Follow three favorites and one known outlier
Top wagering picks for college football conference title games based on lines from Tipico Sportsbook:
No. 1 Georgia (12-0) vs. No. 2 Alabama (11-1)
The one we’ve been waiting for. Georgia’s defense has been historically good this season – it leads the nation in both yards allowed per game (230.8) and points per game (6.9) while the offense is averaging more than 40 points per game. Alabama, meanwhile, nearly lost to Auburn last week and hasn’t covered in any of its last three SEC games. Alabama still has the talent to keep this close, however, even if the Bulldogs win outright.
Pick: Alabama +6.5
No. 5 Oklahoma State (11-1) vs. No. 9 Baylor (10-2)
Oklahoma State beat Baylor 24-14 on Oct. 2, which was one of nine games the Cowboys have covered over their last 10 overall. The defense is allowing just 16.4 points per game (fifth nationally) and 281.4 yards per game (third nationally), while Baylor is coming off a tooclose-for-comfort 27-24 win over Texas
Tech last week. Oklahoma State is peaking at the right time and looks on track for its first Big 12 title since 2011. Pick: Oklahoma State -5.5
No. 10 Oregon (10-2) vs. No. 17 Utah (9-3)
Utah was a 2.5-point favorite before blowing out Oregon 38-7 on Nov. 20; this line hasn’t really budged for the rematch. Oregon since beat in-state rival Oregon State 38-29 (outgaining the Beavers 506 to 393) last week, while Utah beat Colorado 28-13. Round Two should be a closer game on a neutral field, but Utah looked like the far better team just 13 days ago.
Pick: Utah -2.5
No. 15 Pittsburgh (10-2) vs. No. 18 Wake Forest (10-2)
The scoreboard operator better get ready for this one. Wake Forest and Pittsburgh are third and fourth nationally with 42.9 and 42.8 points per game, respectively. The difference here should be on the other side of the ball, where Pittsburgh has at least been decent on defense (353.8 yards allowed per game; 42nd nationally) compared to Wake Forest (427.1 ypg; 100th).
Pick: Pittsburgh -2.5