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Phil Harrison

Conference championship game Buckeyes Wire predictions

Ohio State may be sitting at home after losing to Michigan for the second straight year, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some quality games on tap for this weekend with the conference championship games going on.

In fact, if you are still rooting for the Buckeyes to get into the College Football Playoff (and why wouldn’t you), you should be closely tuned to things, especially with what’s happening in Las Vegas with the Pac-12 Championship game. Root for a USC loss and Ohio State is most likely in all of the fun again.

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But there’s more than that. Every year (and every week of the season) we have a little friendly competition among our writers for world domination when it comes to picking Big Ten and some of the bigger college football games.

With the conference relegated to just one game now with the Big Ten Championship game in Indy between Michigan and Purdue, we change gears a little bit and make our predictions and picks against the spread and straight up for all of the conference championship games.

So, who will take home trophies this weekend? Here’s how we see things, but of the “pick six” variety of the six most-followed championship games.

As a reminder, if there’s an asterisk next to the pick, that means the team will win, but not cover. If there is a tie, rather than have a cage match or old-fashioned duel, we’ll settle it with less violence and go with the tried, yet true, coin flip where George Washington has the say.

EXAMPLE:
– If you think Ohio State will win minus-3.5 over an opponent: OSU
– If you think Ohio State will win outright: OSU
– If you think Ohio State will win, but NOT cover: OSU*

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

Here are our expert picks for a conference championship week, but first, here are the results so far, before all the bowl games which will get involved with as well.

Results so far

@PhilHarrisonBW: 118-47 (straight up), 84-81 (against the spread)
@MarkRussell1975: 115-50 SU, 77-88 ATS
@JoshKeatley16: 118-47 SU, 85-80 ATS
CONSENSUS PICK: 115-50 SU, 80-85 ATS

NEXT … All Conference Championship Games

Pac-12 Championship game - USC vs. Utah

Sept. 3, 2022; Gainesville, Florida; Utah Utes place kicker Jordan Noyes (67) smiles as he makes an extra point against the Florida Gators during the second half at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Friday, Dec. 2

7 p.m. ET | Fox
Tipico Line:
 USC -3

@PhilHarrisonBW: USC
@MarkRussell1975: Utah
@JoshKeatley16: Utah
CONSENSUS PICK: Utah

 

Big 12 Championship - TCU vs. Kansas State

Oct. 22, 2022; Fort Worth, Texas; TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Max Duggan (15) scrambles abasing Kansas State Wildcats defensive end Brendan Mott (38) in the first quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday, Dec. 3

Noon ET | ABC
Tipico Line:
TCU -1.5

@PhilHarrisonBW: TCU
@MarkRussell1975: Kansas State
@JoshKeatley16:TCU
CONSENSUS PICK: TCU

SEC Championship - Georgia vs. LSU

Sept. 24, 2022; Athens; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) passes the ball against the Kent State Golden Flashes during the first half at Sanford Stadium. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday, Dec. 3

4 p.m. ET | CBS
Tipico Line:
Georgia -17.5

@PhilHarrisonBW: Georgia*
@MarkRussell1975: Georgia*
@JoshKeatley16: Georgia
CONSENSUS PICK: Georgia*

American Championship game - UCF at Tulane

Nov. 12, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana; Tulane Green Wave tight end Reggie Brown (89) catches a pass against the UCF Knights during the fourth quarter at Yulman Stadium. Rebecca Warren-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday, Dec. 3

4 p.m. ET | ABC
Tipico Line:
Tulane -3.5

@PhilHarrisonBW: UCF
@MarkRussell1975: Tulane
@JoshKeatley16: UCF
CONSENSUS PICK: UCF

ACC Championship game - Clemson vs. North Carolina

Oct. 22, 2022; Clemson, South Carolina; Clemson Tigers quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei (5) and head coach Dabo Swinney talk with 11 minutes left during the fourth quarter against the Syracuse Orange at Memorial Stadium. Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday, Dec. 3

8 p.m. ET | ABC
Tipico Line:
Clemson -8

@PhilHarrisonBW: Clemson
@MarkRussell1975: Clemson
@JoshKeatley16: Clemson
CONSENSUS PICK: Clemson

Big Ten Championship game - Michigan vs. Purdue

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy runs the ball against Michigan State during the first half. USA TODAY Sports

Saturday, Dec. 3

8 p.m. ET | Fox
Tipico Line:
Michigan -16.5

@PhilHarrisonBW: Michigan*
@MarkRussell1975: Michigan*
@JoshKeatley16: Michigan
CONSENSUS PICK: Michigan*

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. 

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