B/R College Football 2024 Betting Locks with Adam Kramer: Championship Weekend
For as much emotion and drama as the college football season has delivered, a new chapter ripe with playoff implications begins now.
That's not the case for all teams. Many seasons ended on Saturday. Others will live on in bowl or playoff assignments, which will be revealed on Sunday.
Until then, all eyes are on conference championships. And for the first time in a long time, this weekend has plenty of juice.
A rough final week of picks has us sitting at 63-65 entering this final week before the postseason becomes clear. Although games are limited, there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of.
No recap from the previous week. No need to look back. At this point, all eyes are on a massive slate of games.
As for some housekeeping, Locks of the Week will be back for multiple postseason picks, including breakdowns and picks of the College Football Playoff.
We've got plenty of work still to do, including the picks directly in front of us.
Away we go.
For the latest spreads on futures and games, head to DraftKings.
American Athletic Championship: Tulane (-4.5) vs. Army
1 of 5
What exactly happened to Tulane on Thanksgiving? That's a fair question.
Memphis, of course, deserves plenty of credit for that outcome. The Tigers were better than the Green Wave in pretty much every facet, and the result eliminated Tulane from College Football Playoff consideration.
It did not, however, end Tulane's season, and this group can still win the AAC with a victory here.
Standing in the way is Army, which has 10 wins and only one loss. The Black Knights beat a feisty UTSA squad 29-24 last week, although they're an underdog despite these split results.
Tulane's rushing defense is solid, which is important in this matchup. And although the Green Wave will play this game on the road, the spread speaks volumes. Look for Tulane to find its footing after a rough week, winning this Friday matchup by a score.
Big 12 Championship Game: Arizona State vs. Iowa State (Over 49.5)
2 of 5
To those holding a future ticket on either team, I salute you.
Also, hedge accordingly.
This is not the Big 12 Championship Game many envisioned, although it's a matchup we will gladly embrace. In fact, in terms of pure fun, drama and stakes, they don't get much better than this.
This is a playoff game, simple as that. The winner won't only win the conference; they will also be placed in the playoff bracket. With that mind, choosing a side feels tricky.
Instead, we're expecting points.
Both offenses have been hot of late. Both teams are powered by capable quarterbacks. Both teams have quality pass catchers. Both coaches will have the urgency to apply enough offensive pressure to keep the offenses moving.
In short, expect action. A wild and weird year in the Big 12 will go out in style. Although I don't feel overly confident picking a winner, here's how I see it.
Arizona State 31, Iowa State 28.
Big Ten Championship Game: Penn State (+3.5) vs. Oregon
3 of 5
The narrative disagrees with this pick. You know what we're getting at, and you might agree.
James Franklin hasn't thrived in big games. In fact, his record against the likes of Ohio State and Michigan in an otherwise wildly successful tenure at Penn State requires no further exploring.
In short, it's not great. But this team might be.
Sure, the Nittany Lions lost outright to Ohio State earlier this year, although plenty of good was showcased in a wild game that featured its share of odd moments. Since then, outside of a close call to Minnesota, we've seen a dominant force.
For as much as Oregon has to offer—and it's plenty—Penn State has an awful lot to counter with. The quarterback is emerging, the running backs are superb and the star pass rusher, linebacker Abdul Carter, will be the best player on the field.
The Ducks are good, make no mistake about it. But to simply assume that Oregon will roll against the second-best team it will see all season seems foolish.
Franklin doesn't just cover. He conquers the narrative and wins the Big Ten.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
SEC Championship Game: Georgia (+2.5) vs. Texas
4 of 5
In terms of variables and football factors to dissect, this one has plenty.
On one hand, Georgia dominated Texas earlier this season on the road, looking superior in pretty much every other. On the other, the Bulldogs just needed eight overtimes to get past unranked Georgia Tech, while the Longhorns dominated rival Texas A&M in their biggest game of the season.
But that's not all. Like other games featured this weekend, both teams are already in the College Football Playoff. This is essentially a game that will deliver a bye—along with a conference championship—and those two things are worth plenty.
Still, this won't be the end of either teams' seasons. Heck, they could still play a third time with playoff bids already locked up for both.
For Georgia, it boils down to comfort. The last time these two met, there was plenty of it. While last week's scare was certainly eye-opening, the play of QB Carson Beck has been encouraging.
Neither team has been particularly consistent, and this point spread speaks to that. Give us the underdog in what should be a fabulous football game.
ACC Championship Game: SMU vs. Clemson (over 55.5)
5 of 5
In terms of playoff intrigue, this game has plenty of it. It could also wind up being one of the more enjoyable, touchdown-friendly matchups we see all weekend.
The working assumption is that SMU should handle Clemson. The Mustangs have played fabulous football this season, having lost just one game at BYU. Outside of that, this team has beaten everyone.
Clemson, meanwhile, has three losses. The most recent loss to South Carolina is still fresh, although the Tigers found their way into the title games thanks to the Hurricanes' stumble at Syracuse.
Despite the record, Clemson has shown an ability to move the ball much of the year. The Tigers have the nation's No. 14 scoring offense this season. SMU checks in at No. 5 in the same category.
Translation? There will be points. In fact, it would not be shocking if these teams spent a good part of the game trading touchdowns.
It's a big total, although this one has a chance to cruise past the number.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
