Rock M Nation Pick ‘Em: Championship Saturday

Dec 7, 2024 | Uncategorized

Written By

NCAA FOOTBALL: AUG 30 ESPN College GameDay
Photo by Ray Carlin/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

It’s pretty much the last “full” Saturday of the College Football season. We make our Conference Championship picks on this latest edition of Rock M Pick ‘Em.

The Missouri Tigers won’t play again until their bowl game, but hey, it’s Championship Saturday in College Football, so of course we’ll do another edition of Rock M Pick Em.

Standings recap after Week 14:

Sammy Stava (50-20)

Chad Moller (49-21)

(Odds per FanDuel Sportsbook)

MAC Championship Game: Ohio Bobcats vs Miami (OH) Redhawks -2.5 in Detroit (11:00 a.m. CST on ESPN)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 21 Miami (OH) at Notre Dame
Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Sammy Stava: This should be a fun rivalry game to end the MACtion season, and let’s go with Blaine Gabbert’s brother to bring home a conference championship with a nailbiter in Detroit. 21-17, Redhawks.

Chad Moller: Miami started the season 0-3 (all against P4 foes), then had to go to OT to beat lowly UMass, and followed that with a loss to Toledo to start a meager 1-4. They’ve since won seven straight under Brett Gabbert, including a 30-20 win over Ohio in October. Truth be told I haven’t watched one snap of either team this season, so it’s really just a dart toss. Vegas has Miami favored, and they won the previous game, so I’ll say they double up and take home the MAC title, 27-24.

Big 12 Championship Game: No. 15 Iowa State Cyclones -1 vs No. 16 Arizona State Sun Devils in Arlington (11:00 a.m. CST on ABC)

Kansas State v Iowa State
Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images

Sammy Stava: Arizona State has been one of the best surprises in all of College Football this season as they were picked to finish last in the Big 12, but I think Iowa State comes into this one as the better and more complete team. This game should be close throughout, but I think Rocco Becht and the Cyclones make more plays in the end. 24-20, Iowa State.

Chad Moller: ASU is one of the more amazing stories in all of college football this season. Picked to finish dead-last in the Big 12, they won five of their first six and later closed the season on a five-game win streak, including dubs over ranked K-State and BYU teams. I might have some kind of personal blind spot against Iowa State, but I just don’t think this team is anything special. I’m going with the red-hot Sun Devils to continue their roll and to improbably crash the playoffs. Give me Arizona State 31, Iowa State 27.

SEC Championship Game: No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs vs No. 2 Texas Longhorns -2.5 (3:00 p.m. CST on ABC)

Texas v Texas A&M
Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images

Sammy Stava: I know this game is in Atlanta and I know the Bulldogs beat the Longhorns in Austin earlier, but I think Texas is out for revenge and will come in plenty motivated to win the SEC in their first year in the league.

Both teams should still be in the playoff, but the Bulldogs have flaws in their game that make them vulnerable. In the end, I think Quinn Ewers outplays Carson Beck in this one. 31-30, Texas.

Chad Moller: I think both teams are in the playoff with a loss here, but Georgia had better not get blown out or they may be sorry. Given that, we saw the Bulldogs dismantle Texas earlier in the year at Austin. In the seven previous times an SEC title game has served as a rematch from the regular-season, the team that won the first game has also won the rematch five times. I say make it six out of eight, give me Georgia by a 24-20 count.

Big Ten Championship Game: No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions vs No. 1 Oregon Ducks in Indianapolis (-3.5) (7:00 p.m. CST on CBS)

Washington v Oregon
Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images

Sammy Stava: Oregon will solidify themselves as the best team in the country heading into the playoff. Ducks overwhelm the Nittany Lions in Indianapolis behind a big night from Dillon Gabriel. 35-24, Oregon.

Chad Moller: Both of these teams have benefitted from favorable schedules so it’s hard to take much from how tested they are. They have played seven common opponents, with the only disparate result being against Ohio State, who Oregon beat at home, 32-31, while Penn State lost a 20-13 game at home. In general, Penn State has the better defense while Oregon has the more potent offensive attack. The Ducks have further to travel, but any time you can look across the field in a big game and see James Franklin standing on the other sideline, you like your chances. Give me Oregon 34, Penn State 23.

ACC Championship Game: No. 17 Clemson Tigers vs No. 8 SMU Mustangs (7:00 p.m. CST on ABC)

South Carolina v Clemson
Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images

Sammy Stava: Clemson’s only chance to get in the playoff is to win this game and I think they get it done. The Tigers should have a favorable “home” crowd with this game in Charlotte. Dabo Swinney’s team is fortunate enough to be in this game with Syracuse’s upset win over Miami and they’ll take advantage of it. Cade Klubnik finds a way to get it done. 35-31, Clemson.

Chad Moller: Somehow this line opened with Clemson a two-point favorite. By Wednesday, it had flipped to SMU laying 2.5 points. Not sure if that was public or wise-guy money that transformed the line so much, but either way I think they had the wrong team favored initially. Both teams will take the field thinking they have to win to get into the playoffs. The Tigers have more experience in these types of games, so advantage to Clemson there. But in the end, SMU is on a mission and is the more accomplished team over the course of the season. It’ll be a tight game, but I see the Mustangs pulling out a thriller and claiming the ACC trophy in their inaugural year in the league. Give me SMU 31, Clemson 30.

You Might Also Like

Injuries, obstacles mounting for Mizzou Wrestling

Injuries, obstacles mounting for Mizzou Wrestling

Cal Tobias/Rock M Nation The Tigers are currently without their three expected key contributors, two gone for the rest of the season For the second straight year, Mizzou Wrestling has begun its season with high hopes and expectations before seeing the year take a...

read more
Commute: Who is declaring for the NFL draft?

Commute: Who is declaring for the NFL draft?

The Morning Commute for Friday, January 3rd, 2024. Welcome to the Morning Commute We all need our moment, right? That’s the benefit of social media, it allows every one to play the title role in their own script. With that said I’m not sure I fully understand...

read more
Defending champs blow out Mizzou WBB

Defending champs blow out Mizzou WBB

Karen Steger Action Photography Tigers fall to South Carolina 83-52 Mizzou WBB (11-5, 0-1 SEC) competed early on with No. 2 South Carolina (13-1, 1-0 SEC), but faltered in the second half as the talent discrepancy showed. South Carolina ended the first quarter ahead...

read more

0 Comments