We’ve finally made it to Championship Weekend, and college football treats it like its own dramatic season finale, since every conference championship now carries the kind of stakes that can rearrange the entire postseason picture in a matter of hours. The American Athletic winner is guaranteed a ticket into the CFP, and both Tulane and North Texas fought through crowded races to earn their shot, while BYU and Virginia head into the Big XII and ACC title games hoping a big win will be enough to push them into the field. James Madison, after rolling through most of its schedule, now needs both an ACC championship and a Selection Committee miracle to keep its dream alive, and Georgia once again faces Alabama looking to finally reclaim its SEC throne and lock up a first-round bye. Meanwhile, the B1G delivers the rarest showdown of all, as unbeaten Indiana and unbeaten Ohio State meet for a 1-versus-2 clash with the conference title, a Rose Bowl berth, and the CFP’s top seed all on the line, making the weekend increasingly more tense and exciting. I know I’m looking forward to it and hope you’re looking forward to it as much as I am, so let’s break down the matchups that will shape December and January with bowl season and the CFP on the horizon following Selection Sunday:

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Friday, December 5

Troy @ #25 James Madison (-24.5) (O/U: 46.5)

Bridgeforth Stadium, Harrisonburg, VA

7 pm, ESPN

Best Bet: Over 46.5

Prediction

Final Score: #25 James Madison 41, Troy 13

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Kennesaw State (-3.5) @ Jacksonville State (O/U: 62.5)

AmFirst Stadium, Jacksonville, AL

7 pm, CBSSN

Best Bet: Caden Creel o96.5 Rushing Yards

Prediction

Final Score: Jacksonville State 34, Kennesaw State 28

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#24 North Texas (-1.5) @ #20 Tulane (O/U: 66.5)

Yulman Stadium, New Orleans, LA

8 pm, ABC

Best Bet: Drew Mestemaker o309.5 Passing Yards

Prediction

Final Score: #20 Tulane 41, #24 North Texas 38

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UNLV @ Boise State (-5.5) (O/U: 59.5)

Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID

8 pm, FOX

Best Bet: UNLV +5.5

Prediction

Final Score: UNLV 31, Boise State 27

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Saturday, December 6

#11 BYU vs. #4 Texas Tech (-12.5) (O/U: 49.5)

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

Noon, ABC

Best Bet: Bear Bachmeier o190.5 Passing Yards

Prediction

Final Score: #4 Texas Tech 27, #11 BYU 24

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Miami (OH) vs. Western Michigan (-1.5) (O/U: 43.5)

Ford Field, Detroit, MI

Noon, ESPN

Best Bet: Western Michigan -1.5

Prediction

Final Score: Western Michigan 23, Miami (OH) 16

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#3 Georgia (-1.5) vs. #9 Alabama (O/U: 48.5)

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

4 pm, ABC

Best Bet: Alabama ML

Prediction

Final Score: #9 Alabama 24, #3 Georgia 17

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Duke vs. #18 Virginia (-3.5) (O/U: 57.5)

Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

8 pm, ABC

Best Bet: Nate Sheppard Anytime TD

Prediction

Final Score: #18 Virginia 34, Duke 30

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#2 Indiana vs. #1 Ohio State (-3.5) (O/U: 45.5)

Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

8 pm, FOX

Best Bet: Under 45.5

Prediction

Final Score: #1 Ohio State 27, #2 Indiana 16

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Make sure to stay tuned for a fantastic slate of Conference Championships and Selection Sunday for the official reveal of the second 12-team College Football Playoff and the rest of the bowl games!