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Ten conference championship games take place this week with two on Friday night and the remainder on Saturday. Four of those title games will have a direct impact on the College Football Playoff Committee's determination of which four teams are most-deserving of participation in the Final Four tournament to decide a national champion.
There is no bigger conference title matchup than the SEC where No. 1 Georgia will face No. 3 Alabama.
Some may argue that the American Conference title game is of even greater importance as Cincinnati strives to become the first Group of Five school to make the Final Four when the No. 4 Bearcats host an 11-1 Houston team that may only be ranked 21st, but hasn't lost since opening day.
The Big Ten championship games has a tremendous level of importance as No. 2 Michigan only needs to avoid an upset loss to No. 13 Iowa to have a guaranteed berth in the playoff.
The Big 12 Championship only seems like it has less importance because neither combatant is currently ranked among the Top 4. However, if No. 5 Oklahoma State beats No. 9 Baylor, the Cowboys only need a loss by either Alabama, Michigan or Cincinnati.
There isn't a vast assortment of scenarios for what the Final Four makeup will be. The pool of candidates comes down to the current top 4 schools of Georgia, Michigan, Alabama and Cincinnati, and the top outside contender is Oklahoma State. Notre Dame needs a significant amount of help but still has a shot at backing its way in to the bracket.
(Charlotte): Pittsburgh vs. Wake Forest
This is the first conference championship without Clemson since 2014, and it's the first-ever appearance for Pittsburgh. This is Wake Forest's second ACC Championship game appearance as the Demon Deacons won the 2006 title game 9-6 over Georgia Tech. This game could turn into a basketball score with QB's Kenny Pickett and Sam Hartman leading the way, and defense is not a strong point for either program. Oddly enough, these teams have only met one other time as Pitt won 34-13 at Wake in 2018. Pittsburgh has a field goal edge from the sportsbooks while the computer (Congrove Computer Rankings) basically agrees and gives the Panthers a 2.06-point edge. The computer trend line tilts even further to Pitt's side with a projected margin of 7.11.
(Cincinnati): Houston at Cincinnati
It's all on Cincinnati to represent the 65 schools that aren't considered to be Power 5 programs. Beat Houston, and the Bearcats become the fist Group of Five school to crash College Football Playoff party. These two teams have combined for 23 straight wins - 12 for Cincinnati, 11 for Houston. Cincinnati looks to record another perfect regular season under Luke Fickell, who was still the head coach as of Wednesday. The Cougars top the conference in total defense and rushing defense, and rank 3rd in pass defense. They are less than 10 yards per game behind the Bearcats in total offense. The quarterbacks rank 1-2 in the conference in passer rating with Desmond Ridder at 162.17 and Clayton Tune at 160.14. Ridder has thrown one more TD pass than Tune (27-26) and they've both thrown 8 INT's. Nonetheless, the computer trend line has Cincinnati by 14.10 which is 3.6 points above the spread and 1.13 points above the current computer margin.
See Feature Picks for more on this game, and other selections.
(Indianapolis): Michigan vs. Iowa
Michigan upset Ohio State 42-27 to clinch the Big Ten East and its first Big Ten Championship game appearance. The Wolverines shared the conference title in 2004 and neither has worn the crown since then. Iowa backed into this game when Wisconsin was upset 23-13 at Minnesota. Michigan has the conference's No. 2 offense and No. 1 rushing offense. Iowa has the Big Ten's 3rd-best over-all defense and rush defense, but its own offense ranks next-to-last. Big Blue is a 10.5-point betting favorite. The computer only has Michigan by 5.56, but the trend line jumps that advantage to 18.05.
(Arlington, TX): Oklahoma State vs. Baylor
Oklahoma State won Bedlam in Stillwater for the first time since 2011 with a wild 37-33 win. Earlier in the day, Baylor survived Texas Tech 27-24 when Jonathan Garibay's 53-yard FG attempt sailed right for the Red Raiders as time expired. The Bears needed a win by the Cowboys to get their ticket punched to Arlington. The odds of that happening weren't great, considering the Sooners had taken 16 of the last 18 meetings, and the last 6 in-a-row. Baylor has the conference's top offense while Oklahoma State brings the top defense to the table. The line favors the Cowboys by 5, but the computer pushes it to 7.71 and the computer trend line has it as 6.86.
(San Antonio): Western Kentucky at UTSA
Marshall had a 14-0 lead, then got its doors blown off 53-21 by Western Kentucky in a de facto division championship game last week in Huntington. UTSA saw its perfect season fall by the wayside by getting stomped 45-23 at a North Texas team that won its last 5 games to achieve bowl eligibility. Those outcomes setup a rematch as Western Kentucky lost 52-46 at home to UTSA on October 9. Since then, WKU has reeled off 7 straight wins.
See Feature Picks for more on this game, and other selections.
(Detroit): Northern Illinois vs. Kent State
Northern Illinois lost 42-21 at home to Western Michigan on Tuesday, but already had the MAC West wrapped up. On Saturday, Kent State outlasted Miami in overtime, 48-47, in OT as the Golden Flashes broke up a the RedHawks' 2-point conversion pass attempt. Thus, we arrive at this rematch after Kent State won the regular season meeting 52-47 at home on November 3. Kent State will be making its first title game appearance since 2012 when Northern Illinois prevailed 44-37 in double-OT. Kent State's only MAC Championship was won in 1972. NIU has been a staple in this game as this is the school's 8th appearance since 2010. Kent State's offense is tops in the MAC and 8th nationally with a nearly 50-50 split on run-pass production. The Huskies are 190th in the conference on defense. The sportsbooks opened with Kent State by 2.5. The current computer margin is 9.48 in favor of the Golden Flashes, but the trend line lowers that number to 1.16.
(Carson, CA): Utah State at San Diego State
San Diego State won 27-16 at home over Boise State last Friday to clinch the MWC West and home field advantage in the conference championship game. Utah State clinched the Mountain with a 35-10 win at New Mexico. San Diego State is 13-2 all-time vs. the Aggies and are a 3.5-point betting favorite to make it 14-2. The Aztecs are a whopping 10.21-point computer pick and the trend line is 6.75. However, Utah State ranks 2nd in the conference on offense while the Aztecs rank 10th in the 12-team league. You can practically flip those numbers on defense with the Aztecs ranked 2nd and the Aggies 9th.
(Las Vegas): Utah vs. Oregon
Oregon won 38-29 at Oregon State to clinch the North and earn a rematch with a Utah team that annihilated the Ducks 38-7 in Salt Lake City the previous week. This is Utah's third trip to the championship contest since 2018, having lost to Oregon in 2019 and Washington in 2018. In fact, since the championship game began in 2011, the North representative is 10-0. Utah is a 3-point betting favorite and a 6.37-point computer pick to end that streak of futility. The computer trend line has Utah by 9.70.
See Feature Picks for more on this game, and other selections.
(Atlanta): Georgia vs. Alabama
For the Bulldogs and Tide, it was all about the playoffs and Georgia coasted to a 45-0 win over its state rival, Georgia Tech while Alabama needed a 10-point 4th quarter at Auburn, and four ensuing overtimes, to win 24-22. Alabama has won the last 6 meetings with Georgia, including the 2012 and 2018 SEC Championship games and the National Championship Game for the 2017 season. Suffice it to say, there's a lot riding on this Georgia squad to avenge a ton of hurt dealt upon it by the Tide. Georgia brings the nation's top-ranked and historically strong defense that has allowed just 6.9 points per game (second place is 15.0) and 229.7 yards per contest. Alabama has the SEC's 2nd-best offense and defense, and QB Bryce Young remains the Heisman favorite as the sophomore has thrown 40 TD passes with just 4 INT's. There's also something to be said for the fact that Nick Saban is 24-1 against former assistants, but that first loss happened this year when Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M upset his team 41-38 at College Station on October 9. Of course, 'Bama hasn't lost since then. The spread favors Georgia by 6.5 while the computer comes in under the spread at 3.13. However, the computer trend line has Georgia in a runaway by 16.39.
(Lafayette, LA): Appalachian State vs. Louisiana
The 2020 matchup between Coastal Carolina and Louisiana was canceled due to Covid issues in the Chanticleers' program, so Louisiana and Appalachian State have actually appeared in all three Sun Belt Championship games with the Mountaineers winning both previous encounters. The Ragin' Cajuns have never won the Sun Belt title outright and last tied for the title in 2013.
See Feature Picks for more on this game, and other selections.
The only other game this week has Cal hosting USC after the planned November 13 meeting was called for Covid issues in the Cal program.
See Feature Picks for more on this game, and other selections.
2 teams played 2 FCS teams this fall (UConn and UMass), and 115 teams played 1 FCS school for a total of 117 such matchups.
The FBS finished the season 105-12 vs. the FCS and are 1,574-140 (.918) since we began tracking this in 2003.
Last year, 30 FBS teams played a total of just 34 games against FCS schools and the FCS won just 1 game (1-33). That honor also went to Jacksonville State with its 19-10 victory over FIU.
These were the FCS wins in 2021:
September 2: UC Davis 19, Tulsa 17
September 2: Eastern Washington 35, UNLV 33 (2 OT)
September 3: South Dakota State 42, Colorado State 23
September 4: Holy Cross 38, UConn 28
September 4: Montana 13, Washington 7
September 4: ETSU 23, Vanderbilt 3
September 11: Duquesne 28, Ohio 26
September 11: Jacksonville State 20, Florida State 17.
September 18: Incarnate Word 42, Texas State 34.
September 18: Northern Arizona 21, Arizona 19
November 6: Rhode Island 35, Massachusetts 22
November 13: Maine 35, Massachusetts 10
This was the only FCS win vs. the FBS in 2020:
October 23: Jacksonville State 19, FIU 10
In 2019, FBS teams were 111-3 (.974) in such games. These were the only FCS wins that season:
August 29: Central Arkansas 35, Western Kentucky 28
September 7: Southern Illinois 45, Massachusetts 20
September 14: The Citadel 27, Georgia Tech 24 (OT)
GEORGIA - Won 16 straight overall-all (FBS longest).
Last: Won 45-0 at Georgia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 27.
Next: Faces Alabama in SEC Championship in Atlanta on Saturday, Dec. 4.
OHIO STATE - Had won 29 straight conference games (was FBS longest), and 13 straight road games (was FBS longest). Both streaks ended.
Last: Lost 42-27 at Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 27.
Next: Regular season complete (10-2).
CINCINNATI - Won 15 straight conference games (FBS longest).
Last: Won 35-13 at Cincinnati on Friday, Nov. 26.
Next: Hosts Houston in American Championship on Saturday, Dec. 4.
NOTRE DAME - Won 9 straight road games (FBS longest).
Last: Won 45-14 at Stanford on Saturday, Nov. 27.
Next: Regular season complete (11-1).
CLEMSON - Won 34 straight home games (FBS longest).
Last: Won 30-0 at South Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 27.
Next: Regular season complete (9-3).
FIU - Lost 11 straight over-all (FBS longest).
Last: Lost 37-17 at Southern Miss on Saturday, Nov. 27.
Next: Season complete (1-11).
VANDERBILT - Lost 21 straight conference games (FBS longest).
Last: Lost 45-21 at Tennessee on Saturday, Nov. 27.
Next: Season complete (2-10).
NEW MEXICO STATE - Lost 18 straight road games (FBS longest).
Last: Won 44-27 at home versus Massachusetts on Saturday, Nov. 27
Next: Season complete (2-10).