Trends can be a helpful tool for handicapping. They may not act as a be-all and end-all but they could be the icing on the cake if you were already leaning to one side or they could even help you lay off a game.
This week is an interesting week for college football. We have a mixed bag of write-in games, regularly scheduled games, and 10 conference championship games. Winning the conference is cool but for some teams, these matchups have major implications in terms of the odds to make the College Football Playoff.
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Before placing your bets, take a look at how each team performed this season both against the spread and on the OVER/UNDER. Here are some of the most useful college football conference championship betting trends for every title game.
AAC Championship: Tulsa vs Cincinnati
- Spread: Cincinnati -14
- Total: 46
- Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 19, 8 p.m. ET
- TV Coverage: ABC
- Stadium: Nippert Stadium
- AAC Championship Matchup Report
Need to know: If one or both teams cannot play in the championship game, the game won’t be played and the team ranked highest in the College Football Playoff rankings will be considered the AAC champion for New Year’s Six bowl purposes. That team would be Cincinnati.
- 6-1 ATS overall
- 2-0 ATS as an underdog
- 6-0 SU in AAC
- 5-1 ATS in AAC
- 2-5 O/U overall
- 5-3 ATS overall
- 4-3 ATS as a favorite
- 6-0 SU in AAC
- 4-2 ATS in AAC
- 4-4 O/U overall
- Tulsa is 8-0 ATS in its last eight road games.
- The UNDER is 7-3 in Tulsa's last 10 December games.
- The UNDER is 10-4 in Cincinnati's last 14 games.
- Cincinnati is 4-1 ATS in its last five AAC games.
- Tulsa is 1-4 SU in its last five vs Cincinnati.
ACC Championship: Clemson vs Notre Dame
- Spread: Clemson -10
- Total: 61.5
- Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 19, 4 p.m. ET
- TV Coverage: ABC
- Stadium: Bank of America Stadium
- ACC Championship Matchup Report
Need to know: If Clemson wins, Notre Dame could drop in the playoff rankings but will likely still remain in the top four. If Notre Dame wins, Clemson would drop out of the top four and likely end up in the Orange Bowl as the conference’s New Year’s Six representative.
- 4-6 ATS overall
- 4-6 ATS as a favorite
- 8-1 SU in ACC
- 4-5 ATS in ACC
- 6-4 O/U overall
- 5-5 ATS overall
- 1-0 ATS as an underdog
- 9-0 SU in ACC
- 4-5 ATS in ACC
- 6-4 O/U overall
- Clemson is 7-0 ATS in its last seven December games.
- The UNDER is 6-1 in Clemson's last seven December games.
- Clemson is 21-8 ATS in its last 29 games vs the ACC.
- Notre Dame is 16-0 SU in its last 16 games.
- Notre Dame is 4-1 ATS in its last five games after an ATS loss.
Big Ten Championship: Northwestern vs Ohio State
- Spread: Ohio State -20.5
- Total: 58
- Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 19, 12 noon ET
- TV Coverage: Fox
- Stadium: Lucas Oil Stadium
- Big Ten Championship Matchup Report
Need to Know: If Ohio State wins, they are likely to make the College Football Playoff. However, it will need to be a convincing win to get the CFB committee to put them into the playoff ahead of teams with eight, nine and 10 games played. No Big Ten team has ever won four straight outright conference championships. Ohio State can do that with a win.
- 5-1-1 ATS overall
- 1-0 ATS as an underdog
- 6-1 SU in Big Ten
- 5-1-1 ATS in Big Ten
- 1-6 O/U overall
- 3-2 ATS overall
- 3-2 ATS as a favorite
- 5-0 SU in Big Ten
- 3-2 ATS in Big Ten
- 3-1-1 O/U overall
- The UNDER is 5-2 in Northwestern's last seven December games.
- Ohio State is 5-1 SU in its last six December games.
- The UNDER is 5-2 in Ohio State's last seven December games.
- Ohio State is 12-5 ATS in its last 17 Big Ten games.
- Northwestern is 0-8 SU and 1-7 ATS in its last eight games vs Ohio State.
Big 12 Championship: Oklahoma vs Iowa State
- Spread: Oklahoma -5.5
- Total: 58
- Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 19, 12 noon ET
- TV Coverage: ABC
- Stadium: AT&T Stadium
- Big 12 Championship Matchup Report
Need to Know: This is Iowa State’s first appearance in the Big 12 title game. Oklahoma has won the last three. These two teams already met in early October when Iowa State defeated Oklahoma 37-30.
- 6-3 ATS overall
- 6-3 ATS as a favorite
- 6-2 SU in Big 12
- 5-3 ATS in Big 12
- 5-4 O/U overall
- 6-4 ATS overall
- 1-1 ATS as an underdog
- 8-1 SU in Big 12
- 6-3 ATS in Big 12
- 4-5-1 O/U overall
- Oklahoma is 15-6 SU in its last 21 December games.
- The UNDER is 8-1 in Oklahoma's last nine December games.
- The UNDER is 6-2 in Iowa State's last eight December games.
- Oklahoma is 0-5 ATS in its last five vs Iowa State.
- The OVER is 8-1 in Oklahoma's last nine vs Iowa State.
C-USA Championship: UAB vs Marshall
- Spread: Marshall -5
- Total: 42
- Date/Time: Friday, Dec. 18, 7 p.m. ET
- TV Coverage: CBSSN
- Stadium: Joan C. Edwards Stadium
- C-USA Championship Matchup Report
Need to know: This is Marshall’s first championship appearance since defeating Louisiana Tech 26-23 in the 2014 title game. This is UAB’s third consecutive appearance in the title game. Last year, the Blazers lost 49-6 to Florida Atlantic. Marshall was 7-0 before being upset by Rice two weeks ago in a shutout 20-0 loss.
- 2-6 ATS overall
- 0-2 ATS as an underdog
- 3-1 SU in C-USA
- 1-3 ATS in C-USA
- 4-4 O/U overall
- 5-3 ATS overall
- 4-3 ATS as a favorite
- 4-1 SU in C-USA
- 3-2 ATS in C-USA
- 5-3 O/U overall
- UAB is 0-6 SU and 1-5 ATS in its last six games as an underdog.
- Marshall is 4-12 in its last 16 games as a home favorite.
- Marshall is 2-9 ATS in its last 11 vs teams with winning records.
- The UNDER is 5-2 in UAB's last seven vs Marhsall.
- The favorite is 3-7 ATS in the last 10 meetings between these teams.
MAC Championship: Ball State vs Buffalo
- Spread: Buffalo -13
- Total: 42
- Date/Time: Friday, Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV Coverage: ESPN
- Stadium: Ford Field
- MAC Championship Matchup Report
Need to know: This is Ball State’s first conference title game appearance since 2008, when they lost 42-24 to Buffalo. This is Buffalo’s third appearance, their last being in 2018 in a 30-20 loss to Northern Illinois. Buffalo running back Jaret Patterson tied the FBS record for rushing touchdowns in a game with eight scores in a 70-41 win over Kent State. He also had 409 rushing yards.
- 3-3 ATS overall
- 2-0 ATS as an underdog
- 5-1 SU in MAC
- 3-3 ATS in MAC
- 3-3 O/U overall
- 4-1 ATS overall
- 4-1 ATS as a favorite
- 5-0 SU in MAC
- 4-1 ATS in MAC
- 4-1 O/U overall
- The OVER is 7-3 in Ball State's last 10 vs MAC teams.
- The OVER is 9-1 in Buffalo's last 10 vs MAC teams.
- Ball State is 7-2 SU in its last nine games vs Buffalo.
- The OVER is 7-1 in Ball State's last eight vs Buffalo.
MWC Championship: Boise State vs San Jose State
- Spread: Boise State -6.5
- Total: 54.5
- Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 19, 4:15 p.m. ET
- TV Coverage: Fox
- Stadium: Sam Boyd Stadium
- MWC Championship Matchup Report
Need to know: The Spartans are set to make their first MWC championship game appearance in program history, while the Broncos will appear in their fourth consecutive conference championship contest and fifth overall.
- 3-3 ATS overall
- 3-2 ATS as a favorite
- 5-0 SU in MWC
- 3-2 ATS in MWC
- 5-1 O/U overall
- 5-0-1 ATS overall
- 3-0 ATS as an underdog
- 6-0 SU in MWC
- 5-0-1 ATS in MWC
- 1-5 O/U overall
- Boise State is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games as a road favorite.
- Boise State is 4-11 SU in its last 15 road games vs teams with winning records.
- Boise State is 5-2 ATS in its last seven vs San Jose State.
- Boise State is 13-0 SU in its last 13 vs San Jose State.
Pac-12 Championship: Oregon vs USC
- Spread: USC -7
- Total: 56.5
- Date/Time: Friday, Dec. 18, 8 p.m. ET
- TV Coverage: Fox
- Stadium: LA Memorial Coliseum
- Pac-12 Championship Matchup Report
Need to know: USC is making its third championship appearance and looking for its first 6-0 overall start since 2006. Washington was originally set to compete. However, due to COVID-19 concerns, the team did not have the necessary number of players available to participate. If USC can’t play for the same reasons, Colorado (4-1) would replace the Trojans.
- 2-3 ATS overall
- 0-0 ATS as an underdog
- 3-2 SU in Pac-12
- 2-3 ATS in Pac-12
- 3-2 O/U overall
- 3-2 ATS overall
- 2-2 ATS as a favorite
- 5-0 SU in Pac-12
- 3-2 ATS in Pac-12
- 1-4 O/U overall
- Oregon is 9-2 in its last 11 December games.
- USC is 2-6 ATS in its last eight December games.
- Oregon is 3-1 SU and ATS in its last four vs USC.
- The favorite is 15-2 SU in the last 17 meetings between these teams.
- The favorite is 10-2 ATS in the last 12 meetings between these teams.
SEC Championship: Alabama vs Florida
- Spread: Alabama -17
- Total: 75.5
- Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 19, 8 p.m. ET
- TV Coverage: CBS
- Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
- SEC Championship Matchup Report
Need to know: Alabama sits on top of the playoff rankings and would secure the top seed by beating the Gators. Nick Saban and company have not lost in its six SEC championship game appearances since 2009. In the last six title games Alabama has won, four have been by double digits.
- 8-2 ATS overall
- 8-2 as a favorite
- 10-0 SU in SEC
- 8-2 ATS in SEC
- 6-4 O/U overall
- 4-5-1 ATS overall
- 1-0 ATS as an underdog
- 8-2 SU in SEC
- 4-5-1 ATS in SEC
- 6-4 O/U overall
- The OVER is 6-1 in Florida's last seven December games.
- Florida is 4-0 SU in its last four games after a loss.
- The OVER is 4-0 in Alabama's last four vs Florida.
- Alabama is 6-0 SU and 5-1 ATS in its last six vs Florida.
Sun Belt Championship: Louisiana vs Coastal Carolina
- Spread: Coastal Carolina -4
- Total: 54
- Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 19, 3:30 p.m. ET
- TV Coverage: ESPN
- Stadium: Brooks Stadium
- Sun Belt Championship Matchup Report
- 5-5 ATS overall
- 2-0 ATS as an underdog
- 7-1 SU in Sun Belt
- 3-5 ATS in Sun Belt
- 3-7 O/U overall
- 8-2-1 ATS overall
- 4-2-1 ATS as a favorite
- 8-0 SU in Sun Belt
- 6-1-1 ATS in Sun Belt
- 6-5 O/U overall
- The UNDER is 6-2 in Louisiana's last eight games.
- The UNDER is 5-2 in Louisiana's last seven games vs the Sun Belt.
- Louisiana is 2-4 ATS in its last six December games.
- Coastal Carolina is 6-1-1 ATS in its last eight games vs the Sun Belt.
