College football expert picks and predictions for every conference championship game

College football expert picks and predictions for every conference championship game, including the SEC Championship Game between Georgia and Alabama.

It’s Championship Week in college football, and despite a slew of early-ish action in the coaching and transfer market, we still have scads of potential fields for the College Football Playoff. Georgia is a lock, but the results of this weekend’s games could open the door for Oklahoma State and even a Brian Kelly-less Notre Dame.

If Alabama wins, they’re in.

If Michigan wins, they’re in.

If Cincinnati wins, they’re in.

If Alabama loses, but it’s a close loss, there is a chance they could get in as the first two-loss team, which would likely keep out a one-loss Big 12 champion Oklahoma State provided they beat Baylor, which they already did once this season.

If any of the aforementioned trio of teams loses, then Oklahoma State is the likely fourth team in this scenario. If two of the teams lose, then there is a chance Notre Dame gets in despite head coach Brian Kelly leaving for the LSU job. There is a chance the playoff committee holds that against the team if chaos happens and No. 6 Notre Dame has an opening.

 College football expert picks for every conference championship game

Friday, December 3

• Conference USA Championship Game: Western Kentucky vs. UTSA — 7 p.m. ET — CBSSN
• Pac-12 Championship Game: No. 10 Oregon at No. 17 Utah — 8 p.m. ET — ABC

Saturday, December 4

• Big 12 Championship Game: No. 9 Baylor at No. 5 Oklahoma State — 12 p.m. ET — ABC
• MAC Championship Game: Kent State vs. Northern Illinois — 12 p.m. ET — ESPN
• Mountain West Championship Game: Utah State at No. 19 San Diego State — 3 p.m. ET — FOX
• Sun Belt Championship Game: Appalachian State at No. 24 Louisiana — 3:30 p.m. ET — ESPN
• SEC Championship Game: No. 1 Georgia at No. 3 Alabama — 4 p.m. ET — CBS
• American Athletic Conference Championship Game: No. 21 Houston at No. 4 Cincinnati — 4 p.m. ET — ABC
• Big Ten Championship Game: No. 2 Michigan at No. 13 Iowa — 8 p.m. ET — FOX
• ACC Championship Game: No. 15 Pittsburgh at No. 16 Wake Forest — 8 p.m. ET — ABC

This week’s Upset Pick (3-2) is Alabama over Georgia, not Houston over Cincinnati, and here is why. If Cincinnati loses, it only shoots itself in the foot. If Georgia loses, that leaves the Top 4 intact but gives Oklahoma State a win over the No. 9 team in Baylor. That gives the Committee a powerful argument to give Oklahoma State the nod over current No. 4 Cincinnati. Debate the merits of letting the Committee choose its winners like this all you want, but this is the hand we are dealt.

Is this a conspiracy theory? Yes. But it’s one drawn from decades of fandom. So come on into the conspiracy room. Tin foil is by the door.

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