MAC
First off what will probably be the least notable game is Miami (OH) and Ohio, in the MAC conference. Miami (OH) is 7-1 in conference play and is 8-4 overall, while Ohio is 7-1 in conference play and is 9-3 overall. First off, Miami (OH) beat Ohio in their match up 30-20. Though Miami (OH)’s only conference loss came to Toledo, while Ohio did beat Toledo. Ohio averages more points per game than Miami (OH) averaging 28.5, while Miami (OH) only averages 25.8 points per game. Ohio also averages a better overall offense, but Miami (OH) averages a better passing game. The problem for Ohio is they have turned the ball over more than they force them, while Miami (OH) has forced more turnovers than they’ve given up, so all in all I do think the game will come down to turnovers with a Miami (OH) win, but it will probably be a one or two score game. I was wrong, and Ohio won convincingly in a 38-3 game.
CUSA
Another game that could be contested as the least important is the Conference USA game between a 8-4 (6-2) Western Kentucky and a 8-4 (7-1) Jacksonville State team. Western Kentucky was able to pull out a win against Jax State last week, with a score of 19-17. Jax State does have a better points per game average with 35.4 points per game, while Western Kentucky averages 27.2 points per game. Jax State also comes in with a stunning 434.6 yards per game, which when you are in CUSA shouldn’t be too hard, but Western Kentucky does only average 390.7 yards per game. Jax State is also great at forcing turnovers and not giving the ball away, because they have plus 7 turnovers this season, while Western Kentucky is pretty even as they come in with only plus 1 turnover. All in all looking at the stats between the Western Kentucky and Jax State game, (you can look at it yourself) Jax State just had a fluke game, and I feel after seeing this Western Kentucky team they will be able to pull out a decent victory, of maybe 13 points. I was right for this game as Jax State won in a blowout, with the score of 52-12.
Sun Belt
This game may have held a little weight if you looked at the All State Playoff Louisiana had a 2% chance of making the playoffs, but not anymore. The second team in the championship is Marshall. The Sun Belt is the only conference to use divisions, but the two teams that won the divisions were the 2 best. Marshall is 9-3 (7-1), while Louisiana is 10-2 (7-1). Unfortunately, most likely due to divisions, they have not directly played each other, but we can compare them using Appalachian State, in which Marshall beat them 52-37, while Louisiana won 34-24. Louisiana leads in points per game with 35.8 points, while Marshall trails by a little with 31.4 points per game. Marshall also trails in yards per game with a decent 380.5 yards per game, while Louisiana averages a strong 445.7 yards per game, but again not too hard in the Sun Belt. Both teams have a really good turnover difference with Louisiana with a stunning plus 12 turnovers, while Marshall is still really good with a plus 9 turnovers. In the end it does look like, by looking at the games and stats it looks like Louisiana all the way, and with Marshall not comparing to Louisiana in any other category other than one game, I’m going to have to give the win to Louisiana in a strong 2 or 3 score game. I was wrong in this game as Marshall also won convincingly with a score of 31-3.
AAC
This game is very exciting for me, as the AAC championship will hold Army, which is their first year in the conference, and Tulane. Army is looking strong on the year with only 1 loss which was to top 5 Notre Dame, and their record is 10-1 (8-0), while Tulane is also looking strong at 9-3 (7-1). The teams have not played each other, so I’ll use their games against North Texas to put each of them in perspective. So Tulane was able to beat North Texas with a score of 45-37. Army was able to beat North Texas, but just in a different way with a score of 14-3. Army averages 32.9 points per game, which is decently behind Tulane who averages 39.1 points per game. The Army offense mostly consists of running the ball, but they still put up an impressive 401.7 yards per game, while Tulane does pass a little more, and do put up more yards, as they average 429.3 yards per game. The turnover battle goes to Army with plus 12 turnovers, while Tulane still comes in with a strong 10. In the end I can’t go against Army and I think they’ll win a very close game. This game was awesome for me as Army won in a convincing game, with a score of 35-14.
Mountain West
The Mountain West actually has a very important game, as the winner will most likely go to the playoffs. So first we have the clear favorite, which is Boise State standing at a strong 11-1 (7-0), while UNLV still looks pretty good at a 10-2 (6-1). But that one loss in conference for UNLV does come to Boise State, who won 29-24. Both teams are carried by their offenses as Boise State averages putting up 40.6 points per game, which just edges out UNLV, who averages 39.2 points per game. Both teams have a really impressive average yardage, as UNLV averages 434 yards per game, while Boise State averages 478.3 yards per game, which is largely carried by Heisman contender Ashton Jeanty. (let's be real Travis Hunter is better) The turnover difference for both teams is UNLV with an impressive plus 14 turnovers, which is double the Boise State difference, which is 6. In the end I think it may come down to turnovers, which last time I think UNLV had a fluke, because they didn’t get any, so I think UNLV is going to win by 1 or maybe 2 scores. I was also wrong with this one as Boise State won in a semi-convincing game as they won 21-7.
Big 12
We’re finally into Power 4 conferences, which we’ll kick off with Iowa State, and Arizona State in the Big 12 championship, which whoever wins is in the playoffs. Both teams are dead even at 10-2 (7-2). Both teams never played each other, so I’ll use their games against Cincinnati for comparison. First off Iowa State beat Cincinnati 34-17, while Arizona State beat them 24-14. Both teams have very similar points per game, with just a .4 difference as Iowa State comes in with 31.7 points per game, as Iowa State comes in with 32.1 points per game. The teams are nearly dead even again in yards as Iowa State leads slightly with 442.6 yards per game, while Arizona State averages 419.8 yards per game. Arizona State leads the turnover battle though with plus 11 turnovers, while Iowa State has plus 9 turnovers. In the end it might come down to one turnover, and Arizona State is more likely to get that turnover, so I think I’ll go Arizona State by 1 or 2 scores. I was right as in the end Arizona State accumulated a score of 45-19, with a strong offensive showing.
ACC
The ACC championship is another huge game, because if SMU wins they guarantee a playoff birth, but might still get in with a loss, while Clemson needs a win to get into the playoffs. Both teams have had their really strong points in the season. So SMU stands at 11-1 (8-0), while Clemson stands at 9-3 (7-1). Since they haven’t played each other, I’ll be using Pitt, to compare them. SMU crushed Pitt 48-25, while Clemson beat Pitt 24-20. SMU also leads in points per game with 39.2 points per game, while Clemson averages 35.7 points per game. Clemson leads in total yards with 465.7 yards per game, while SMU averages 441.8 yards per game. SMU only has plus 2 turnovers on the year, while Clemson has plus 14 turnovers. In the end I think that SMU will win because they just perform better in games so I’m guessing a 2 or 3 score game. I was wrong in this game as Clemson won is a nail-biter, with a score of 34-31.
SEC
The SEC championship, surprisingly, is not as good of a game as the Big 10 championship, but either way it is still a very good game. (I mean don’t take anything away from it) The game will be played between a 2 loss Georgia, but they were there last year, but Texas is in its first year in the SEC, but still managed to get into the conference championship. (funny that it was the new teams who did the best, like Army, Texas, and Oregon) Texas is 11-1 (7-1), while Georgia stands at 10-2 (6-2). Now Texas’s only loss did come to Georgia, with a two score game actually, with a score of 30-15. Georgia also does average more points per game than Texas with 37.1 points, while Texas still averages 36.3 points per game. Texas does lead in total yards though averaging 450.1 yards per game, while Georgia does average 425.3 yards per game. The turnover battle goes to Texas, who has plus 7 takeaways on the season, while Georgia sits at 0 actually. The last game did seem like a fluke game for Texas, as they gave the ball up 4 times, and failed four 4th down conversions, so I do think it will be a Texas win, but don’t count Georgia out of it. I was also wrong in this game as Georgia came out with the win in another close game of 22-19.
Big 10
The Big 10 championship is the highest ranked match-up in the conference championships, but that still doesn’t mean it means the most since both teams are getting in. I’m sure we all know who is playing, but just in case, the game consists of number 1 ranked Oregon, who is the only undefeated team left in college football, versus 3 ranked Penn State who is not undefeated and stands at 11-1 (7-1). Since the 2 teams haven’t played each other, I’ll be using Ohio State, since every other shared beaten team was mediocre at best, (yes I only picked teams that both teams won against) Penn State lost to Ohio State 20-13, so Penn State’s offense really held up in that game, especially in the red zone, and the offense never actually scored any points, as special teams made 2 field goals, and the defense had a pick 6, while Oregon actually played a genius move by putting 12 players on the field, so that way Ohio State would only gain 5 yards and a couple of seconds were chewed off the clock, so Oregon won 32-31. But anyways, Oregon averages 35.3 points per game, while Penn State averages 33.3 points per game. Oregon will also squeak out Penn State in total yards with 448.5 yards per game, while Penn State averages 442.8 yards per game. Penn State does win in turnover though as they have plus 7 turnovers on the season, while Oregon has plus 5 turnovers this season. I’m rooting for Penn State, and I really hope they win, but I do think Oregon is going to win, as they’ll come in with more confidence, a better record, and a better record against good teams in more recent years. I was right as Penn State lost in a close game of 45-37.
I hope the conference championships are extremely exciting, and I hope they’re all great games. I've also finished this right before the Army game, but it probably won’t get published until a little later, but I have to go watch the Army game, thank you for reading.
