Which teams will rise to the occasion and state their case in the College Football Playoff race before Sunday's final rankings reveal?
ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum gave out several predictions for Saturday's conference championship games during an early-morning appearance on SportsCenter.
Up first? The Big 12 final featuring Texas and Oklahoma. The Sooners (11-1), currently ranked fifth in the Playoff poll, believe they'll reach the final four with a victory over the Longhorns and a loss by Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.
"It’s a rematch, but I think it’ll be a different ending this time,” Finebaum said. "Oklahoma will win at the end of the game with Kyler Murray bidding for a Heisman Trophy next week. Oklahoma wins the Big 12.”
Ohio State (11-1) sits in the No. 6 spot, in need of help — and a statement beatdown — vs. Northwestern in Indianapolis. The Buckeyes are a 15-point favorite over the Wildcats (7-5), whose only Big Ten loss this season came against Michigan.
"I’ve got Ohio State and I think Ohio State knows what they’ll have to do,” Finebaum said. "They’ll already have the Big 12 game and the SEC game in. They’re going to need to make a statement and for the second week in a row and I think they’ll do it again.
Clemson is a four-touchdown favorite against Pitt in the ACC Championship Game. The Tigers are trying to reach the Playoff for a fourth consecutive season and are currently ranked No. 2 as one of the nation's four remaining unbeatens, joining Alabama, Notre Dame and UCF.
"This one won’t be in doubt for long,” Finebaum said, laughing. "Clemson is going to roll over Pitt, big time and badly.
Finebaum put unbeaten UCF, winners of 24 consecutive games, on upset alert vs. Memphis. The Knights will be playing their first game in two seasons without star quarterback McKenzie Milton, who suffered a serious knee injury in last week's win over USF.
Finebaum saved his SEC Championship Game pick for last, raving over Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who he says will deliver his final Heisman statement in Atlanta against fourth-ranked Georgia.
"I’m going to try and alliterate here with Tua Time! Tide takes No. 1 seed and maybe he makes his claim for the Heisman as well," Finebaum said. "Big night for Tua."
Saturday's Power 5 title games are staggered in TV slots to allow for your maximum viewing pleasure. Texas-Oklahoma kicks off at Noon ET, Alabama-Georgia at 4 p.m. and Ohio State-Northwestern at 8 p.m.
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