Scott Van Pelt gives his winners for conference championship weekend

All I tin accidental is convey goodness each those dire predictions of doom for Twitter didn't travel true. Everyone who got the tweet with Thanksgiving week winners tin beryllium thankful for that. We went 9-1, if the Apple Cup came through, the birdcage really would person happened. Kinda gladsome it didn't, due to the fact that had I gone 10-0, I deliberation I would person conscionable walked disconnected the signifier similar Randy Watson successful Coming to America. As it is, we're 17 games implicit .500 -- different bully play successful advancement here. But we stay humble and focused.

Season: 65-48-3

Pac-12 Championship Game

No. 11 Utah vs No. 4 USC (-2.5, 67)
Friday 8 p.m. ET, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada

Van Pelt's pick: No. 11 Utah (+2.5)

As for title week, we volition statesman connected Friday successful Vegas with Utah positive the points against USC successful the Pac-12 rubric game. A batch had to spell the Utes mode to adjacent beryllium successful the crippled and Kyle Whittingham's squad gets a accidental to spoil the Trojans playoff hopes. They gave 'SC their lone nonaccomplishment and it is pugnacious to bushed a bully squad doubly -- but that's conscionable what they did past twelvemonth with Oregon.

SVP: 8-6 all-time erstwhile picking against Lincoln Riley

Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship

No. 10 Kansas State vs No. 3 TCU (-2.5, 62.0)
Saturday 12 p.m. ET connected ABC, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Van Pelt's pick: No. 10 Kansas State (+2.5)

On the Saturday slate, we volition instrumentality different wound of the squad from the Little Apple. We backed Kansas State erstwhile they visited Fort Worth... they were up 28-10 but TCU did what it's done each twelvemonth and roared backmost to not lone triumph -- but cover. We're connected the Cats successful the Big 12 rubric game... EMAW and each that.

SVP: 1-5 this play erstwhile picking against TCU

Sun Belt Championship

Coastal Carolina astatine Troy (-8.5, 48)
Saturday 7:30 p.m. ET connected ESPN, Veterans Memorial Stadium, Troy, Alabama

Van Pelt's pick: Troy (-8.5)

As America's No. 1 Sun Belt tout, I consciousness I should instrumentality the rubric crippled retired of wide rule --- which is NOT to accidental it's a GPG crippled -- I'm mostly conscionable doing it retired of a consciousness of obligation. We are laying the points with Troy. They've won 9 successful a row. Coastal limps successful a spot aft losing by 40 to JMU past week.

SVP: 13-2 erstwhile picking Sun Belt teams this season

American Athletic Championship

No. 22 UCF astatine No. 18 Tulane (-4, 57)
Saturday 4 p.m. ET connected ABC, Yulman Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana

Van Pelt's pick: No. 22 UCF (+4)

We person a rematch successful New Orleans of a crippled UCF won earlier this twelvemonth implicit Tulane and I volition backmost the roadworthy squad positive the points successful this one. Feels similar a adjacent 4-quarter conflict and I similar the candy successful a crippled similar that.

SVP: 32-12 all-time erstwhile picking AAC league games

SEC Championship Game

No. 14 LSU vs No. 1 Georgia (-17.5, 52.5)
Saturday 4 p.m. ET, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Van Pelt's pick: Georgia (-17.5)

On the different hand, what's the astir points we've laid successful this segment? I don't know, but we are putting a clump connected the array successful Atlanta. Who's that coming down the track? Mean instrumentality successful reddish and achromatic to rotation into the playoff. (Editor's note: SVP laid 33.5 points with No. 5 Oklahoma astatine location against West Virginia successful 2019. 52-14... Winner.)

SVP: 5-1 all-time erstwhile laying astatine slightest 17 points

Mountain West Championship Game

Fresno State astatine Boise State (-3, 53.5)
Saturday 4 p.m. ET, Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho

Van Pelt's pick:

SVP: 5-1 erstwhile picking Mountain West teams successful past 2 seasons

Big Ten Championship Game

Purdue vs No. 2 Michigan (-17, 52)
Saturday 8 p.m., Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Van Pelt's pick: Purdue (+17)

One past underdog to adjacent this out. We implore our friends from West Lala to bang that large drum and support it adjacent with Michigan disconnected their connection triumph successful the footwear past weekend. I expect the Wolverines to triumph and marque their 2nd consecutive CFP appearance, but we're hoping the Boilers tin strategy up capable plays and chuck it astir capable to bent astir successful Indy.

SVP: 6-2 all-time erstwhile picking Purdue

And that'll bash it. Seven for the radical earlier we crook our attraction to the NFL and vessel season.