With the regular season in the books for all but four teams, we move on to Championship Week in college football. There are 10 such titles on the line along with playoff implications. What will this week bring?
What a year it has been in college football and while many of the familiar names are still around, for this week, we have a lot of new and welcomed faces (unless you are a fan of Ohio State, Clemson, and Oklahoma) which spices up this week.
The early NCAAF odds offer us one last look at conference play before the bowl games and here is our take on potential upsets this upcoming week.
Friday, December 3, 2021 – 8:00 PM EST at Allegiant Stadium
Talk about a rematch that is fresh on the mind of the first game loser! Oregon saw their college football playoff chance implode like an old Las Vegas hotel building in Salt Lake City two weeks ago 38-7. This time, this is for the Pac-12 title and a bid to the Rose Bowl.
In the previous encounter, Utah was a three-point home favorite, now they have slipped just below a field-goal fave on a neutral field. The Utes have earned the right to be listed as favorites, with a dominating run game and a stout defense.
However, in this case, Look for a few wrinkles from the Ducks, much like they did in the title matchup from two years ago when they were 6.5-point underdogs to Utah and won outright. Oregon has typically played well in what are supposedly tightly contested games and are 50-25 ATS when the line is +3 to -3 and the Ducks find a way to waddle to a victory.
NCAAF Pick: Oregon +2.5 (-108) with Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
Saturday, December 4, 2021 - 3:30 PM EST at Cajun Field
Here is another rematch between these two squads. It is not a surprise that these teams are meeting in the Sun Belt title game, as this will make it three a third straight time for both (last year’s contest was canceled). Appalachian State has won the two prior titles in this confrontation in 2018-19, but both of those were in Boone, NC. This one is in the deep south of Louisiana.
The Ragin’ Cajuns were still playing like they had not gotten over losing at Texas in the opener and were an uninspiring 4-1 and 1-4 ATS coming in that contest. Louisiana was thoroughly inspired and upset the Mountaineers 41-13 as 4.5-point home underdogs.
App. State had four turnovers, but they were also outgained by 244 yards in that meeting. Louisiana is down to +3 as sportsbooks understand the Appalachian State is a bit better offensively and defensively and has the revenge angle. But this is a proud senior-heavy group who has enjoyed great success and can win an SBC championship for themselves and their departing head coach Billy Napier.
To finish this off, we found this; home teams like Louisiana, after three or more consecutive straight up wins, against an opponent after five or more consecutive straight up wins, are 24-8 ATS.
NCAAF Pick: Louisiana +3 (-108) with Heritage Sports
Saturday, December 4, 2021 - 4:00 PM EST at Nippert Stadium
We realize some of you are wondering if this writer is a glutton for punishment. The last two weeks we have gone against Cincinnati as a favorite and we are going to make it three times in a row. Why? As opposed to SMU and East Carolina, Houston has the speed and finally a defense in which they can compete.
Cincinnati will have the advantage of a full-throated home crowd, but the weather should not be an issue for the Cougars, with an anticipated temperature around 50 degrees. All the pressure is on the Bearcats and while their defense generates 2.7 turnovers in their past 11 outings, Cincy has committed three turnovers in three of their last four contests.
That could keep the Cougs hanging around. Lastly, in six common foes, Luke Fickell’s team has outscored the competition by 23.3 PPG, with Dana Holgorsen and his troops at 16.6 PPG. Cincinnati wins, just by single digits.
NCAAF Pick: Houston +10.5 (-108) with Heritage Sports
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.