All of the Power-5 conferences across the nation in College Football will play their conference title games this weekend. Here’s our staff predictions.
College Football fans will be treated to several conference title games over the course of the weekend.
Though many look past conference championship weekend, the titles play a major role in the top-four of the College Football Playoff and who qualifies for a New Year’s six bowl berth, as well.
Here’s a look at our staff predictions for each of the prominent matchups this weekend, beginning with the Pac-12.
Pac-12: Utah vs. Oregon
Shawn: Utah
Nick: Utah
Cole: Utah
Barry: Utah
Tyreese: Utah
Our Rubbing the Rock staff panel has Utah across the board. As you’re going to see with many of these matchups, the favorites are favored for a reason. Utah has a strong defense and a clear advantage on both lines of scrimmage.
Big 12: Baylor vs. Oklahoma
Shawn: Baylor
Nick: Oklahoma
Cole: Oklahoma
Barry: Oklahoma
Tyreese: Oklahoma
The Big 12 Championship game is a rematch of a game we saw Oklahoma make a remarkable comeback and beat Baylor from just a couple of weeks ago. Both the Sooners and the Bears are still holding out hope for a backdoor into the CFB Playoff and it should be interesting to see who comes away with the victory.
AAC: Cincinnati at Memphis
Shawn: Memphis
Nick: Memphis
Cole: Memphis
Barry: Memphis
Tyreese: Memphis
While the American Athletic Conference isn’t typically on the radar of many College Football fans, the conference has been fun this year because of Cincinnati and Memphis. The Tigers won the game between the two programs earlier in the season, but the Bearcats will be looking for revenge this time around.
SEC: Georgia vs. LSU
Shawn: LSU
Nick: LSU
Cole: LSU
Barry: LSU
Tyreese: LSU
The winner of this game is solidly in the CFB Playoff, but the loser- if it’s LSU- certainly isn’t out. Georgia’s strength is the defense and weakness is the offense. LSU’s strength is the offense and their weakness is the defense. It should be a fun one in Atlanta.
Big Ten: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin
Shawn: Ohio State
Nick: Ohio State
Cole: Ohio state
Barry: Ohio State
Tyreese: Ohio State
Ohio State beat Wisconsin by 31 the last time these two teams played and our panel expects something of the same to happen in the Big Ten Championship, where the Buckeyes are favored heavily.
ACC: Clemson vs. Virginia
Shawn: Clemson
Nick: Clemson
Cole: Clemson
Barry: Clemson
Tyreese: Clemson
We will give our scoring predictions for Clemson-Virginia on game day, but it’s safe to say that our staff like the Tigers to win and improve to 13-0, clinching a spot in the CFB Playoff with a victory against the Cavaliers Saturday night in Bank of America Stadium.