It’s conference championship weekend time, and after the games end Saturday, the College Football Playoff committee will announce the first 12-team playoff field. And while some teams are clearly in already, conference championship weekend could have an impact on the remaining playoff spots, along with seeding, including who gets a first-round bye.
Conference title weekend is supposed to be the best of the best, and for our latest picks against the spread, we’re looking at the Power Four title games and the Group of Five title games with possible playoff implications.
So here are our six college football picks against the spread for conference championship weekend.
Tail responsibly, and best of luck out there.
| Name | Last Week | YTD |
| Blake Schuster | 5-5 | 71-73 |
| Michelle Martinelli | 4-6 | 70-74 |
| Mitchell Northam | 8-2 | 69-75 |
| Christian D’Andrea | 5-5 | 65-79 |
| Tyler Nettuno | 6-4 | 63-81 |
All odds via BetMGM
No. 20 UNLV at No. 10 Boise State, Friday, 8 p.m. ET on Fox
Opening Line: Boise State -5
Blake Schuster: Boise State -4
This game is in Boise. It’ll be Ashton Jeanty’s last chance to impress Heisman Trophy voters. And he’s already rushed for 128 yards against UNLV once this season on the road. Gulp.
Mitchell Northam: Boise State -4
The Broncos already beat UNLV on the road. Potentially at stake here is a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff, depending on how the ACC and Big 12 title games shake out.
Christian D’Andrea: BSU -4
That’s a small line for a home team who already beat UNLV on the road, right?
Michelle Martinelli: Boise State -4
Usually in a same-season rematch situation, I go with the loser of the first game winning the second. Not this time. The Broncos will win this rematch decisively with a stellar game from Ashton Jeanty.
Tyler Nettuno: Boise State -4
The Broncos have played some quietly not great football over the last month or so, but UNLV hasn’t looked like world-beaters, either.
Tulane at No. 24 Army, Friday, 8 p.m. ET on ABC
Opening Line: Tulane -4
Blake Schuster: Army +4.5
Army isn’t getting into the playoff whether it wins or loses this game, and the troops are probably more worried about the Navy game next week. But the home field makes a big difference when a team from the south has to go way north.
Mitchell Northam: Tulane -4.5
Y’all remember how Notre Dame’s games against Army and Navy went pretty similarly? I think we’ll see the same against the Green Wave.
Christian D’Andrea: Army +4.5
TROOPS.
Michelle Martinelli: Army +4.5
I think Tulane will win, if for no other reason than to make up for the Memphis loss. But Army is tricky and should force this one to come down to the end.
Tyler Nettuno: Tulane -4.5
The Memphis game took a lot of wind out of the sails, but this is still a Green Wave team I like a lot. Army has only faced one test tougher than this all year, and we all saw how that went.
No. 16 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Arizona State, Saturday, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, noon ET on ABC
Opening Line: Arizona State -1.5
Blake Schuster: Arizona State -2.5
CAM SKATTEBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Mitchell Northam: Arizona State -2.5
This is me sticking it to Iowa State fans after they flooded my mentions this week because I hurt their feelings with my AP Top 25 men’s basketball vote. Anyways, one team has Cam Skattebo, and the other doesn’t.
Christian D’Andrea: Arizona State -2.5
The Big 12 is such a mess this year, I genuinely have no idea how this one will turn out.
Michelle Martinelli: Arizona State -2.5
Ah, yes, the Big 12 title game everyone predicted… Cam Skattebo is a star, and Iowa State’s defense is giving up a lot of rushing yards this season. Skattebo will lead the winning charge on the ground.
Tyler Nettuno: Arizona State -2.5
This feels like a pretty evenly matched game. But the Sun Devils are the hotter team (I’m sorry), so I’m rolling with them.
No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 2 Texas, Saturday, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, 4 p.m. ET on ABC
Opening Line: Texas -1.5
Blake Schuster: Texas -2.5
Full disclosure, I jumped on this line at -1.5 but would still take this number. Texas still looks elite. Georgia is limping. This might as well be a home game for the Bulldogs, but the Longhorns have played at Michigan, Arkansas and Texas A&M. The environment won’t be a shock.
Mitchell Northam: Georgia +2.5
Didn’t we already see this game? And now it’s being played in the state of Georgia?
Christian D’Andrea: Texas -2.5
The Longhorns are simply playing better football right now.
Michelle Martinelli: Texas -2.5
Small but accurate spread, and I could have convinced myself either way. But on the theory that the loser of the first game wins the in-season rematch, going with the Longhorns, who also look better right now.
Tyler Nettuno: Texas -2.5
Picking against Kirby Smart in a rematch feels like fodder for looking real stupid, but Texas has been the more consistent team this season despite the result in Austin earlier this year.
No. 3 Penn State vs. No. 1 Oregon, Saturday, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, 8 p.m. ET on CBS
Opening Line: Oregon -3.5
Blake Schuster: Penn State +3.5
What if I told you the big game James Franklin finally wins is the only one Penn State didn’t care about?
Mitchell Northam: Oregon -3.5
This is a big game, and James Franklin does not win big games.
Christian D’Andrea: Oregon -3.5
We all know how James Franklin does against top-5 teams.
Michelle Martinelli: Penn State +3.5
Oregon wins and keeps its undefeated season intact, but the Nittany Lions — even in a big game, I know, I know — keep it closer than this.
Tyler Nettuno: Oregon -3.5
The Ducks haven’t really faced a tough test since the win over Ohio State, and there have been a couple instances of shakiness. If Penn State looked just a bit more dangerous, I’d be more intrigued here.
No. 17 Clemson vs. No. 8 SMU, Saturday, Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, 8 p.m. ET on ABC
Opening Line: Clemson -1.5
Blake Schuster: SMU -2.5
I was all set to pick Clemson until South Carolina turned the Tigers’ defense into Swiss cheese.
Mitchell Northam: Clemson +2.5
I think SMU is good and deserves a CFP spot. Whether the committee agrees with me is another matter. But this is turf that Clemson dominates on, and I think we’re about to witness a classic, “Screw you, we’re still Clemson” type performance. The Tigers are 8-0 in ACC championship games since 2011. Their only loss in Charlotte in that span was in 2021 to Georgia — and SMU ain’t Georgia.
Christian D’Andrea: Clemson +2.5
SMU AIN’T PLAYED NOBODY, PAWLLLLLL.
Michelle Martinelli: Clemson +2.5
I am begging SMU to make me wrong on another pick involving Clemson.
Tyler Nettuno: SMU -2.5
The Mustangs truly have skated by on a weak schedule; there’s no denying it. But they’re also a well-rounded team, and I think this is a good matchup for them.
