Predictions and Picks for College Football Championship Weekend

The nine college football conference championship games on Friday and Saturday include some of the most watched and wagered games this season. Saturday's prime time Big Ten battle between undefeated Ohio State (12-0) and Indiana (12-0) will be one to watch with top quarterbacks and Heisman Trophy favorites leading their teams to the top of the college football rankings and upcoming 12-team College Football Playoff. 

Following the biggest rivalry games in Week 14, where Fairway's Forecast chipped-in a 11-4 ATS result on picks and opinions over rivalry week, it's time to watch and wager on the top teams battling for a conference championship and positioning themselves for a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff with the bracket to be unveiled on Dec. 7.

College Football 2025 Championship Games Odds And Picks

College football odds from BetOnline and leading online sportsbooks refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live/in-game betting. All times Eastern (ET). 

Friday, Dec. 5 

- Conference USA - Kennesaw State (-2.5) at Jacksonville State, 60.5, - 7 p.m. on CBSSN
- Sun Belt - Troy at James Madison (-23), 47 - 7 p.m. on ESPN 
- American Athletic Conference (AAC) - Tulane at North Texas (-2.5), 66.5 - 8 p.m. on ABC 
-Mountain West - UNLV at Boise State (-4.5 / 5), 58.5 - 8 p.m. on FOX

Line adjustments from opening lines Sunday include Jacksonville State -1.5 to Kennesaw State -2.5 and total 58.5 to 60.5. James Madison -21.5 to -23, North Texas -3 to -2.5, and Boise State -3 to -4.5 and total 56.5 to 58.5. 

Saturday, Dec. 6 

- Big 12 - Texas Tech (-12.5) vs. BYU, 49.5 (Arlington, Texas), 12 p.m. on ABC
- Mid American Conference (MAC) - Western Michigan (-2.5) vs. Miami, Ohio, 43 (Detroit), 12 p.m. on ESPN
- Southeastern Conference (SEC) - Georgia (-2.5) vs. Alabama, 47.5 (Atlanta), 4 p.m. on ABC
- Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) - Virginia (-3.5 / 4) vs. Duke, 57.5 (Charlotte), 8 p.m. on ABC
- Big Ten - Ohio State (-4.5) vs. Indiana, 48.5 (Indianapolis), 8 p.m. on FOX

Line adjustments from opening lines Sunday include: Texas Tech -13 to -12.5, WMU/Miami total 44 to 43, Georgia -1.5 to -2.5, Virginia -2.5 to -4, Ohio State -6.5 to -4 or 4.5.

Early tickets for Conference Championships

52% Kennesaw St -2.5 v Jax St
73% JMU -2.5 v Troy
55% N. Texas -2.5 v Tulane
57% UNLV +4 v Boise St
68% TX Tech -13 v BYU
61% Miami OH +2.5 v W. Michigan
74% Georgia -2.5 v Bama
77% UVA -3.5 v Duke
65% Ohio St -4.5 v Indiana

— Dave Mason (@DaveMasonBOL) December 2, 2025

The SEC has five teams that will be playing in the College Football Playoff, with an outside chance Alabama doesn't make the 12-team field if they lose to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. The CFP field will not include Texas (9-3), who beat five teams ranked in the CFP top 10 at the time including Vanderbilt (10-2). The Commodores won't be in the CFP either after winning a program record 10 games while competing in the nation’s toughest conference and finishing its best football in November. 

I provide a number of picks with matchup stats and analysis in my sports betting coverage at BetOnline. That includes on UNLV, Texas Tech, Indiana. Watch for those to be posted soon. 

Bet on College Football futures at one of these Elite-rated sportsbooks!

Conference Championship Picks And Opinions

I also provide some picks and opinions below with additional stats, notes and chip-ins from some colleagues and college football handicappers. Of course, market moves and line changes impact betting confidence and ratings. 

Opinion: Kennesaw State. Note the line move on the now favored Owls, who outgained Jacksonville State by 128 yards, 14 first downs and 1.1 yards per play in a 35-26 loss as 3.5-point favorites in this same venue three weeks ago. 

Other Leans and Opinions: James Madison (Lean), Tulane, UNLV.

Pick: Texas Tech. This game is played in Arlington, home state of the Red Raiders. Texas Tech (-12.5) is the real deal and expect another bludgeoning of BYU like TT did in Lubbock last month, 29-7. Lots of oil money behind this program and NIL delivered top defensive lineman to Lubbock with the elite Red Raiders run defense allowing just 71 rushing yards per game at 2.4 yards per rush. Texas Tech's only loss was at Arizona State when they played without their starting quarterback, Behren Morten. He'll play in this title game, and note the Red Raiders rolled over 11 opponents this season by at least 22 points. 

Pick: Virginia. The Cavalier's 20.4 points per game defense is superior to Duke (30.5), which ranks No. 99 in the country. The Blue Devils poor running game (130 ypg) is an issue, but their 280 passing ypg and 5.9 yards per play offense is solid. However, 5-losses by Duke include to UCONN, Tulane and Georgia Tech, plus and one-sided losses to Illinois and Virginia (34-17), as the Cavs were road warriors just three weeks ago and out-gained Duke 540-255. Expect a repeat performance by Virginia. 

More conference championship coverage and a best bet with analysis on Texas Tech in my update at BetOnline. 

Other Leans and Opinions: Western Michigan, Indiana and Georgia/Alabama Over (Lean Georgia).

While the Bulldogs (11-1) and Crimson Tide (10-2) went just 4-7-1 and 4-8 over/under game totals this season, Georgia has has scored more than 30 points per game over their last five contests. The Tide beat the Dawgs in Athens 24-21 in September when the total was 54. But the two teams combined for 38 points in the first half before scoring nearly stopped in the second half. Now indoors on a neutral field, there looks like value to bet on more scoring than expected noting too that the SEC Championship game have averaged 66.5 combined points per game in regulation in the last five seasons.

More College Football updates as the CFP matchups, bracket and odds are unveiled Sunday.

You can bet on it. 

FairwayJay is a proven sports handicapper and loves college football. He's been handicapping and betting college football for more than two decades and is recognized as one of the sports industry's most insightful analysts. He chips in additional sports betting coverage and reporting on industry news and events. Follow FairwayJay here at OSGA.com and on X @FairwayJay for more sports and betting insights.