Taking Bets | Who's A Champion? | Championship Week

2024 ATS Record
Blaine Duncan: 32-23 (Week Fourteen: 2-2) 
TD Wood: 23-31-1 (Week Fourteen: 2-2)
Mallory McCormack: 27-28 (Week Fourteen: 2-2)
Greg Bosworth: 21-34 (Week Fourteen: 2-2)

As the season winds down, the “Taking Bets” writers place their bets on every championship game this weekend. It’s host of The Staredown Mallory McCormack, host of Takin’ On Sports TD Wood, editor-in-chief Blaine Duncan, and co-host of Takin’ On Sports Greg Bosworth! Find the bets, which includes one NFL game per week, on the site each Friday evening at 6:30!

Blaine Duncan
No one should do this. 

Conference-USA Championship: Western Kentucky at Jacksonville State (UNDER: 57.5) – Here’s an interesting one. Jax State lost their first three games, turn it around with Rich Rod as head coach no less, and win out -- except for last weekend. That loss? Western Kentucky, who beat them 19-17. I would think that the Gamecocks flip it on the Hilltoppers, but the safer bet here seems like the under. 

Mountain West Championship: UNLV at Boise State (-4.5) – The Rebels had quite a year that looked like it may tank, but they kept it between the ditches with only two losses. Of course as the trend starts to take shape here, one of the losses was to Boise State. The Broncos have a lot at stake this time: it’s playoff season now. I suspect Boise gets a big win here to get a seal of approval from the committee. 

American Athletic Championship: Tulane at Army (+4.5) – Tulane is coming off a big loss from last week, so the odds are that they’ll get it right in the championship game. Still, Army’s only loss this year is to a bigger school, Notre Dame, and the Knights can keep this game close if not win outright. My only concern is that Army has the usual – yet this season, oddly placed – game against Navy next week to think about as well. I’ll roll with Army, though. 

Big 12 Championship: Iowa State vs Arizona State [Arlington] (OVER: 49.5) – Is Arizona State the surprise of the season? I would not have had them in a playoff hunt, yet here they are. As they’re currently ranked in the top 20, both teams want this one. Who’s the better coach? That’ll be the question. Matt Campbell has worked wonders at times with the Cyclones over the years and Kenny Dillingham won’t be with the Sun Devils long – someone will get him. No clue who gets the win, but I like the over. 

SEC Championship: Georgia vs Texas [Atlanta] (OVER: 49.5) – The Dawgs can best the Longhorns again, but the over is inviting. These games in Atlanta can be a back-and-forth showdown when the teams are on par. I can see sixty or more put on the board. Also, why are these lines all the same?

MAC Championship: Ohio (+2) vs Miami-Ohio [Detroit] – Miami won against Ohio earlier in the year, but I’m banking on the Bobcats to extract revenge and continue their winning streak. 

Sun Belt Championship: Marshall at Louisiana (-5.5) – I don’t know why we do this to ourselves. I have no clue about Sun Belt teams, so I’ll roll with the Cajuns since they’re at home. 

Big Ten Championship: Penn State vs Oregon (-3.5) [Indianapolis] – While no one team has seemed like the one dominant force in college football, Oregon, being undefeated, has come as close as any. This is James Franklin’s opportunity to win the big game, but he won’t get it. The Ducks maintain their spotless record and reign at number one.   

ACC Championship: Clemson vs SMU (-2.5) – No team has impressed me more this season than the Mustangs. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rhett Lashlee on another sideline next season. The Tigers, though, are fighting for relevance. The truth is, SMU embraced pay-for-play NIL whereas Dabo hemmed and hawed with gripes and complaints. The Mustangs have the money for players, and they’ll show as much on Saturday. 

TD Wood
What a miserable regular season showing. Like the dark days of 2021, I just couldn’t find my groove this year. Well, like the great Jerry Reed said: “When you’re hot, you’re hot, and when you’re not, you’re not.”

Conference-USA Championship: Western Kentucky (+4.5) at Jacksonville State – An injury to Gamecocks QB Tyler Huff gives me hesitation to pick Rich Rod’s squad here. These two played a close one last week, and I think the same will happen here. 

Mountain West Championship: UNLV at Boise State (-4.5) – In a just world, the 2004 season would’ve been the catalyst for the playoffs to emerge from the rubble of the BCS. That was the year USC, Oklahoma, Auburn, Utah, and Boise State all finished the regular season unbeaten (it happened again in 2009 with six teams). Alas, the BCS survived for close to another decade, and here we are today. The Broncos have been waiting for a long time to have a postseason swing at the big boys. I don’t see them losing that chance here.

American Athletic Championship: Tulane (-4.5) at Army – As good of a story as Army has been, I think Tulane is just too talented and well coached to lose here. 

Big 12 Championship: Iowa State vs Arizona State [Arlington] (Over 49.5) – I have no idea who wins this one. On one hand, Iowa State is supposed to be here, and has the composure to get to win. On the other, the Sun Devils are the hot hand, with a story that’s hard to root against. I’m gonna take the over and hope we see a shootout befitting this glorious, batshit insane conference. 

SEC Championship: Georgia vs Texas (-3) [Atlanta] – It’s hard to beat a team twice, or so the old heads say. I like the Longhorns to avenge their only loss this season. Georgia is still one of the elites, but they don’t have that invincible feel they’ve had in the past few seasons. 

MAC Championship: Ohio vs Miami-Ohio [Detroit] (Under 44.5) – This one is a little too close to call for me, but I like both defenses to do their thing and keep this a low-scoring affair. 

Sun Belt Championship: Marshall at Louisiana (-5.5) – I like the combination of the Rajin’ Cajuns high-scoring offense and their stingy defense in this one. 

Big Ten Championship: Penn State vs Oregon (-3.5) [Indianapolis] – Until a James Franklin team wins a huge matchup, I have no reason to trust the Nittany Lions. Oregon is the closest thing we have to an elite team this season, and while I think they’re beatable, they should handle business here.

ACC Championship: Clemson vs SMU (-2.5) – While I’m certainly carrying a rooting interest in this one, I also still see a Clemson team whose best win is a Pitt team who ended their season on a five-game losing streak. SMU is the better team, and has a chance to put the program back on the national stage for the first time in 40 years. 

Mallory McCormack 
Well the regular season was just a lovely carousel of chaos, a rollercoaster of emotions, and more excitement than a squirrel becoming the new on-field mascot at Ole Miss. (Yes, I’m voting for both Juice and Lewis the Squirrel for mascots!) It’s post-season play, and I need more of the same, for very obvious reasons. Also gonna need the selection committee to learn math, but one step at a time.

Conference-USA Championship: Western Kentucky at Jacksonville State (-4.5) – I guess it’s my little Ole Miss heart loving Rich Rod but I think they take care of business. 

Mountain West Championship: UNLV at Boise State (-4.5) – this could be an interesting game if UNLV goes into Boise and takes care of business. Would a 10-2 conference champ get in over a 3 loss SEC team? I don’t think the committee is going to have to worry about that…but wouldn’t it be fun if they do? Also Jeanty for Heisman…

American Athletic Championship: Tulane (-4.5) at Army – so Tulane slipped up last week. I think they’ll take care of business this week and catch Army off guard heading into their big game against Navy next weekend. 

Big 12 Championship: Iowa State vs Arizona State (-2) [Arlington] – I mean does anyone really care about this one? I’m just happy to finally not have a 4.5 point line…

SEC Championship: Georgia vs Texas [Atlanta] (OVER 49.5) – My head and my heart are at odds over this game. Probably more than should be humanly allowed. But 49.5 total points?! I can see both teams scoring more than 30. 

MAC Championship: Ohio (+2) vs Miami-Ohio [Detroit] – I have no idea and I don’t care either way. But I have a friend who went to grad school at Ohio so yeah, that’s my pick. 

Sun Belt Championship: Marshall (+5.5) at Louisiana – Let’s go Thundering Herd!! My friend Kevin played for them a few years ago and has some wild stories including an alligator and ice cream on a snowy day. 

Big Ten Championship: Penn State vs Oregon (-3.5) [Indianapolis] – so this might be the one game I’m secretly excited about. I don’t know what to expect as none of their wins have been especially impressive…intriguing and fun but not impressive. But I have to think that Oregon wants that bye so bad and Penn State would probably end up hosting a first round game.  

ACC Championship: Clemson vs SMU (-2.5) – come on Mustangs! Let’s get Clemson out of this talk. I remember in the early BCS days when Boise State was the Cinderella and I have to think that this year it’s SMU! 

Greg Bosworth 
Though my dreams of winning this prestigious title in year one came crashing down long ago it will be a big weekend for teams in year one of their new conferences.

Conference-USA Championship: Western Kentucky at Jacksonville State (-4.5) – I feel like we just saw this game last Saturday. Oh! We did, but this time it is in the great state of Alabama and revenge will be sweet for Rich Rod even if Logan Smothers is playing QB.

Mountain West Championship: UNLV at Boise State (-4.5) – A rematch of last year’s championship game and we saw an incredible Friday night battle in Las Vegas earlier this season. It’s hard to beat a team twice in the same season but not when you are playing on blue turf and you have the best running back in college football. The Broncos will be playoff bound after tonight and look for Ashton Jeanty to add one more incredible stat line before the Heisman Trophy is awarded.

American Athletic Championship: Tulane (-4.5) at Army – It will be interesting to see how Tulane bounces back after a tough loss to Memphis which ended any playoff talk. It will be bitterly cold at West Point which is not ideal for a team from New Orleans, but they are just too talented to drop two games in a row. Green Wave bigly!

Big 12 Championship: Iowa State vs Arizona State (-2) [Arlington] – Iowa State is going for their first conference championship since 1912 when they won the Missouri Valley Conference. Arizona State won their last conference championship with some guy named Jake the Snake. It’s been an incredible run for the Sun Devils, and talking about running: that is something the Cyclones can’t stop. If you aren’t familiar with Cam Skataboo get a bowl of cereal and pull up to your TV set at 11 AM. The Big 12 hasn’t disappointed all season, so expect fireworks in Jerry’s World. 

SEC Championship: Georgia vs Texas(-3) [Atlanta] – It is hard to beat good team twice in the same season, and interesting enough Texas hasn’t lost to the same team twice in as season since 1911. Georgia has had their issues as of late shutting down the run, while the Longhorns have started the running ball well as seen from their win in College Station. Revenge will be Sark’s and if things were to go right Texas could end up as the #1 team in the tournament.

MAC Championship: Ohio (+2)  vs Miami-Ohio [Detroit] – I picked Ohio to win the MAC so why would I change my tune before Championship Saturday? The Bobcats get revenge in the best way possible.

Sun Belt Championship: Marshall at Louisiana(-5.5) – Give me the Ragin' Cajuns at home. Simple as that.

Big Ten Championship: Penn State vs Oregon (-3.5) [Indianapolis] – Oregon is looking to run the table in their inaugural Big Ten season. Interesting enough this is the first matchup between these teams since the 1995 Rose Bowl. Until James Franklin wins a big conference game, I have no faith in him. The Ducks roll and get that coveted first-round bye in the playoff.

ACC Championship: Clemson vs SMU (-2.5) [Charlotte] – In their first season in the ACC, the Ponies have rolled. Their one loss seems like years ago against BYU and honestly Clemson shouldn’t even be in this game -- but of course it wouldn't be an ACC season without Miami choking somewhere. A win and the good guys from Dallas will get a first-round bye in this year’s playoff, but a loss unfairly will get them replaced in the playoff field by Bama. Their motivation will be high and the Cinderella Story will continue for Rhett Lashlee’s team. 

Note: All games are against the spread. Odds are taken from MGM Grand Sportsbook.