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Take Texas -3, Clemson +2.5 in Conference Championship Week

by:Linden Hile•12/06/24

With conference championship week upon us, we’ve been blessed with a great lineup of games. Today I’ll make spread predictions for each major conference championship game except the Big Ten Conference’s, where my score and thus spread prediction can be found here.

Season Record ATS: 55-35

Army +5 vs Tulane

I really like Army getting five points in a home conference championship game. The triple option attack has worked for this year’s best service academy all season, getting them to 10-1 and 8-3 against the spread.

This makes a tough outing for warm-weather Tulane who will have to enter a cold, charged environment at West Point. Give me Army to cover and win outright.

Score prediction: 24-21 Army

Boise State -4 vs UNLV

Running back Ashton Jeanty‘s efficiency has been on the decline lately as his carries and subsequently bruises start to add up but I think Boise State is the more complete and talented roster. It’s been in pole position for the Mountain West championship all year and while UNLV is a scrappy outfit, I don’t think they quite match up.

It also matters greatly that this game will be played in Boise as opposed to a neutral site as the Rebels are another warm-weather team going north. Give me the Broncos by a touchdown.

Score prediction: 31-24 Boise State

Iowa State +1 @ Arizona State

In the first neutral site conference championship of the weekend, we get a team peaking at the right time against one that’s been planning for this all year. Arizona State has ridden running back Cam Skattebo to a 10-2 record while Iowa State is the ultimate development program.

I think the Cyclones’ defensive advantage as well as big-game experience will matter a lot here. Give me the more well-rounded roster to pull out a nail-biter early tomorrow.

Score prediction: 27-23 Iowa State

Texas -3 vs Georgia

I’m rolling with the public here and taking Texas to win and cover. The Longhorns have been a much more consistent operation this year and their elite defense (second in the country in points allowed) should give Georgia quarterback Carson Beck fits.

Beck has been severely underwhelming all year and I think it bites them again here. Texas has the better offense by a nose and defense by a mile so I’d be surprised if this one was decided by less than three.

Score prediction: 28-20 Texas

Clemson +2.5 @ SMU

A neutral site game favors the lower-seeded team and I expect Clemson’s fan base to travel better from South Carolina to North Carolina than SMU’s will from Dallas. There’s a decided roster talent discrepancy in this game as well as a sore lack of big-game experience on the Mustangs’ side.

While SMU has been the better statistical team all year, I trust the Tigers more in a big spot. Give me Clemson to cover and win outright in a fun game that comes down to the wire.

Score prediction: 31-27 Clemson

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