Championship week is finally here. From heavyweight SEC drama to an FBS transitional showdown to a potential chaos agent in the ACC, this weekend delivers a wide range of matchups with major implications.
Here’s a look at three games that stand out, and the betting angles that make them worth your attention.
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(Odds courtesy of BetMGM and subject to change.)
SEC championship: Georgia Bulldogs (-2.5, 47.5) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
It’s hard to beat the same team twice, and Alabama knows that well. The Crimson Tide’s season has featured extreme highs and lows, but the high point came when they beat Georgia 24-21 on the road — a win that helped stabilize a team still searching for an identity after an early loss to Florida State and a soft opening stretch.
Georgia, meanwhile, has been anything but steady despite carrying just one loss. The Bulldogs have flashed vulnerability against Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Florida, yet have also looked like an all-time powerhouse in moments, most notably against Texas.
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Now they meet in Atlanta for the SEC Championship. Alabama is likely without running back Jam Miller, and last week star receiver Ryan Williams shockingly saw zero targets — the first such game of his football life. While the team brushed it off as “nothing to look into,” it points toward an offense still searching for answers. Expect the Tide to manufacture touches for Williams on the perimeter to generate explosives.
Given both teams’ volatility and big-play capability, this total feels a bit too low.
Bet: Over 47.5 (-110)
Conference USA championship: Kennesaw State Owls (-1.5, 59.5) at Jacksonville State Gamecocks
For readers who haven’t been following all season, this game might seem like an odd one to spotlight. But those ball knowers know the theme: Kennesaw State has consistently outperformed what the on-field play should allow, especially in terms of total points.
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Every week, the Owls find a way to add undeserved points to the scoreboard, whether via penalty-assisted drives, late-game decisions that inflate totals, or fluky scoring swings that don’t reflect the flow of the game. Jacksonville State, however, is a competent and disciplined opponent — the kind Kennesaw struggles to create chaos against.
With the step up in competition and less room for randomness, this feels like the spot to finally sell high on Kennesaw’s total-inflating tendencies.
Bet: Under 59.5 (-110)
ACC championship: Duke Blue Devils vs. Virginia Cavaliers (-3.5, 57)
Looking for chaos? Duke might be the team to deliver it. At 7-5, the Blue Devils have made it to the ACC Championship game, and an upset over Virginia could meaningfully shift the playoff picture. And it’s not as far-fetched as it sounds.
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Duke games often turn into track meets. The Blue Devils allow quality drives on more than half of opponent possessions, one of the worst marks in the nation, but counter that with a top 25 passing attack in EPA. They don’t win with defense, they win by outscoring you.
Virginia has the offensive firepower to match them and a secondary that has held up well, but the structure of this matchup still points toward a high-scoring affair. With both teams capable of sustaining drives and generating chunk plays, points should come in bunches.
Bet: Over 57 (-110)
