It’s Conference Championship weekend, with so much at stake, these games could be exciting. Some of these games will have seeding implications, but some teams need to win just to make the playoffs. We'll break down the top games and share our best college football bets for Saturday.
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Saturday’s Best College Football Conference Championship Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
No. 2 Indiana vs. No. 1 Ohio State (-4) | O/U 47.5 (-108/-112)
This matchup could be the most thrilling of all the Saturday Conference Championships, as it features the two top teams in the nation, including the two best quarterbacks. The winning quarterback could take home the Heisman Trophy.
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin has to be walking on air: He leads the nation with a 91.4 quarterback rating, his 78.9% completion rate is currently an FBS record and he led the Buckeyes to their first win over Michigan since 2019. Much of that success is thanks to star receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. In the two games when Tate and Smith were out with injuries, Sayin threw for fewer than 200 yards, the only time he failed to do so in consecutive games. With those two back in the lineup and the emergence of running back Bo Jackson, this offense is firing on all cylinders.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has become a star and could spoil Ohio State’s perfect season, while keeping the Hoosiers' undefeated record intact. The former Cal quarterback has his own credentials to help his team win a national title. He leads the country with 32 passing touchdowns, and his 183.7 passer rating is second only to Sayin.
Ohio State has dominated most of the season, winning by more than two possessions in 11 straight games. Unfortunately, Indiana had close games and needed late-game magic against Iowa and Penn State to stay undefeated. Both teams are championship contenders, but Ohio State is playing on a whole other level.
Pick: Ohio State -4 (-110)
No. 3 Georgia (-1.5) vs. No. 9 Alabama | O/U 48.5 (-105/-115)
Can Kirby Smart end his struggles against Alabama? There is no doubt that Smart is one of the top coaches in the country, but he has not been able to figure out the Crimson Tide, with a 1-7 record against them. The key is whether the Bulldogs' defense can keep them in the game. They have been much better on that side of the ball in recent games and have kept eight of their last nine opponents to fewer than 24 points, including allowing just 10 points to a Texas offense that had scored 79 total points in the previous two games.
The question is whether they can keep up with Alabama on offense. Running backs Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens are combining for 5.4 yards per carry, but quarterback Gunner Stockton can be inconsistent. He's thrown an interception in three of his last four games, and threw for 266 total passing yards in the previous two games.
The quarterback position is where Alabama is heavily favored. Ty Simpson was a Heisman Trophy candidate for most of the year and finished the regular season in the top 20 in passer rating and passing yards. Germie Bernard was their top wide receiver this year, but Georgia concentrated on covering him in regular-season matchups, and he only gained 35 yards. However, Simpson isn't scared to throw to his other receivers. In Alabama’s win over Georgia in September, seven players had at least two receptions.
What could ultimately hurt the Bulldogs is their failure to generate turnovers. They rank 89th in takeaways per game (0.9) and could not force one against Alabama. If the Tide plays another clean game, they could leave Georgia disappointed again.
Pick: Alabama Moneyline (+105)
