Welcome to Championship Week.
Shortly, we'll not only know the champions of all of college football's conferences, but the four teams which will make up the inaugural College Football Playoff. Will Alabama, Oregon, TCU and Florida State, the four teams currently in the top four, be the ones in the playoff? Or will one or more lose, setting up for a wild Sunday morning of discussion leading into the College Football Playoff selection show?
Here's how Dr. Saturday editors Graham Watson and Nick Bromberg see the seven conference championship games (and Baylor-Kansas State!) playing out (spoiler alert, we both think TCU wins).
Mid-American Conference Championship Northern Illinois (-5) vs. Bowling Green, 7 p.m. ET
I'll be honest, I'm still scarred from watching Bowling Green's clock management against Toledo in November. I can't pick the Falcons to repeat what happened last year in Detroit. NIU turns the tables this year and wins.
Prediction: NIU 27, Bowling Green 17
Neither one of these teams have been terribly impressive in the past few weeks, so I’m not expecting that great of a game. I think Northern Illinois’ ground game with QB Drew Hare and RB Cameron Stingly will be too much for the Falcons to overcome.
Prediction: NIU 35, BGSU, 24
Pac-12 Championship Arizona vs. Oregon (-15.5), 9 p.m. ET
The line here feels inflated due to Oregon's reputation and the revenge factor. While you can't disregard the latter, Arizona is going to hang with Oregon throughout the entire game. In the win in Eugene, Arizona ran the ball 55 times. The Wildcats haven't attempted that many rushes in a game since. Arizona's two losses have both come with Anu Solomon throwing a ton of passes and the Wildcats will try to avoid that formula. It's not enough, but this isn't a walk for Oregon.
Prediction: Oregon 38, Arizona 30
It’s no coincidence that Arizona has been effective against Oregon and QB Marcus Mariota the past few years. Mariota has six turnovers against the Wildcats in his career, more than any other team he’s faced. It’s easy to look at this as a revenge game, but Arizona isn’t going to let Oregon walk all over it. I like the Wildcats to keep this close.
Prediction: Oregon 42, Arizona 35
Conference USA Championship Louisiana Tech vs. Marshall (-9.5), 12 p.m. ET
Mad Marshall? Mad Marshall. If Boise State loses, Marshall has a shot to sneak into a New Year's Bowl with a win. Just kidding. Sorry Marshall fans. Your team will pile up the points once again, but you're probably going to the Liberty Bowl.
Prediction Marshall 45, Louisiana Tech 27
A lot of me wants to take Louisiana Tech because I think it’s more like the team that whipped Rice by 45 points than the one that lost to Old Dominion. That said, the Bulldogs erratic play is to hard to predict and while I think they could give Marshall a game, Marshall is the better team here. I think the Thundering Herd roll.
Prediction: Marshall 42, Louisiana Tech 27
SEC Championship Alabama (-14.5) vs. Missouri, 4 p.m. ET
Last year, Missouri's vaunted defense got ripped apart by Auburn in the SEC Championship Game. This year, Missouri's defense is just as vaunted (maybe even better), but this Alabama team doesn't have many style resemblances to Auburn. The Tigers' defense keeps this game within reach, but for an upset to happen, Maty Mauk is going to have to go over 200 yards passing for the fourth time in conference play. The good news is that the previous three times have all come in the last three games. He's playing much better.
Prediction: Alabama 26, Missouri 20
Missouri’s defense has carried it almost all season and while I think it will be a big asset in this game, I think its small stature is going to have a really tough time with Alabama’s beefy offensive line. It seems like Blake Sims really found himself in the Iron Bowl and that offense was really clicking. Missouri’s offense has been spotty at best this year. I think the Tigers have had a tremendous year, but Alabama runs away with this game.
Prediction: Alabama 35, Missouri 17
ACC Championship Florida State (-4) vs. Georgia Tech, 8 p.m. ET
Keep the first half shovels away from the field, Seminoles. If FSU lets Georgia Tech get out in front early, it could be bad news given the Yellow Jackets' ability to sustain drives and control the clock. While Florida State doesn't blow the doors off GT like it did to Duke last year, it won't be classified as an escape either.
Prediction: Florida State 31, Georgia Tech 27
OK, OK, I’ll bite. I’ll be the sucker who thinks Georgia Tech is the team that can actually make Florida State and Jameis Winston pay for mistakes and lackadaisical play. The Georgia Tech defense is just as good, if not better, than Florida’s defense and the Tech offense is far more opportunistic. GT is missing its top receiver, but I think of all the teams FSU has played this season, the Yellow Jackets have the killer instinct not to let Florida State crawl back into a game.
Prediction: Georgia Tech 31, Florida State 24
Big Ten Championship Wisconsin (-4.5) vs. Ohio State, 8:17 p.m. ET
The Buckeyes need to show that they were more than J.T. Barrett to impress the committee enough to have a chance at the top four barring an upset. Even then, Cardale Jones needs to show in an extremely limited sample size that there's not a big dropoff from Barrett. But let's go with Melvin Gordon in a squeaker.
Prediction: Wisconsin 27, Ohio State 24
This is a tough game to pick because Cardale Jones is such an unknown commodity at quarterback. It’s one thing to read about his work ethic and drive and all that, it’s another to watch him put it into action in the biggest game of Ohio State’s season. Let’s not forget that J.T. Barrett wasn’t exactly amazing in his first start. I think Ohio State makes this a game, but Melvin Gordon owns it. He goes off for 200-plus yards and the Badgers win.
Prediction: Wisconsin 31, Ohio State 17
Mountain West Championship Fresno State vs. Boise State (-23), 10 p.m. ET
The Bulldogs are 6-6, hence why this line is so big. This game is at Boise too, which further lessens the chances for an upset, which were standing pretty close to zero. When in doubt, take the points, and that's the plan here. Welcome to the Fiesta Bowl, Boise State.
Prediction: Boise State 45, Fresno State 30
After watching each of these teams in the past few weeks, there is nothing in me that thinks Fresno State can keep up with the Broncos. And let’s not forget, Boise State isn’t just playing for a conference title, it’s playing for a fancy bowl berth. Boise State won’t let that opportunity slip. The Broncos end this game early.
Prediction: Boise State 56, Fresno State 21
BONUS PICK Kansas State at Baylor (-7), 7:45 p.m. ET
There's nothing Baylor can do to jump TCU if the Horned Frogs don't win. Even a repeat of 2012, when Baylor blitzed Kansas State won't suffice. And this game ends up close, as the wizard Bill Snyder has some tricks up his sleeve. Sorry Baylor, hopefully a New Year's Bowl treats you better than last year.
Prediction: Baylor 34, Kansas State 31
Kansas State has been largely ignored in the Big 12 while the nation has focused on the race between TCU and Baylor. I think Kansas State takes that personally and I think it takes it out on Baylor. QB Jake Waters is an underrated player, as is receiver Tyler Lockett. The Wildcats still have an outside chance of making the College Football Playoff and I think they take advantage of the opportunity.
Prediction: Kansas State 31, Baylor 24
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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter!
And don’t forget to keep up with all of Graham’s thoughts, witty comments and college football discussions on Facebook
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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