With conference championships to be decided this coming week, it comes as no surprise the best team in college football has been designated a big favorite in the SEC Championship Game. Alabama, the last undefeated team among power conference programs, opened as a 21.5 point favorite over Florida in the SEC Championship Game, according to Odds Shark.
Alabama has been the easy pick to win the national championship as the season has progressed, and it was expected Alabama would be a heavy favorite in Atlanta this weekend. The Gators offense has been struggling to find anything to build on, although the Gators do bring a solid defense with them to the conference championship game for the second straight season. But so does Alabama and the Crimson Tide may have the best defense in the country. It is possible Alabama’s defense may end up scoring more points than the Gators offense
Defending ACC champion Clemson is also a sizable favorite in the ACC Championship Game against Virginia Tech. The Tigers open as an 8.5 point favorite against the Hokies. The Big 12 does not have an actual conference championship game, but this week’s meeting between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State serves as a de facto Big 12 championship game, as the winner of the game will be crowned Big 12 champion. The Sooners, playing at home, are a 14-point favorite in the game.
Washington has been tabbed as a six-point favorite against Colorado in the Pac-12 Championship Game this weekend. Both teams are making their first appearance in the Pac-12 Championship Game, and a playoff bid will be on the line for Washington (and maybe Colorado?). The Big Ten Championship Game appears to be the tightest conference championship game this week among the power conferences. Wisconsin opened as a 1.5 point favorite over Penn State.
Western Michigan is a heavy favorite to close out a 13-0 season with the MAC championship. The Broncos are a 17-point favorite over Ohio. In the American Athletic Conference, Navy and its high-scoring offense is a slight favorite, 1.5 points, over Temple.
At the time of this post, there was no line for the Conference USA championship game between Western Michigan and Louisiana Tech or the Mountain West Conference championship game between Wyoming and San Diego State.