It’s a weekend of champions in college football as conference titles are up for grabs throughout the country. After analyzing the biggest matchups of the weekend, we’re confidently putting money on these three NCAAF conference title games. Keep reading to get our expert picks!
Over/Under 35.5 Points: Iowa at Michigan
He’s back — Jim Harbaugh will be back on the sidelines after serving a three-game suspension. Michigan won without him, including over rival Ohio State last weekend. The Wolverines are massive betting favorites on the spread which has pushed us into betting the Iowa-Michigan over/under instead. Here is where the line stands at football’s best betting sites:
This is a criminally low over/under at first glance, but upon further inspection, it’s really not. Look, we know how undefeated Michigan plays — behind a bruising running game and fierce defense. Quarterback JJ McCarthy threw a total of 51 passes in the three games Harbaugh was out. Winning low-scoring games is Michigan’s MO.
The same goes for 10-2 Iowa, who are 23-point underdogs. This was supposed to be the Cade McNamara revenge game (he was previously at Michigan before McCarthy beat him out for the starting QB gig). He tore an ACL in late September and the Hawkeyes have struggled offensively since then. Iowa averaged an abysmal 246.3 yards per game this season yet they’re in the Big Ten title game on the back of a top-10 defense.
We’re putting money on the under. For one, we see the Hawkeyes struggling to score. Michigan, for its part, will play it safe too. The only way they can lose is if they beat themselves with turnovers, which could lead to a run-heavy gameplan. The Wolverines roll to victory in a low-scoring affair, which helps the under.
Against The Spread: Alabama vs. Georgia
The SEC title game will once again feature Alabama and Georgia — the two biggest college powerhouse programs of the last decade. As it stands, No. 1-ranked Georgia are six-point favorites for ‘Bama. Check out the current odds:
The Dawgs have won 29 games in a row, a stretch that includes back-to-back titles. The last team to beat them? Yep, the Tide, who toppled them in the 2021 SEC title game. The two bitter rivals have not faced off since then though.
What’s different about Georgia when the streak started to now is where the strength of its team is. Look, the Dawgs have future NFL players up and down its roster. Still, it’s the offense that really makes this team go — not defense like in years past. Georgia quarterback (and one-time Alabama commit) Carson Beck has elevated this attack from the Stetson Bennett years. They’re a throw-first team that’s prone to the big play.
Alabama’s QB situation has signified its up-and-down season. Jalen Milroe won the starting job then lost it then got it back. Somehow, someway, Milroe completed the game-winning throw on fourth and goal from the 31-yard line to win last weekend’s Iron Bowl. Just like this season, the play symbolizes you can never quite count out Nick Saban. Ever.
This is why we’re going against the grain and betting Alabama to cover. They won’t win, but they’ll keep the game uber close. Take Bama on the spread here.
Moneyline: Louisville vs. Florida State
This matchup opened as a 5.5-point spread in favor of Florida State. Right now? The line is down to 2.5 points. That’s an interesting line movement, which makes us interested in betting on the outright winner between FSU and Louisville. Here are the odds both ways:
Undefeated Florida State needs a win to qualify for the College Football Playoff. If ex-Louisville and now-Seminole quarterback Jordan Travis was under center, we’d almost certainly take FSU. However, he’s out of the year, which might explain this line movement. Florida State won its one game without Travis, but it wasn’t a good showing in a 24-15 win over Florida.
To be fair, the Cardinals didn’t look good in its season finale, a surprising loss to Kentucky. But something tells us the Cards could play spoiler in this ACC Championship contest. At 10-2, they aren’t CFP bound so the next best thing they have going for them is eliminating FSU from contention.
Screw it, we got Louisville in upset fashion. Its odds are too good to pass up and we’re just not convinced FSU is the same without its QB. Take the upset here!
How To Bet On 2023 NCAA Conference Championships?
While we love the three NCAA conference championship game bets mentioned above, they’re certainly not the only games bet-able this weekend. Other conferences like the PAC-12, Mountain West, and more also have solid betting opportunities. To get all the bets in one place, check out one of the bookies below. These sites are the highest rated in our latest sportsbook reviews so you’re money is in good hands no matter where.
Better yet, you could bet on NCAAF for free if you leverage a sportsbook bonus right now. All the sites listed offer at least one, which pays out free play. Do as you wish with the free play, but the three NCAA bets we mentioned are great starting points.
