JD PicKell: Conference Championship Predictions 2.0

Week 7 is the halfway mark of the college football regular season — six weeks before, six weeks to follow. And it’s the perfect time to re-examine some picks for conference championships.

And that’s just what On3’s JD PicKell did this week. His picks might not be earth-shattering, but they certainly reflect the current contours of the college football season.

Check out PicKell’s retooled predictions for all the Power 5 conference championship matchups and winners below.

SEC: Georgia over Alabama

Alabama has the inside track to win the SEC West at this point and PicKell doesn’t think that changes, and Georgia shouldn’t face too many obstacles returning to the SEC Championship Game. In a rematch of the 2021 title game, PicKell has the Bulldogs getting the best of the Crimson Tide.

“I see more ways for Georgia to win that game over Alabama than I do for Alabama. I think Alabama’s going to, again, find their stride, become more multiple offensively. But Carson Beck, I think, at that point will no longer be considered a first-year starter. At that point I think he’s got the experience you would want him to have going into that game. I think he’s got the confidence you’d want him to have going into that game. And I think Georgia, we talk about teams hitting their stride, we talk about ‘Bama hitting their stride, I think Georgia at that point brings more to the table and can beat Alabama in that game,” PicKell said.

Big Ten: Michigan over Wisconsin

The Big Ten West is a muddled mess, and PicKell ultimately thinks Wisconsin prevails from the division. But it won’t matter, as he’s fairly certain the champion will come out of the east and that champion will be Michigan.

“Let’s not kid ourselves. Michigan is still Michigan. They’re still going to beat you up up front, they’re going to play really good defense and a lot of the cast of characters that were there last season from the Big Ten title team that made a statement in Columbus, Ohio? They’re still there,” PicKell said.

Big 12: Texas over Oklahoma

The two best teams in the Big 12 already played and just did this past weekend, so far as PicKell is concerned. And despite the Sooners prevailing in the Red River Showdown, PicKell thinks a rematch goes the way of the Longhorns.

“I think that it’s very, very difficult to beat a team twice. So if this happens, if we get this matchup, we’ll pick it again when it gets here and we reserve the right to change our prediction based on what happens these next six weeks, but like at the end of the day, I just think it’s so tough to beat any team twice. I think it’s especially difficult to beat a really talented team twice and a really well coached team twice,” PicKell said.

ACC: Florida State over Louisville

Two of the three remaining undefeated teams in the conference will make it to the conference title game. And PicKell isn’t deviating from the clear-cut top team in the league since a Week 1 demolishing of an SEC foe.

“I just think the roster and the experience for Florida State is what gets them over the hump in this conference. I think they end up winning this conference. I think the No. 1 returning production pays dividends, especially late in the year,” PicKell said.

Pac-12: Oregon over USC

A lot can happen between now and the end of the season, but as things currently stand, PicKell thinks USC makes a return to the Pac-12 title game, two trips in two years under Lincoln Riley. PicKell thinks it’ll be two losses, too, this time coming at the hands of Oregon.

“Complete teams go the distance. Like, this Pac-12 title race, this Pac-12 conference play as a whole is like a road trip and you need to be built for all terrain. You need to be complete. I don’t want a Ferrari. A Ferrari’s not going to be an enjoyable road trip. It’ll go fast, it’ll be great for a joy ride. It’ll be great to get me from A to B really quickly if it’s a short distance. But to go the distance, to go the length of the Pac-12 season and to feel good about your chances, I like Oregon because of how complete they are,” PicKell said.

All in all, nothing too far afield from PicKell, as his picks to win the Power 5 leagues are all comfortably in contention — most are in the drivers seat. Though it’s a safe bet folks in Seattle, Happy Valley, or Chapel Hill, among others, might quibble with these picks.