We have reached the month of December and that means it’s time for the conference championships in college football. It’s been another exciting season of NCAA football, with a number of epic games and wild storylines taking place over the past few months. The Georgia Bulldogs have maintained the nation’s number one ranking for much of the season and boast a fierce defense that may considered one of the best all-time. The Big Ten had one of its most competitive seasons in recent memory with Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Michigan State all enjoying excellent campaigns. We also got to witness Wolverines head coach, Jim Harbaugh, finally earn a win over rival Ohio State with a massive victory in Week 13.
With so many great games played throughout the year, this has been a great season for betting on college football. The fun is far from over as we enter December and get set for a number of great NCAA matchups. Bovada Sportsbook has betting odds available on all the college football action, giving you the chance to win real money betting on your favorite teams. With that being said let’s review some of the best NCAA football games to bet on this month, including several great matchups during conference championship weekend.
College Football Matchups in December
Pac-12 Championship: Oregon Ducks vs Utah Utes
With a 10-2 record and first place in the Pac 12 North, Oregon is looking to win a third straight conference title. This game will also give the Ducks a chance to avenge one of their two losses on the year, as the Utes beat the Ducks 38-7 just a few weeks back. Utah is 9-3 on the season and sits in first place in the Pac-12 South. The Utes are currently a three-point betting favorite, and a win would result in the first-ever Rose Bowl appearance in the program’s history.
Big 12 Championship: Baylor Bears vs Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Cowboys have a real shot at qualifying for this year’s College Football Playoffs, but will need to first get past Baylor in the Big 12 Championship game. Oklahoma State is 11-1 and have been kind to the betting community this season by going 9-3 against the spread. Baylor has a 10-2 record entering this game, having already lost to the Cowboys 24-14 back in Week 5. With a 5.5-point spread, Baylor could provide decent betting value as the underdog in this contest.
SEC Championship: Georgia Bulldogs vs Alabama Crimson Tide
Two of the best teams in the nation go head-to-head as the number one ranked Bulldogs take on number three ranked Alabama. With a perfect 12-0 record, Georgia has its sights set on the National Championship. Alabama is looking to claim yet another SEC title for legendary head coach Nick Saban, but a loss would likely cost them a spot in the College Football Playoffs. Georgia is currently a 6.5-point favorite and you can expect plenty of betting action on this high-profile matchup.
AAC Championship: Houston Cougars at Cincinnati Bearcats
Cincinnati has enjoyed an excellent season, as evident by their 12-0 record leading up conference championship weekend. More importantly, the Bearcats are currently ranked fourth in the nation and another win would go a long away, earning their first appearance in the College Football Playoffs. However, Houston is no pushover with a record of 11-1. The Cougars are currently listed as 10.5-point underdogs at Bovada. If you plan on betting this game, it’s worth noting that Houston is just 1-4-1 ATS in their last six games against Cincinnati.
Big Ten Championship: Michigan Wolverines vs Iowa Hawkeyes
After years of waiting, Michigan football finally got a signature win under head coach Jim Harbaugh when they demolished Ohio State 42-27. The victory vaulted the Wolverines to number two in the nation and one more win over Iowa will earn them the Big Ten Championship and a spot in the College Football Playoffs. Standing in their way are the Hawkeyes; Iowa won the Big Ten West and has reeled off four straight wins leading up to the champions game. The Wolverines are currently listed as 11-point favorites, but it may not be that easy as Iowa is 4-1 ATS in their last five games as the underdog.
ACC Championship: Pittsburgh Panthers vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons
In one of the closer betting matchups of Conference Championship weekend, Pitt is listed as three-point favorites in their matchup against Wake Forest for ACC supremacy. The Panthers have yet to win a conference championship in the school’s history, while Wake Forest last won the ACC in 2006. Wake Forest and Pitt rank third and fourth in scoring offense, respectively, which explains the high total set by odds makers for this game (71). Both teams have hit the over in the majority of their games this season, so you may want to consider betting on the offense in this game.
Mountain West Championship: Utah State Aggies vs San Diego State Aztecs
It’s been quite the year for San Diego State with the Aztecs finishing the year at 11-1 to win their division. Currently seeded 19th in the country, San Diego state is the second-highest ranked squad, outside of the five power conferences, behind Cincinnati. Utah State has enjoyed a strong season of their own, going 6-2 in conference play and winning the Mountain West’s East division. The Aztecs are 6-point favorites in this Mountain West matchup, however Utah State is an impressive 5-1 ATS over their last six games.
USC Trojans vs Cal Golden Bears
There may not be a conference championship on the line in this game, but this Pac-12 matchup will feature two of the more storied programs in college football history. Both of these teams are 4-7 on the year but you can be sure they’ll be looking to end the season on a high note versus their in-state rivals. The Trojans have dominated the all-time series with a record of 70-31-5 and have won 15 of the last 16 matchups between the two schools. The current betting odds at Bovada have Cal as 4.5-point favorites, but we could see a fired up USC team after the recent hiring of head coach, Lincoln Riley.
