Championship week is upon us as the teams still in College Football Playoff contention compete for the four spots that will be announced on Selection Sunday. A major step toward completing the process was taken Friday night when No. 3 Washington defeated No. 5 Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game for the second time this season. With the win, the Huskies not only secured the final Pac-12 championship, but also one of the coveted College Football Playoff spots while remaining undefeated. The Pac-12 – in its final year of existence – is now guaranteed a shot at the national championship for the first time since 2016, when Washington represented the conference.
No. 7 Texas will have a chance to make its case with another ranking when it takes on No. 18 Oklahoma State. All eyes will be on the final SEC Championship game on CBS, pitting No. 1 Georgia against No. 8 Alabama. The Bulldogs will clinch the top seed with a win, while the Crimson Tide will undoubtedly cause chaos if they can upset their rivals. Some believe there’s a chance the SEC would be left out if Bama beats UGA, but given the importance of the conference and the fact that the Tide would defeat the top team in the country in the final week of the season, that seems high unlikely.
No. 2 Michigan, which enters as a 23-point favorite against No. 16 Iowa, is simply trying to solidify its playoff bid this evening. The real star of the show Saturday night will be the ACC Championship Game, where No. 4 Florida State — potentially down to its third quarterback — takes on No. 14 Louisville. The Seminoles need to win to have a shot at the playoffs, but even if they emerge victorious, will the CFP selection committee definitely put them in the field as undefeated conference champions?
That all remains to be seen. As are the results of Championship Week. No worries. Here, our CBS Sports experts break down each game with spread predictions and their best bets on the game. Take a look below.
Odds via SportsLine Consensus | Always east
Big 12: No. 18 Oklahoma State vs. No. 7 Texas
lunch | ABC, fubo (Try it for free) — Oklahoma State is ready for big games, but Texas won’t miss its chance. The Longhorns were dominant when it mattered most and are reaching new levels as they progress. Texas should be able to contain Ollie Gordon II and make OSU’s passing game the centerpiece of the match. The Cowboys simply aren’t dynamic enough to win this way. The Longhorns are rolling. Pick: Texas -14.5 – Shehan Jeyarajah
SEC: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 8 Alabama
4 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ with Showtime, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App — The Bulldogs will wear down Alabama’s defense thanks to a phenomenal rushing performance from the duo of Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards. Because if Auburn can do it, Georgia definitely can. Quarterback Carson Beck will do enough through the air to keep the Alabama defense honest, which will go a long way in helping the Bulldogs secure their second straight SEC title. Alabama will hold on into the fourth quarter, but a strong Dawgs defense will force QB Jalen Milroe into a late mistake or two while Georgia needs to hedge to advance to the CFP. Selection: Georgia -6 – Barrett Sallee
ACC: No. 14 Louisville vs. No. 4 Florida State
8 p.m. | ABC, fubo (Try it for free) — Mike Norvell and Jeff Brohm are two excellent game planners and game managers. Although we have two of the better defenses in the ACC on the field, I believe that a good offense trumps a good defense when the coaching staff is top notch. There’s so much skill on the field that there’s bound to be some explosive, perfectly planned plays, so I’m expecting a lot more points than that total suggests. Selection: Over 47.5 – Chip Patterson
Big Ten: No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 16 Iowa
8 p.m. | Fox, fubo (Try it for free) — I won’t mess with the spread. First, while anything is possible, I don’t think Iowa will shock the world here. I just don’t know how the Hawkeyes are going to score points. Although they had success against the Big Ten West, this is still the same team that lost 31-0 to Penn State this year. And the Hawkeyes were much healthier back then. Michigan is Penn State on steroids. The question is: How motivated will the Wolverines be to increase the score? They have no need. Win and they go to the playoffs. Aside from Blake Corum getting a few touchdowns, I don’t see why Michigan would risk anything in the second half when it has a lead it would like to protect. Selection: Under 35 – Tom Fornelli
What college football picks can you make with confidence in conference championship games? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread – all using a proven computer model that has returned well over $2,000 in profit over the last seven-plus seasons – and find out.