"Stanford Steve" Coughlin and Chris "The Bear" Fallica cover the college football season as only they can, offering their top picks, betting nuggets and totals worth wagering on.
Records:
The Bear (Last week: 5-5. Season: 30-44-1)
Stanford Steve (Last week: 1-2. Season: 37-27)
Note: All lines are from Caesars Sportsbook.
The Plays
No. 21 Houston Cougars at No. 4 Cincinnati Bearcats (-10.5, 53)
Stanford Steve: Historic Nippert Stadium will be the site for what possibly could be a historic win for the Bearcats, knowing they have a pretty darn good shot at making the College Football Playoff should they prevail. Last year, they clawed their way to victory in the conference title game over Tulsa, winning by three points, as they were 13.5 point favorites. This year, I expect bigger plays; the weather should be fine for both offenses to move the ball, so I think there will be plenty of points scored, knowing what coach Dana Holgorsen and the Cougs are capable of. I'll take the over.
Pick: Over 53 (Cincinnati 34, Houston 24)
Fallica: The Bearcats seemed to get the kinks out the past two weeks, and Luke Fickell has really handled Houston rather easily in the two meetings versus Dana Holgorsen. I'd expect in what could be a win and in this scenario for the Bearcats that they would take care of business, even with that CFP pressure.
Pick: Cincinnati -10.5
No. 2 Michigan Wolverines (-11, 43.5) vs. No. 13 Iowa Hawkeyes
Fallica: It feels like a stretch to think Iowa will be able to score 17 points in this one against Mike MacDonald's defense. While I get that people will want to fade Michigan off its biggest win in years, this has been a team that has taken care of business all season, with the exception of a turnover and being able to finish off Michigan State.
Pick: Iowa under 16.5 points
Stanford Steve: We have seen all types of games in the Big Ten championship tilt, since it was introduced to us. We've had blowouts, upsets and contests that have come down to the wire. I just think Michigan used up a lot of effort last week in that monumental win versus Ohio State, and I think Iowa has the goods to hang around in the game and frustrate the Wolverines -- to an extent. I think Michigan wins but that Iowa covers the points. We'll take the underdog.
Pick: Iowa +11 (Michigan 24, Iowa 17)
No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (-6.5, 49.5) vs. No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide
Fallica: I have to take the Tide on principle here, as I think there's been an overreaction to the Auburn game. Yes, Bama has had problems running the ball; and yes, the offensive line has issues. But Jameson Williams is back in the lineup, and while Georgia has played loose, free and like the best team in the country all year, this is the Bulldogs' "helmet game" -- they always find a way to lose.
Pick: Alabama +6.5
USC Trojans at California Golden Bears (-4, 57.5)
Stanford Steve: Just because I will be watching this game that kicks off at 11 p.m. ET on the channel formerly called "The One for Fun," we need to have a pick, right? I mean you couldn't have a game that means less to end the season. Plus, I can't wait to see all those die-hard Cal fans show up for their team's final home game. USC has shown me something and not thrown in the towel, after having several circumstances where they could have. Plus, aren't their players competing for jobs, knowing they have their new head coach hired now? We'll take the road team plus the points.
Pick: USC +4 (USC 27, Cal 24)
Utah State Aggies at No. 19 San Diego State Aztecs (-6, 50)
Fallica: I've been impressed all year with the job Blake Anderson has done in Logan. Yes, the Aggies will be facing a very good defense, but the Aztecs also have an offense that hasn't scored more than 28 in any Mountain West Conference game. I'll take my chances that Logan Bonner and the USU offense can put up 24 in that scenario and keep it close.
Pick: Utah State +6
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (-3, 72.5) at UTSA Roadrunners
Fallica: Great spot to back UTSA off its worst game of the year as it plays in its biggest game of the year. Look for the UTSA defense to make some plays against the explosive WKU offense.
Pick: UTSA +3
Appalachian State Mountaineers (-3, 53) at No. 24 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Stanford Steve: Plenty has been made of the Ragin' Cajuns coach Billy Napier leaving to take the Florida job but still deciding to coach this game for his team and players. Plenty has also been made about the Ragin' Cajuns being an underdog even though they beat the Mountaineers 41-13 earlier in the season. I just think the Louisiana players will play their butts off in their last game with their coach, and they are at home. I'll take the home team plus the points.
Pick: Louisiana +3 (Louisiana 21, Appalachian State 20)
Fallica: Maybe I'm getting sucked in here, as the Ragin' Cajuns blew out the Mountaineers during a game in which they committed four turnovers. But I think Louisiana gets it done here after not being able to play for a conference title last year and losing a close one to Appalachian State a couple of years ago. I get the sense Napier really wants to send his guys out a winner before moving on to Gainesville.
Pick: Louisiana +3
The Bear's underdogs to play on the money line
Last Week: 2-3, +1.1 units
Season: 28-50, +1.3 units
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns +120
Alabama Crimson Tide +210
Utah State Aggies +185
Bear bytes
Upset-free except for Pac-12?
Since 2017, two of four Pac-12 championship games resulted in an underdog winning outright. In the other four Power 5 leagues, none of the 16 games resulted in an underdog winning outright.
In the playoff era, there have been 24 Power 5 favorites of greater than four points in conference championship games. They are 23-1 straight up, with Utah's loss to Oregon in 2019 as a 6.5-point favorite the only loss. Georgia, Michigan and Oklahoma State -- the latter two making their first conference title game appearance -- are all greater than a four-point favorite, with CFP hopes in the balance.
If you include AAC favorites of greater than four points in that span, that number grows to 27-1, with Cincinnati a double-digit favorite this week in search of a playoff berth.
Gotta be in the top six
No team outside the top six in the CFP ranking on Championship Saturday has reached the CFP. In 2017, Georgia was sixth, as was Oklahoma in 2019.
No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs vs. No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide
Since 2018, Georgia has faced 16 ranked opponents. Thirteen of the 16 games have gone under the total. On the flip side, nine of the past 11 SEC championship games have gone over the total.
The last underdog to win the SEC title game was Alabama in 2009.
This is just the second time in the past 165 games that Alabama has been an underdog.
Georgia has led 10 of 12 games this year by at least 14 points at halftime, including each of the past five.
Appalachian State Mountaineers at No. 24 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Louisiana has won five of its past seven games outright as an underdog, including twice over the Mountaineers.
No. 2 Michigan Wolverines vs. No. 13 Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa hasn't been a double-digit 'dog since 2017, when it lost 38-14 to Wisconsin. However, the Hawkeyes have won two of the past two games in which they were a double-digit dog -- in 2017 against Ohio State and in 2016 versus Michigan.
Favorites are just 2-8 against the spread in Big Ten championship games, losing four outright. However, since losing four of the first six, favorites have won the past four (all were Ohio State).
Favorites not named Ohio State are 0-5 ATS in the Big Ten title game.
Utah State Aggies at No. 19 San Diego State Aztecs
Utah State has been an underdog six times this year and won four of the games outright. 'Dogs have covered six of the eight MWC title games since 2013.
No. 21 Houston Cougars at No. 4 Cincinnati Bearcats
In two meetings between Dana Holgorsen and Luke Fickell, the Bearcats have won and covered both meetings as greater than a touchdown favorite in each.
No. 9 Baylor Bears vs. No. 5 Oklahoma State Cowboys
Baylor has been an underdog four times this year, winning three outright. The only instance the Bears didn't win was as a four-point 'dog in a 24-14 loss to Oklahoma State.
Baylor was plus-3 in turnover margin versus Oklahoma State in the first meeting and didn't commit a turnover. There have been 88 games this year in which a team didn't commit a turnover and forced at least three. Those teams went 81-7.