College football picks, schedule: ATS predictions, 2020 conference championship odds

The craziness that has been the 2020 college football season meets the craziness that can arise in Championship week as most of the FBS conferences are in action this weekend looking to claim varsity football playoff spots, the New Years Six and other top-level bowl games. There are about seven teams competing for those four playoff spots, all of which are in action on Saturday.

Games begin Friday with the 13th USC in the spotlight against Oregon, a Washington substitute, in the Pac-12 Championship game. The Trojans are looking to end the regular season undefeated, something few of their fans likely thought possible this season under beleaguered coach Clay Helton.

It all kicks off Saturday as No.4 Ohio State and No.14 Northwestern open the day competing for the Big Ten title with the Buckeyes focused on a playoff berth despite just six games this season. The Big 12 is next with the No.6 from Iowa State and the No.10 from Oklahoma looking to save their campaigns despite losing a few games early in the season. Will the Cyclones or Sooners win the league’s New Year’s Six bid and build that momentum through 2021?

The two most intriguing matches of the weekend close the day. No.3 Clemson is seeking revenge on No.2 Notre Dame in the ACC Championship game after a regular season loss. The Tigers and Fighting Irish can both find themselves in the PSC’s four-team squad, but Saturday’s result will go a long way in determining if that happens and – if so – where they get ranked. Nothing is guaranteed for lemson in the event of loss.

The SEC Championship game serves as a nightcap with the Alabama No.1 and Florida No.7 clashing as the most familiar bed mates in this title clash. The Crimson Tide are looking to complete an unbeaten season and hold onto their top spot in the playoffs, while the Gators need a miracle to get to the field after suffering a surprise against LSU last week. Florida are in a position to play in the CFP if all goes well, but it will all start with a strong loss to the 17-point favorite Alabama.

What will the CFP rankings look like on Sunday? We’ll find out soon, but if winning is all that matters to the standings, we care if these teams cover their gaps. Be sure to stick with CBS Sports throughout the day for college football coverage, from kick off Saturday until the final whistle. Let’s take a look at our expert picks for Championship week.

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Pac-12: # 13 USC vs Oregon (Friday)

Nothing in this Pac-12 season makes sense, so why should the title game? An undefeated USC would be a better representative of the league during the bowling season than a two-loss Oregon team that didn’t really deserve to be in the league title game. But the magic of USC’s clutch is doomed to wear out at some point, and you can bet the Ducks are ready to wash away the taste of back-to-back losses against foes under 500 league. Picks: Oregon (+3) – David Cobb

Big Ten: 4th state of Ohio against 14th of the Northwest

The instinct here is to make points with Ohio State because the Buckeyes will be looking to make a point. If you want to do that, I tell you go for it. Me? I’ll be on the Wildcats. I don’t think Northwestern has a good chance of winning this game, but I can feel they are going to be able to spoil it. It’s just a perfect storm of everything Northwestern loves. Nobody thinks he has a prayer. The whole talk is about the Ohio State playoff case. Its sports director leaves to take over the ACC. Its longtime defensive coordinator is retiring after the season. There are even rumors – spurious as they are – that Pat Fitzgerald may be in line to coach the Chicago Bears. We’re going to get Northwestern’s absolute best effort here. It’s probably not enough to win, but it will be enough to keep him within three touchdowns. Choice: Northwest (+20.5) – Tom Fornelli

Large 12: # 6 state of Iowa vs. # 10 Oklahoma

The only hiccup in Oklahoma’s winning streak was a 27-14 win over Baylor. The Bears defense confused the Sooners, showing that, yes, it’s still possible to make this group look human. Iowa State has excellent defensemen at all three levels and got the best of Oklahoma the first time around. Win or lose here, Iowa State played both sides of the ball well enough that Oklahoma kept guessing. Pick: Iowa State +5.5 – Ben Kercheval

ACC: N ° 2 Notre Dame vs N ° 3 Clemson

This line is just rude to Notre Dame, a team that has played at a high level on a week-to-week basis for most of the season. The Fighting Irish were 5.5-point underdogs when they won in South Bend, Indiana earlier this year and now find themselves like double-digit dogs in the rematch? Defending the red zone is a great way to cover the gaps, so while I think Clemson wins, it won’t be more than a touchdown. Pick: Notre Dame +10.5 – Chip Patterson

SECOND: No.1 Alabama vs No.7 Florida

Not only will Alabama beat Florida, but it will beat them like a drum. I’m talking about the victory lap of all the victory rounds. The Gators were going to have a problem anyway, considering that the best way to slow Crimson Tide’s offense is to have a solid running game, which would keep Mac Jones. and Co. on the sidelines. Florida is not that team. Throw a hangover from losing LSU, and it will get ugly. Pick: Alabama (-17) – Barrett Sallee

What college football picks can you confidently make in Week 16, and which team will win a shocking shock in a conference title game? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread – all from a proven computer model that has grossed over $ 3,500 in profits over the past four seasons and more – and find out.