We’ve finally reached Conference Championship Weekend. While that’s great in terms of finally getting the SEC game many have wanted all season long, sadly, it also signals the end of the weekly predictions and bets column for this season.

We’ve only got the one SEC game to select this week, the Muschumpionship in Columbia isn’t worth picking on a weekend like this, so we’ve added in the other conference games for this weekend.

As always, it’s news desk editor Michael Bratton (@MichaelWBratton) and SDS Podcast co-host Chris Marler (@CMarlerSDS) making the weekly SEC picks against the spread.

Here’s how the guys predict the Championship Weekend games across the country:

Utah vs. Washington (-6) in Santa Clara, CA

Michael: Outside of the SEC Championship Game, this matchup (played on Friday) could be the best contest of the weekend. Both of these teams feature excellent defenses and offenses that rank in the top 35 in the nation. Combine that with Utah’s top 10 ranked special teams unit, per S&P+, and I’ll not only take the points but I’m picking Utah to make their first ever trip to the Rose Bowl in program history.

Utah 21 Washington 20

Chris: Call me crazy, but I agree with Danny Kanell that Washington is the best 3 loss team in the country. They have one of the best defenses in the country and are only giving up 311 ypg in the Pac 12. However, this is my least favorite point total in all of gambling. Fun fact, 73% of 5 to 5.5 point underdogs cover and over 40% win outright since 2012. I’ll take Washington close.

Washington 24 Utah 20

Memphis at UCF (-3)

Michael: Another great matchup here to decide the American, these two teams matched up in last season’s game, won by UCF in a 62-55 thriller, this time I like the Tigers to get revenge and win end UCF’s winning streak once and for all. Without the services of McKenzie Milton, Memphis exits the weekend as the American champion.

Memphis 48 UCF 42

Chris did not make a selection for this game, likely due to his hatred for all things UCF

Texas vs. Oklahoma (-8) in Arlington

Michael: Oklahoma may only play competently on one side of the ball but what a show they put on when their offense takes the field. Kyler Murray deserves all the praise thrown his way as outside of Tua Tagovailoa, he’s every bit as impressive of a player as you’ll find this season on a college football field. While he’s not as accurate with the ball as Baker Mayfield was, he’s far more explosive with his legs. Look for the Sooners and Murray to get their revenge for the only blemish on their record this season.

Oklahoma 52 Texas 40

Chris: This is OU’s only loss on the season, a 3 point defeat to their rival in October. However, most people forget that they were down 3 scores for most of the 2nd Half until Kyler Murray and the Sooners came storming back. The hook (extra half point) scares me a little here. However, OU needs to make a statement, so I like them to win big, and then get run over in the CFP by whoever they play.

Oklahoma 55 Texas 45

Pitt vs. Clemson (-28) in Charlotte

Michael: I’m not doubting Clemson as a national title contender but the way that defense looked against South Carolina, giving up over 500 passing yards and five touchowns to Jake Bentley, and nearly giving up two more scores against the Gamecocks at home, I don’t have much faith in this team covering a four-touchdown spread in a conference championship game. The Tigers will win this game convincingly but I just don’t have faith in them to cover.

Clemson 42 Pitt 23

Chris: Clemson has the best defense in the country if they don’t have to play an SEC team. What could go wrong in the playoff?What’s the best way to put this. What’s the best analogy for Pitt? Ever since they joined the ACC, Pitt is like some annoying reoccurring “thing” that you may have caught in college and seems to pop up at the worst of times. They beat #2 Clemson in 2016 and #2 Miami in 2017. In 2018 they’ll get their doors blown off by #2 Clemson. Clemson wins big.

Clemson 44 Pitt 13

Northwestern vs. Ohio State (-14.5) in Indianapolis

Michael: The key to this game for me is trying to figure out which Ohio State team will show up. The Buckeyes looked the part of a national title contender against Michigan but that came after nearly losing to an average Maryland team and previously getting smoked by Purdue. Northwestern started the season slow but has come on down the stretch, too. It’s tough to pick against Ohio State in this one but I don’t have much confidence in this one either way. I’ll go with Ohio State to win, Northwestern to cover.

Ohio State 38 Northwestern 27

Chris: If the Big 10 ever wonders why people in the South don’t take them seriously it’s games like this. Ohio State, despite losing to an unranked team by 4+ TDs for the 2nd year in a row, has a chance to get into the CFP this Saturday. Northwestern has won 7 of their last 8, but who could forget earlier this season when they lost to mighty…wait for it…Akron. That’s right, they lost to a zip. New rule, if you lose to a verb you shouldn’t be allowed to play in your conference title game. Put your life savings on Ohio State.

Ohio State 51 Northwestern 27

Georgia vs. Alabama (-13.5) in Atlanta

Michael: I’ve had a feeling all offseason that if these two teams meet in Atlanta we could see something similiar to the 2009 SEC Championship Game. If you don’t remember that game, Urban Meyer’s Florida team was a heavy favorite, led by Tim Tebow, the Gators had beaten Alabama in the 2008 SEC Championship Game and were picked by nearly everyone to do so again in the rematch. Of course, that didn’t happen and the landscape of the conference shifted and has remained in Nick Saban’s favor ever since. That’s a nice storyline but it won’t be possible unless Georgia continues its hot streak over the previous six weeks. Jake Fromm is playing the best football of his life at the moment, which certainly helps matters but I question whether Kirby Smart’s defense can get enough stops in this game. Will motivation come into play for Alabama? How can it not, when everyone seems to be suggesting that the Tide are in the Playoff, even with a loss in this game? Georgia, on the other hand, is playing for its title lives. I’ve picked against Alabama once before this season and was made to look foolish, I’m up for doing it again!

Georgia 30 Alabama 28

Chris: For the second straight week, Alabama will play in a very meaningful “meaningless” game. A win and UGA is in. A win or loss, and apparently Alabama is in. Honestly, I think UGA is playing some of the best football in the country right now, and it’s a joke that Oklahoma or Ohio St would get in over UGA regardless of this outcome. As far as Saturday goes, I think it comes down to two things: pressure and explosive plays. UGA allows the fewest explosive plays (over 20+ yards) in the country, as they’ve only given up 25 all season. However, they’ve been terrible at pressuring the QB this season as well. They will have to find ways to get to Tua like Mississippi St did. The caveat to that? When they do, they will also have to find a way to defend: Tua, Jeudy, Ruggs, Jacobs, The Harris’, and  the Smiths. Yikes. I like Bama to win, but UGA to cover.

Alabama 38 Georgia 27