Taking Bets | Crown The Champs | Week Fourteen

Every Friday evening, Taking Bets gets you ready for the weekend's football with some ideas on the bets to make. But now it's the end, and to go all out, we're betting on all the championship games that we can. It's Mallory McCormack, host of The Staredown podcast, Blaine Duncan, editor-in-chief and host of the TV podcast Taking It Down, and TD Wood, host of Takin' On Sports.

2023 ATS Record
Blaine Duncan: 20-29-2 (Week Thirteen: 3-1)
TD Wood: 28-22-1 (Week Thirteen: 2-2)
Mallory McCormack: 28-20-3 (Week Thirteen: 1-2-1)

Blaine Duncan 
This season, y'all. What a disaster.

Conference-USA Championship (Friday): New Mexico State (+10.5) vs Liberty -- Part of me knows how this song ends, but I still try to change the lyrics. New Mexico State beat Auburn and that's just a chorus that won't go away.

PAC-12 Championship (Friday): Oregon vs Washington (+9) -- I don't understand why people don't see how dangerous the Huskies are. I'm calling for an outright win and upset.

Big XII Championship: Oklahoma State vs Texas (OVER: 55) -- If nothing else, Texas is going to attempt to impress the committee. Since I don't know if Oklahoma State can hang, I'll say that the total gets up to 58 or more in some early back and forth touchdowns.

MAC Championship: Miami (OH) vs Toledo (OVER: 44) -- Why wouldn't the scores get crazy here? Surely it'll be more than 44, right?

Mountain West Championship: Boise State vs UNLV (+2.5) -- UNLV comes in with more overall momentum, even with a letdown last week.

SEC Championship: Georgia (-5.5) vs Alabama -- Do I like doing this? No. Am I angry at TD for making me pick every championship game this year? Yes.

American Athletic Championship: SMU vs Tulane (-3) -- Call me crazy, but this one seems like the safest of all the bets. I like Tulane to ride that wave to a touchdown victory.

Sun Belt Championship: App State vs Troy (UNDER: 53) -- No logic here other than I've picked the over in other games. Just rolling the dice on this one.

Big Ten Championship: Michigan vs Iowa (+21.5) -- I hate (hate) this pick, but I want to have hope.

ACC Championship: Louisville (+1.5) vs Florida State -- Do Florida State's injuries cost them the championship? Probably not! But why not bet the farm!?

NFL Game of the Week:
49ers at Eagles (+3) -- It's hard and pretty stupid to bet against the Eagles again this year, and they're getting points at home? Okay. Sign me up.

***

TD Wood
Happy to see Blaine and Mallory accept my challenge and pick every conference title game. I'll take an even Rivalry Week no hesitation, now to finish the season strong and keep putting that disastrous 2021 season further behind me.

Conference-USA Championship (Friday): New Mexico State (+10.5) vs Liberty -- Strong seasons for both of these programs, with Liberty coming in unbeaten and the Aggies winners of their last eight. The Flames won 33-17 when these two met in early September, but I expect a much closer game this time around from a hungry New Mexico State squad. They might even take the title, especially if Liberty coach Jamey Chadwell is being courted by other schools for a better coaching gig.

PAC-12 Championship (Friday): Oregon vs Washington (+9) -- Look, count me among those that think Oregon has been the better team since the Huskies victory in October, but ten?! Way too many points for Michael Penix, Jr. and that Washington offense. This one should be just as good as their first matchup.

Big XII Championship: Oklahoma State vs Texas (-15) -- Okie State has had a better season than I thought, but it's been an inconsistent one, too. Blowout losses to South Alabama and UCF lead me to think the Longhorns will take care of business in this one, especially with their first Big 12 title since 2009 and possibly a first ever CFP berth on the line.

MAC Championship: Miami (OH) vs Toledo (-7.5) -- I have no idea, so I'm taking the favorite.

Mountain West Championship: Boise State vs UNLV (+2.5) -- The Rebels let me down last week, but I think they'll rebound and win themselves a Mountain West title for the first time in their history.

SEC Championship: Georgia vs Alabama (+5.5) -- I don't think this is the same scenario as the 2021 SEC CG, where an Alabama team struggled at Auburn, came in as the underdog, then whipped Georgia's ass... but it has some similarities. I don't think this Georgia team is as good as that one, nor does Alabama have as many weapons as they did then (pausing for a second to imagine Jalen Milroe throwing deep balls to Jameson Williams). The bigger matchup in this one might be the Dawgs offense against the best Tide defense in years. I honestly don't know which way this will go, but I can't pick against Alabama.

American Athletic Championship: SMU vs Tulane (-3) -- SMU has quietly had a superb season, and again I must shout how bullshit it is they aren't in the Big 12. I like the Green Wave to win their second straight AAC title, and once again represent the Group of Five in a New Year's Six bowl.

Sun Belt Championship: App State (+5) vs Troy -- First things first, James Madison should be here instead of Appalachian State. Nonetheless, NCAA rules are weird and App State did hand James Madison their only loss. This should be a defensive affair, and I'm thinking it comes down to a late score.

Big Ten Championship: Michigan (-21.5) vs Iowa -- Iowa lost 31-0 to Penn State, and I don't see why Michigan can't do the same or even better.

ACC Championship: Louisville vs Florida State (-1.5) -- How about the turnaround Jeff Brohm has done at his alma mater? Louisville won 10 games for the first time since 2012, and have a chance to win their first ACC title. Jordan Travis would make this pick a lot easier (and the line a lot higher), but either way I think the 'Noles have too much talent for Louisville to handle in the end.

NFL Game of the Week:
Dolphins (-9.5) at Commanders -- The jury is still out on the Dolphins as far as their Super Bowl chances go -- their only losses are away to the Bills, Eagles, and Chiefs -- what we do know is that they take care of business against the teams they should beat.

* * *

Mallory McCormack
Well here we are, rivalry week is done and we're on to the Championship Chaos weekend! This is where we see who's real and who's a pretender. Let's finish this year strong, heck, anything .500 and above is like winning the SEC Championship, or at least what I expect that to feel like since my Rebs haven't ever been to Atlanta...

Conference-USA Championship (Friday): New Mexico State vs Liberty (-10.5) -- I know that NMSU went into Auburn and won two weeks ago, but Liberty just seems too good to let that happen here.

PAC-12 Championship (Friday): Oregon vs Washington (+9.0) -- I get it, the Ducks are hot right now and Bo Nix is trying to make a case for the Heisman. I don't want to count out Michael Penix, Jr. and the Huskies though. They've quietly handled their business and I think they continue to do the same or at least keep this a close game.

Big XII Championship: Oklahoma State vs Texas (-15.0) -- Texas will make a statement on their way out of the Big XII. And I am here for it. I want to see Brett Yormark hand Steve Sarkisian that championship trophy with a little side of crow that he will have to consume live for the entire world to see.

MAC Championship: Miami (OH) vs Toledo (-7.5) -- Miami (OH) blocked a go-ahead field goal with just over a minute remaining last week. It was against Ball State. Granted, Toledo struggled with Ball State earlier this season but I think they've got Uncle Mo behind them.

Mountain West Championship: Boise State vs UNLV (+2.5) -- I mean I just feel like I need to pick a team with Rebels in their name. Seriously though, I think they bounce back after last week's loss and win the MWC in their hometown.

SEC Championship: Georgia (-5.5) vs Alabama -- Both teams better forget everything that happened last Saturday and be prepared for an all out war. Bama will come in ready to prove the naysayers wrong and Georgia will be ready to show that their looking past Georgia Tech was so they could make a statement in this game. Kirby, if there is a 4th and long, please don't do what Auburn did and rush 2. K, thx.

American Athletic Championship: SMU vs Tulane (-3.0) -- This is my sleeper pick of the most interesting game of the weekend. SMU has stepped it up when they need to. Their two losses were to Oklahoma and TCU. They won at Memphis a few weeks ago and destroyed Navy last weekend. But not so fast my friend, Tulane has one loss. And that was to my Rebels. I think Tulane feels like they have to prove last year wasn't a fluke. Both teams are out for blood and it will be a fight, but Tulane has a little more to lose.

Sun Belt Championship: App State vs Troy (-5.0) -- If GameDay were going to be in Troy for the game, I'd throw my weight behind App State. But they're not. And Jon Sumrall has the Trojans rolling.

Big Ten Championship: Michigan (-21.5) vs Iowa -- Yawn. Who cares. Michigan proved last week this is their conference.

ACC Championship: Louisville vs Florida State (-1.5) -- After watching the Noles handle business in the Swamp last week, I got the feeling that they are ready to keep fighting for Jordan Travis. If the FSU defense can show up early, I think they'll rattle Louisville and keep it going for JT.

NFL Game of the Week:
Lions (-4.5) @ Saints -- I think the Lions can go into a rowdy Superdome and win. The extra days to rest after the disastrous Thanksgiving Day performance will help.

***

Note: All games are Against the Spread. Odds are taken from the Caesar's Sportsbook.