College Football Conference Championship Weekend

The 2023 college football conference championship weekend will decide the four participants in the final four-team College Football Playoff. Of greater signficance to more teams is winning the conference title, as most teams don’t have a shot at making the CFP even before the season starts. That changes next season (finally) with the 12 team college football playoff. 

Playbook Sports passed along some insight and ATS info for the conference championship games and noted that 164 FBS title games have taken place since Alabama defeated Florida to win the first-ever SEC championship game in 1992. 

There has been a total of 110 same-season rematches in college conference title games since 2000. There will be three teams seeking same-season revenge this weekend starting with Oregon (11-1) against Washington (12-0) in the Pac 12 championship game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. 

The other two are Miami, Ohio (10-2) when they tackle Toledo (11-1) in the MAC championship game Saturday at Ford Field in Detroit, and New Mexico State (10-3) in their redemption rematch with Liberty in the Conference USA championship game Friday at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia. 

When these same season revengers are facing a .916 or greater opponent like all three teams Oregon, New Mexico State and Miami, Ohio will be doing, they have gone just 6-19 straight up (SU) and 10-15 against the spread (ATS). And if these teams are coming off consecutive wins like the Ducks, Aggies and Redhawks are, they dip to just 3-17 SU and 6-14 ATS. 

So before you consider backing those three teams to exact revenge, know the technical situations and trends before betting at the leading online sportsbooks. 

We finish the college football regular season 28-27 on our Top 25 Picks and Opinions, including 22-19 ATS on sides after our Week 13 Opinions went 0-1 and Picks 1-0 on Auburn (+13.5) in a closing seconds miracle win by Alabama on a 4th and 31 touchdown pass. Bonus Picks went 6-0 this season. 

Any chance of Ohio State pulling off a miracle? 👀 pic.twitter.com/skDGC44J7Q

— BetOnline.ag (@betonline_ag) November 30, 2023

College Football Championship Games, Odds and Watch and Wager Schedule

College football odds from BetOnline refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. All times Eastern (ET). Rankings are the current College Football Playoff rankings ahead of the final College Football Playoff selection show Dec. 3 at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN. 

Friday, Dec. 1 

Pac 12: No. 3 Washington vs. No. 5 Oregon (-10) | 8 p.m. | ABC | Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV
Conf. USA: New Mexico State vs. Liberty (-11) | 7 p.m. | CBSSN | Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, VA 

Sat., Dec. 2

Big 12: No. 18 Oklahoma State vs. No. 7 Texas (-15.5) | 12 p.m. | ABC | AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX
SEC: No. 8 Alabama vs. No. 1 Georgia (-5.5) | 4 p.m. | CBS | Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA 
ACC: No. 14 Louisville vs. No. 4 Florida State (-1.5) | 8 p.m. | ABC | Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC
Big Ten: No. 16 Iowa vs. No. 2 Michigan (-22.5) | 8 p.m. | FOX | Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN
MAC: Miami, Ohio vs. Toledo (-7.5) | 12 p.m. | ESPN | Ford Field in Detroit, MI
Mountain West: UNLV vs. Boise State (-2.5) | 3 p.m. | FOX | Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV
AAC: SMU vs. Tulane (-3.5) | 4 p.m. | ABC | Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, LA  
Sun Belt: Appalachian State vs. Troy (-5.5) | 4 p.m. | ESPN | Veteran's Memorial Stadium in Troy, AL

College Football Power Conference Title Game Picks And Matchups 

No. 6 Oregon vs. No. 3 Washington
Line: Oregon -10 and Total 65.5
Lean: Washington 

A rematch of one of the best games of the college football season when Washington topped Oregon 36-33 back in Week 7. Heisman favorite Bo Nix passed for 337 yards and 2 TDs in defeat while Heisman hopeful Michael Penix, Jr. passed for 302 yards and 4 TDs including the 18 yard game winner in the closing 2 minutes. The Ducks out-gained the Huskies that day with a 541-415 yard edge but Oregon was stopped on downs three times and the Ducks missed a 43 yards field goal at the gun that would have sent the game to overtime. These teams faced 7 common Pac-12 foes and Oregon was +208 yards per game and +27 points per game while UW was actually -8 YPG and +9 PPG. Oregon also has the edge on defense holding opponents to 76 YPG under their avg (#15) while UW’s defense is holding foes to just 4 YPG under their avg (#69). The online sportsbooks still favor Oregon by margin over undefeated Washington, and bettors have piled on the Ducks from the opening line of -8. As mentioned previously including in last week's Top 25 picks, I believe Oregon can win it all and should make the College Football Playoff with a win. Washington is deserving as well, even in a close defeat. Oregon's offense is No. 2 in the country averaging 524 yards per game vs. FBS opponents, and the top offense playing in the conference championship games. Washington is No. 11 averaging 468 YPG offense and only Oregon and Georgia are better playing this weekend. Oregon is taking the money, but can't discount Washington and their winning ways under second-year head coach Kalen DeBoer with the Huskies 23-2 SU since he took the job in Seattle. Watch and enjoy with live betting options a popular play. 

No. 18 Oklahoma State vs. No. 7 Texas
Line: Texas -15.5 Total 54.5
Opinion: Texas 

Texas ranks No. 5 in the country in yards per rush defense at 2.9 vs. FBS opponents. That's best of all teams playing in the conference championship games. Hook 'em also has a top-tier pass defense with 15 INTs as well. Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers is hitting 70% of his passes and faces a pretty poor Cowboys pass defense. Add in the Longhorns better and more balanced offense by 30 yards over Oklahoma State and the incentive to score an impressive win for the CFP committee in case other upsets happen and Texas can roll to a big win. Texas has also faced a top 10 scheduel and against six common Big 12 foes Texas is +110 yards per game and +12 points per game while Oklahoma State is +59 YPG/+5 PPG. More recently in the last 4 games Texas is +153 YPG/+17 PPG while Oklahoma State -11 YPG/-5 PPG. The line has risen 1-point since the opener Sunday, and the Longhorns will run the ball better, stop the run and likely win the turnover battle resulting in a convincing win. 

No. 8 Alabama vs. No. 1 Georgia
Line: Georgia -5.5 and Total 55
Pick: Georgia 

Georgia has won 29 straight games - the longest winning streak in SEC history. The defending national champs will put a lid on Alabama QB Jalen Milroe's mouth after he proclaimed to give him the Heisman last week for the improbable miracle TD to beat Auburn. Hu, Bruh? I'm not buying 'Bama and the CFP Committee sure as sh*t doesn't want any 'Tide trouble either as they watch the tightest race to the College Football Playoff take place this weekend. In 16 seasons under head coach Nick Saban, Alabama has only been an underdog 7 times. The 'Tide won 5 of those games outright. I still don't care. The Bulldogs sport the strong and more balanced offense, better defense and watch Milroe cough up the ball a time or two in defeat. The Bulldogs top the 'Tide and the bet is by a TD or more. 

No. 14 Louisville vs. No. 4 Florida State
Line: Florida State -1.5 and Total 47.5
Opinion: Louisville and Under 

Head coach Jeff Brohm has immediately turned the Cardinals into a contender in his first season leading Louisville. A Florida State win keeps the Seminoles undefeated, yet the CFP Committee could leave them out of the playoff. We'll let Louisville make it easier on the committee, as FSU backup QB Tate Rodemaker makes his second start replacing injured Jordan Travis, and FSU averaged just 3.9 yards per play against an average Florida defense last week to win 24-15 while gaining just 224 yards offense with Rodemaker 12-of-25 for 134 yards passing. Money has been coming in on the underdog Cardinals along with the total with less scoring expected.

No. 16 Iowa vs. No. 2 Michigan
Line: Michigan -22.5 and Total 
Opinion: Iowa

Coach Jim Harbaugh returns to the sidelines for Michigan following a 3-game suspension. This line had hit -23.5, which was the largest in Big Ten title game history. The Wolverines don't need any spies to beat Iowa, but the Hawkeye's stingy defense ranks top 5 in the country allowing 279 yards per game vs. FBS opponents. That's still not as strong as Michigan's dominant defense (247 YPG), but there still has to be some level of relief for Michigan off their huge rivalry win over Ohio State last week in a close, emotional and physical contest. Against common opponents this season, Michigan went 6-0 SU (4-1-1 ATS) outscoring those foes by an average score of 40-8 & +177 yards per game. Iowa went 4-2 SU (3-2-1 ATS) vs common foes but the average score was 15-13 & -87 yards per game. Still, Iowa or pass with the huge number. 

Check back for more updates, analysis and information you can bet on Saturday morning, along with any additional picks. 

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