, "racing driver" (Wikipedia's term, not mine) Hal Martin, and FIDDLER Doug Kershaw. That is probably one of the few things that could tie together a political consultant, a pro wrestler-turned-cartoonist, an army general, a race car driver, and a fiddle player.
Pick: Appalachian State 35, Louisiana 28
MAC Championship
Miami (OH) vs. Central Michigan
Where: Detroit, MI
When: Saturday, Noon
TV: ESPN2
Line: CMU -6.5 O/U: 55
Who to Watch For: Miami's freshman quarterback has a name that may sound familiar to football fans. Brett Gabbert is the younger brother of NFL (is he still in the NFL? I'm honestly not sure.) quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Brett won the MAC's Freshman of the Year award, throwing for 1967 yards and 10 touchdowns (along with eight interceptions).
Central Michigan's offense has been more productive than Miami's, and that offense is highlighted by the MAC's leading receiver, Kalil Pimpleton. The sophomore has caught 73 passes for 771 yards and six touchdowns this season. He also has 20 punt returns totaling 180 yards. He also has a fun name.
Playoff Implications: I love the MAC and all the weird moments it has produced, but I doubt there will ever be a Mid-American Conference game with College Football Playoff implications.
Fun(?) Facts: First off, shout out to college football blogger Spencer Hall (@edsbs on Twitter) for giving us the term "#MACtion". He may not have invented the term, but he at least popularized it.
Secondly, the MAC has had one team make a "major" bowl game: Northern Illinois in 2012, when the 15th-ranked Wolfpack played Florida State in the Orange Bowl.
Pick: Central Michigan 41, Miami (OH) 28
Conference USA Championship
UAB @ Florida Atlantic
Where: Boca Raton, FL
When: Saturday, 1:30 PM
TV: CBSSN
Line: FAU -8.5 O/U: 49.5
Who to Watch For: Florida Atlantic had the second-best offense in Conference USA this season (431.2 yards per game), thanks to a passing offense highlighted by senior Harrison Bryant. Bryant has caught 61 passes this year for 965 yards and six touchdowns, and he's a finalist for the John Mackey Award, which is given to the nation's top tight end.
While UAB isn't as productive on the offensive side of the ball, the Dragons do possess the best defense in the conference. A key cog in that defense is sophomore linebacker Jordan Smith, who has registered 10 sacks this season (tied for 15th nationally) and forced four fumbles. Smith and the rest of the defense will be paramount to UAB pulling off an upset.
Playoff Implications: No, there are no College Football Playoff implications here, and, as with the MAC, there will probably never be a Conference USA Championship game with Playoff implications.
Fun(?) Facts: Due to insufficient funds to build new facilities, the UAB football program was shut down after the 2014 season. The next year, it was announced that the program would return in 2017. In the nearly three seasons since coming back to life, the Dragons are a combined 28-10.
Pick: Florida Atlantic 34, UAB 21
American Athletic Conference Championship
#20 Cincinnati @ #17 Memphis
Where: Memphis, TN
When: Saturday, 3:30 PM
TV: ABC
Line: MEM -9.5 O/U: 57.5
Who to Watch For: Memphis has one of the most productive running backs in the country, and he's only a freshman. Kenneth Gainwell, the American's Freshman of the Year, has racked up 1381 rushing yards (11th in the nation) and 12 touchdowns (tied-20th) on 204 carries (tied-27th), averaging 6.8 yards per carry (14th). Watch out for this guy the next few years.
Cincinnati has the best scoring defense in the conference (21.1 points allowed per game), and it's hard to highlight just one player. Five Bearcat defenders made the all-conference first team: lineman Elijah Ponder, linebackers Bryan Wright and Perry Young, corner Ahmad Gardner, and junior safety Darrick Forrest, who has racked up a team-leading 52 tackles, along with three interceptions.
Playoff Implications: There are no playoff implications in this game, but there are New Year's Six implications. Every year, the highest-ranked champion from the Group of Five conferences (American, Sun Belt, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West) gets a spot in either the Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, or Peach Bowl. This year, that team will be Memphis if the Tigers win this game. If Cincinnati wins, it will either be the Bearcats or Boise State.
Fun(?) Facts: The AAC (American Athletic Conference) is the newest major college football conference. It formed in 2013 from the rubble of the old Big East, although the conference still claims 1979 (the year the Big East formed) as its inception date. The conference spreads as far northeast as Connecticut, as far south as (South) Florida, and as far west as (Houston) Texas. In that sense, I guess it is the most "American" conference.
Pick: Cincinnati 35, Memphis 34
SEC Championship
#4 Georgia vs. #2 LSU
Where: Atlanta, GA
When: Saturday, 4:00 PM
TV: CBS
Line: LSU -7 O/U: 56
Who to Watch For: LSU has the second-best offense in the country (560.4 yards per game), and the Tigers have stars at quarterback, running back and wide receiver. With all due respect to Clyde Edwards-Helaire (1233 yards rushing, 16 TD) and Ja'Marr Chase (1457 yards receiving, 17 TD), I can't not highlight the likely Heisman winner, senior QB Joe Burrow. The former Ohio State backup has torn up opposing defenses this season to the tune of 4366 yards and 44 touchdowns, both second-best in the nation. He's also the top QB draft prospect.
Georgia has not had the offensive success LSU has, but when the Bulldogs do have success, it's often due to junior running back D'Andre Swift. Swift has rushed for 1203 yards and seven touchdowns this season. He is listed as questionable for this game with a shoulder injury, but he's expected to play.
Playoff Implications: The implications are pretty simple in this game. Win or lose, LSU likely gets into the playoff. If Georgia wins, the Bulldogs are in. If they lose, they are out.
Fun(?) Facts: Bulldogs are called bulldogs because they used to be used to herd bulls. Tigers have never herded Bulls, but they are extremely dangerous animals. I think of bulldogs as dogs with ugly faces, and I think of tigers as beardless lions. I don't know which animal would win in a fight (probably the tiger), but it would be a battle.
Pick: LSU 42, Georgia 21
Mountain West Championship
Hawai'i @ #19 Boise State
Where: Boise, ID
When: Saturday, 4:00 PM
TV: ESPN
Line: BSU -14 O/U: 64.5
Who to Watch For: The Blue Field Broncos are led defensively by junior linebacker Curtis Weaver. The Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year has 13.5 sacks on the season, good for fifth in the nation. His four sacks against Portland State tied a school record. He also has an interception and a forced fumble this season.
The Island Rainbow Warriors are led offensively by junior quarterback Cole McDonald. McDonald is among the nation's leaders in passing yards (3401, eighth in the country) and touchdowns (29, tied for 13th in the country). The California native also has great hair.
Playoff Implications: No Playoff implications to be found out west Saturday afternoon, but, as is the case with the American Championship, there are New Year's Six implications. If Boise State wins and Memphis loses to Cincinnati, it will either be the Broncos or Bearcats representing the Group of Five in a New Year's Six bowl game.
Fun(?) Fact: The University of Hawai'i was founded in 1907 as the College of Hawai'i. Two years later, the college's football team played its first game. Back then, they were know as the "Fighting Deans", which I'm assuming means they were somehow able to field an entire football team made up of people named Dean.
In 1923, a rainbow appeared over the field during a 7-0 Hawai'i win over Oregon State. After that, reporters started calling the university's sports teams the "Rainbows". The Rainbow Warriors dropped the Rainbow from 2000-2013, then brought the Rainbow back after realizing that football teams can like rainbows too.
Pick: Boise State 35, Hawai'i 28
ACC Championship
#23 Virginia vs. #3 Clemson
Where: Charlotte, NC
When: Saturday, 7:30 PM
TV: ABC
Line: CLEM -28.5 O/U: 57.5
Who to Watch For: You can't talk about Clemson without mentioning Trevor Lawrence and Tee Higgins, but the engine that really makes this offense go is junior running back Travis Etienne. Etienne has run for 1386 yards this season (10th in the nation) and 16 touchdowns (tied-9th). His yards per carry average of 8.3 ranks second in the nation. He has found the end zone in all but one game (a blowout over Charlotte), and will likely find the promised land again Saturday night.
Any hope Virginia has of pulling off the upset starts with senior quarterback Bryce Perkins. The dual-threat signal-caller has thrown for 2949 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, and has added 687 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. That running ability will play a vital role in any potential upset bid by the Cavaliers.
Playoff Implications: If Clemson wins (as expected), the Tigers are in. If Clemson loses, the Tigers could be left out in favor of one-loss teams with stronger schedules (like Utah and Oklahoma).
Fun(?) Fact: This past Spring, the Virginia basketball team became the first NCAA Tournament team ever to win the championship a year after losing to a 16 seed. In the Spring of 2018, the Cavaliers became the first NCAA Tournament team to ever lose to a 16 seed.
Pick: Clemson 34, Virginia 21
Big Ten Championship
#1 Ohio State vs. #8 Wisconsin
Where: Indianapolis, IN
When: Saturday, 8:00 PM
TV: FOX
Line: OSU -16 O/U: 57
Who to Watch For: When you talk about Wisconsin, you talk about Jonathan Taylor. The junior running back has carried the ball 279 times this season, fourth-most in the country. He's turned those carries into 1761 yards (2nd in the country) and 20 touchdowns (4th). His 5932 career rushing yards currently rank seventh in FBS history, and are the most by a player through his junior season. Taylor also holds the record for most 200-yard games in a career with 12. Whether Taylor returns for his senior season or departs for the NFL, he'll go down as one of the greatest college football running backs of all-time.
Ohio State has three legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates in Justin Fields, J.K. Dobbins and Chase Young. Although Joe Burrow may beat them all out for the Heisman, at least one (if not two) of the three will be in New York as a finalist. Young is arguably the best player in the country, but Fields is arguably Ohio State's most important player. The sophomore quarterback and former Georgia backup has the third-most touchdowns passes (37) in the nation and the least interceptions (1) among qualified players. Fields has also displayed running ability and toughness.
Playoff Implications: If Ohio State wins, the Buckeyes will almost certainly be the number one seed in the College Football Playoff. If the Buckeyes lose, they will probably still get into the Playoff, but it'd be less certain. I don't want to say Wisconsin has a zero percent chance of getting in, but the Badgers have less than a one percent chance.
Fun(?) Fact: How about some badger facts? Badgers are nocturnal, meaning Wisconsin has a better chance in this game since it's being played at night. They live in holes and tunnels that they did, and sleep on grass and leaves. There are tunnels in Lucas Oil Stadium, but the grass is artificial. It's a good thing Wisconsin isn't playing a team named the Dachshunds, because Dachsund is German for "badger hound".
Pick: Ohio State 41, Wisconsin 24
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