Ricky Dimon
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Two losses are not automatically a death knell in this crazy season of college football, but you would be in serious trouble with more than one tick in the loss column. Alabama somehow avoided that fate by coming back from double-digits down to beat Auburn 24-22 in quadruple-overtime in the Iron Bowl. Can head coach Nick Saban’s squad stay alive by defeating top-ranked Georgia in this weekend’s SEC Championship? It would require a sizable upset, as ‘Bama has opened as a +6.5 underdog.
That game headlines championship week, but the Big Ten Championship, Big 12 Championship, and American Athletic Conference Championship will also have a lot to say about the College Football Playoff picture.
College football Week 14 lines
It’s never too early to look ahead toward the betting slate once the lines have come out. So without further ado, let’s dive into the numbers and discuss some potential opportunities on which to capitalize (lines courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook).
Saturday
Kent State -2.5 vs Northern Illinois
Utah State +6.5 vs San Diego State
Georgia -6.5 vs Alabama
Houston +10.5 vs Cincinnati
Michigan -10.5 vs Iowa
Pittsburgh -3.5 vs Wake Forest
Baylor +5.5 vs Oklahoma State
Oregon +3.5 vs Utah
Make sure you check out our previews for all of these games later in the week
Week 14 games to watch
If you have been hammering Georgia and the under this season, congratulations. That is exactly what I have been doing with the Bulldogs, and that is exactly what I will continue to do in the SEC title game. They lead the nation in scoring defense by a country mile at 6.9 points allowed per game. In total defense the Dawgs are also on top with room to spare (230.4 yards allowed per game). Alabama is 7th in total defense and just played an Iron Bowl that comfortably stayed under the total despite going to four overtimes. The Crimson Tide may fare relatively well on defense, but can they do much offensively? Based on recent returns there is no reason to think the Tide’s offense (especially with Brian Robinson Jr. potentially sidelined by a leg injury) can get the best of UGA’s defense.
Another game I like a lot comes in the ACC, where for the first time since 2014 the championship game is without Clemson. It will be Pittsburgh vs Wake Forest after the Demon Deacons left the Tigers in the dust in the Coastal Division despite a loss in that head-to-head matchup. In what appears to be a complete toss-up on paper, I will happily take the Deacons and 3.5 points against the Panthers. Pitt has no particularly good wins, while Wake at least beat then-No. 16 NC State 45-42 earlier this month. This shapes up to be a fun battle between distant Heisman Trophy contenders Kenny Pickett of Pittsburgh and Sam Hartman of Wake Forest – and one that I see being decided by a field goal.
Find out the odds for the CFP and Heisman Trophy in our College Football Futures Watch!
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