Against the Spread: Conference title game predictions
The postseason kicks off this weekend, and the Rivals.com crew is picking all of the Power Five championship games against the spread. And, as was the case all season, each person offers his lock of the week that involves any CFB game.
Here are the picks versus the midweek Vegas line, according to MGM Mirage.
MORE: Trocchi's Betting Man
PREVIOUS PICKS: Week 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13
LOCKS OF THE WEEK
ROB CASSIDY: UCF (-7) over Memphis. "Didn’t the Knights already beat this team by a million? I’m undeterred by last week. Scott Frost is going out with a cover."
MIKE FARRELL: Memphis (+7) against UCF. "The Memphis offense will keep this one close and they could win outright; they are playing that well offensively."
ADAM FRIEDMAN: UCF (-7) over Memphis. "I'm expecting the same sort of game from earlier this year when UCF beat Memphis 40-13."
ADAM GORNEY: Georgia (+2.5) against Auburn. "So let me get this straight. The Bulldogs go to Auburn only a few weeks ago and get smoked, 40-17. So the two are meeting in the SEC Championship Game and Georgia is only 2.5-point underdogs? On top of that, more than 60 percent of bets are coming in on Auburn and the line has dropped to two points? Something's fishy! Go Dawgs."
JOSH HELMHOLDT: Fresno State (+9.5) against Boise State. "Didn't we just play this game? And didn't Fresno State just win by 11? Seems like 20.5 points is a heck of a Blue Turf Bump."
DEREK SAMSON: Auburn (–2.5) over Georgia. "Auburn is the best team in college football right now. None of Georgia's 11 wins look overly impressive (Mississippi State, maybe) now that this season has played out. Auburn by 17."
BILL TROCCHI: Clemson (-9) over Miami. "Miami can look like world-beaters at home, but its last three road games were a four-point win over Florida State, a five-point win over North Carolina and a 10-point loss to Pittsburgh, three under-.500 teams. Clemson is far from an under-.500 team."
WOODY WOMMACK: Clemson (-9) over Miami. "I know Miami has put up some big showings in big games but I think the number of injuries on offense combined with the Tigers' defense means Clemson wins this one by a few scores."
POWER FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
Midweek lines according to MGM Mirage (all games Eastern time):
- Stanford (+3.5) vs. USC, 8 p.m. Friday in Santa Clara, Calif.
- TCU (+7) vs. Oklahoma, 12:30 p.m. Saturday in Arlington, Texas
- Georgia (+2.5) vs. Auburn, 4 p.m. Saturday in Atlanta
- Miami (+9) vs. Clemson, 8 p.m. Saturday in Charlotte, N.C.
- Wisconsin (+6.5) vs. Ohio State, 8 p.m. Saturday in Indianapolis
| Name | Stanford-USC | Oklahoma-TCU | Auburn-Georgia | Miami-Clemson | Wisconsin-Ohio State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rob Cassidy |
USC |
Oklahoma |
Georgia |
Miami |
Ohio State |
|
Mike Farrell |
Stanford |
Oklahoma |
Auburn |
Clemson |
Wisconsin |
|
Adam Friedman |
Stanford |
Oklahoma |
Auburn |
Clemson |
Wisconsin |
|
Adam Gorney |
USC |
Oklahoma |
Georgia |
Miami |
Ohio State |
|
Josh Helmholdt |
USC |
TCU |
Georgia |
Miami |
Wisconsin |
|
Derek Samson |
Stanford |
Oklahoma |
Auburn |
Clemson |
Wisconsin |
|
Bill Trocchi |
USC |
Oklahoma |
Auburn |
Clemson |
Wisconsin |
|
Woody Wommack |
USC |
Oklahoma |
Auburn |
Clemson |
Wisconsin |
| Name | Overall | Last Week | Lock Picks |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rob Cassidy |
36-29 |
3-2 |
8-5 |
|
Derek Samson |
35-30 |
1-4 |
7-6 |
|
Josh Helmholdt |
35-30 |
1-4 |
6-6-1 |
|
Bill Trocchi |
31-34 |
4-1 |
6-7 |
|
Adam Gorney |
27-38 |
0-5 |
10-3 |
|
Mike Farrell |
27-38 |
2-3 |
5-8 |
|
Adam Friedman |
26-39 |
1-4 |
5-7-1 |
|
Woody Wommack |
23-42 |
1-4 |
8-5 |
|
OVERALL |
240-280 |
13-27 |
55-47-2 |