Two conference titles went in the books Friday night. Northern Illinois, which came into the game 7-5, scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to down Buffalo, which entered 10-2, by a score of 30-29 in the MAC championship. And in the Pac-12, Washington held off Utah, 10-3. Some of Saturday's games have more implications than others, and there are a couple of ACC games as well, including Virginia Tech's bid to keep its NCAA-record bowl streak alive.
Last Saturday: 9-3 Season: 107-45
Big 12 championship
No. 16 Texas (9-3) vs. No. 5 Oklahoma (11-1) in Arlington, Texas, Noon ABC
The Longhorns handed the Sooners their only loss in the Red River Rivalry in October. Oklahoma presumably is playing for a spot in the College Football Playoff should Georgia fall to Alabama. Some analysts think Ohio State should be ahead of Oklahoma, but the Sooners have the upper hand right now. They just need to beat the Longhorns, and I think they will in this rematch.
Oklahoma 45, Texas 38
Sun Belt championship
Louisiana-Lafayette (7-5) at Appalachian State (9-2), Noon ESPN
The Mountaineers nearly beat Penn State in their opener and then cruised the entire year except for one blip, a blowout loss to Georgia State, which ended up 9-3. The Mountaineers beat the Ragin' Cajuns, 27-17, in the first meeting. I'll take ASU again.
Appalachian State 31, Louisiana-Lafayette 21
East Carolina (3-8) at N.C. State (8-3), Noon ACC Network
This is the 12th game for both teams. The Pirates declined to travel to Virginia Tech during Hurricane Florence, and the Wolfpack's game against West Virginia was canceled. ECU did beat UNC this season, but it fired its coach, Scottie Montgomery, this week after nine wins in three years.
N.C. State 42, East Carolina 17
Marshall (8-3) at Virginia Tech (5-6), Noon ACC Network
The Thundering Herd's game against South Carolina was canceled, opening it up to this 12th game. Thanks to last week's result, the Hokies are looking to extend their streak of 26 straight seasons appearing in a bowl. But Marshall is no pushover, barely missing out on Conference USA's title game, and it has won three consecutive contests and five of six. In 2013, Tech needed OT to edge Marshall. Tech wins in a close game.
Virginia Tech 27, Marshall 24
Conference USA championship
UAB (9-3) at Middle Tennessee (8-4), 1:30 p.m. CBS Sports Network
I actually don't know anything about these teams this year. The Blazers just restarted their program for the 2017 season after not having a football team in 2015-16. So this has been a pretty remarkable season.
UAB 27, Middle Tennessee 25
American Athletic championship
Memphis (8-4) at No. 8 UCF (12-0), 3:30 p.m. ABC
The Knights are looking to keep another streak going: one of wins. They've won 24 straight games and continue to proclaim themselves good enough to be in the playoff. But to nail down a spot in a New Year's Six bowl and have a shot at a big boy, they must beat the Tigers without starting QB McKenzie Milton, who suffered a bad leg injury last week against South Florida. Darriel Mack Jr. is the new UCF QB. Memphis has given UCF fits the past two times they've met up: in this title game last year, a 62-55 final in OT, and this season, Oct. 13, a 31-30 final. I'm going to take Memphis, without Milton fueling UCF, to stop the Knights' impressive run.
Memphis 38, UCF 34
SEC championship
No. 1 Alabama (12-0) vs. No. 4 Georgia (11-1) in Atlanta, 4 p.m. CBS
I'm not expecting anyone to beat 'Bama now. The Tide keeps rolling. Georgia would assuredly get in the playoff with a win. The question would be, would 'Bama stay in the top four?
Alabama 31, Georgia 10
Mountain West championship
No. 25 Fresno State (10-2) at No. 22 Boise State (10-2), 7:45 p.m. ESPN
The Broncos defeated the Bulldogs, 24-17, at home earlier this season. Their losses came to San Diego State and Oklahoma State. Fresno State's other defeat came to Minnesota. I'll go with the
Broncos again.
Boise State 26, Fresno State 24
ACC championship
No. 2 Clemson (12-0) vs. Pittsburgh (7-5) in Charlotte, N.C., 8 p.m. ABC
The line for this game is 27.5 points, more than twice as much as the one for the SEC title game. This could get ugly. You never know, though. The Panthers did upset the Tigers at Clemson two years ago.
Clemson 38, Pittsburgh 13
Big Ten championship
No. 21 Northwestern (8-4) vs. No. 6 Ohio State (11-1) in Indianapolis, 8 p.m. Fox
Ohio State scored 62 points on Michigan last week, but it gave up 39. Before that win, the Buckeyes were looking vulnerable. I like the Wildcats to give them some trouble, at the very least. But OSU will win, but probably needs Oklahoma to lose to Texas to make the playoff.
Ohio State 31, Northwestern 24
Last Saturday: 9-3 Season: 107-45
Big 12 championship
No. 16 Texas (9-3) vs. No. 5 Oklahoma (11-1) in Arlington, Texas, Noon ABC
The Longhorns handed the Sooners their only loss in the Red River Rivalry in October. Oklahoma presumably is playing for a spot in the College Football Playoff should Georgia fall to Alabama. Some analysts think Ohio State should be ahead of Oklahoma, but the Sooners have the upper hand right now. They just need to beat the Longhorns, and I think they will in this rematch.
Oklahoma 45, Texas 38
Sun Belt championship
Louisiana-Lafayette (7-5) at Appalachian State (9-2), Noon ESPN
The Mountaineers nearly beat Penn State in their opener and then cruised the entire year except for one blip, a blowout loss to Georgia State, which ended up 9-3. The Mountaineers beat the Ragin' Cajuns, 27-17, in the first meeting. I'll take ASU again.
Appalachian State 31, Louisiana-Lafayette 21
East Carolina (3-8) at N.C. State (8-3), Noon ACC Network
This is the 12th game for both teams. The Pirates declined to travel to Virginia Tech during Hurricane Florence, and the Wolfpack's game against West Virginia was canceled. ECU did beat UNC this season, but it fired its coach, Scottie Montgomery, this week after nine wins in three years.
N.C. State 42, East Carolina 17
Marshall (8-3) at Virginia Tech (5-6), Noon ACC Network
The Thundering Herd's game against South Carolina was canceled, opening it up to this 12th game. Thanks to last week's result, the Hokies are looking to extend their streak of 26 straight seasons appearing in a bowl. But Marshall is no pushover, barely missing out on Conference USA's title game, and it has won three consecutive contests and five of six. In 2013, Tech needed OT to edge Marshall. Tech wins in a close game.
Virginia Tech 27, Marshall 24
Conference USA championship
UAB (9-3) at Middle Tennessee (8-4), 1:30 p.m. CBS Sports Network
I actually don't know anything about these teams this year. The Blazers just restarted their program for the 2017 season after not having a football team in 2015-16. So this has been a pretty remarkable season.
UAB 27, Middle Tennessee 25
American Athletic championship
Memphis (8-4) at No. 8 UCF (12-0), 3:30 p.m. ABC
The Knights are looking to keep another streak going: one of wins. They've won 24 straight games and continue to proclaim themselves good enough to be in the playoff. But to nail down a spot in a New Year's Six bowl and have a shot at a big boy, they must beat the Tigers without starting QB McKenzie Milton, who suffered a bad leg injury last week against South Florida. Darriel Mack Jr. is the new UCF QB. Memphis has given UCF fits the past two times they've met up: in this title game last year, a 62-55 final in OT, and this season, Oct. 13, a 31-30 final. I'm going to take Memphis, without Milton fueling UCF, to stop the Knights' impressive run.
Memphis 38, UCF 34
SEC championship
No. 1 Alabama (12-0) vs. No. 4 Georgia (11-1) in Atlanta, 4 p.m. CBS
I'm not expecting anyone to beat 'Bama now. The Tide keeps rolling. Georgia would assuredly get in the playoff with a win. The question would be, would 'Bama stay in the top four?
Alabama 31, Georgia 10
Mountain West championship
No. 25 Fresno State (10-2) at No. 22 Boise State (10-2), 7:45 p.m. ESPN
The Broncos defeated the Bulldogs, 24-17, at home earlier this season. Their losses came to San Diego State and Oklahoma State. Fresno State's other defeat came to Minnesota. I'll go with the
Boise State 26, Fresno State 24
ACC championship
No. 2 Clemson (12-0) vs. Pittsburgh (7-5) in Charlotte, N.C., 8 p.m. ABC
The line for this game is 27.5 points, more than twice as much as the one for the SEC title game. This could get ugly. You never know, though. The Panthers did upset the Tigers at Clemson two years ago.
Clemson 38, Pittsburgh 13
Big Ten championship
No. 21 Northwestern (8-4) vs. No. 6 Ohio State (11-1) in Indianapolis, 8 p.m. Fox
Ohio State scored 62 points on Michigan last week, but it gave up 39. Before that win, the Buckeyes were looking vulnerable. I like the Wildcats to give them some trouble, at the very least. But OSU will win, but probably needs Oklahoma to lose to Texas to make the playoff.
Ohio State 31, Northwestern 24
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