Friday CFB Conference Championship Picks – A.I. Predictions for All 4 Title Games

• Our A.I. has generated its best college football conference championship picks for Friday, December 5
• Four title games kick off championship weekend with CFP implications
• See the best CFB championship game picks based on our A.I.’s calculations

Conference championship weekend kicks off Friday night with four title games that’ll shape the Group of Five landscape. The American Athletic Conference champion has the clearest path to the College Football Playoff, while the other three conferences battle for bowl positioning and bragging rights.

I’ve asked our internal A.I. to generate its favorite picks for Friday’s conference championship slate. The table below lists all four games with the A.I.’s against-the-spread and over/under selections. Below that, I’ve broken down the reasoning behind each pick.

Conference Championship Picks – Friday, December 5

A.I. picks and odds as of Dec. 4. New customers can check out the best college football betting apps and claim bonuses to bet on conference championship games.

Kennesaw State vs Jacksonville State – Conference USA Championship Pick

The Conference USA Championship features two evenly matched teams, but the A.I. identifies Jacksonville State as the play despite being listed as a slight underdog. The Gamecocks enter with a perfect 5-0 home record this season and already beat Kennesaw State 35-26 back on November 15.

The model focuses heavily on ball security in this matchup. Jacksonville State holds a +9 turnover differential compared to Kennesaw State’s -2 mark, creating an 11-possession swing. In a game with a tight spread, the A.I. views this gap as decisive.

Both offenses score at nearly identical rates, with Jacksonville State averaging 29.7 points per game and Kennesaw State at 28.9. But the Gamecocks convert 88.7% in the red zone compared to 81.4% for the Owls. According to the A.I., home field and superior efficiency make Jacksonville State the right side.

The model also likes the over, noting sharp money has driven the total from 56.5 to 60.5. With minimal weather concerns and two balanced offenses, the A.I. expects scoring.

Troy vs James Madison – Sun Belt Championship Pick

James Madison enters as a massive 23.5-point favorite, and the A.I. sees value on the underdog Trojans. The Dukes average 37.7 points per game with an elite 50.3% third-down conversion rate, but the model believes the spread is too large for a championship game.

Troy’s defensive pressure stands out as a potential X-factor. The Trojans have recorded 28 sacks this season, matching James Madison’s total. The A.I. reasons this pass rush could disrupt the Dukes’ offensive rhythm and create drive-killing situations.

Sharp money has identified value in Troy, with nearly 40% of moneyline handle backing the Trojans at +1238 odds. While Troy averages just 25.0 points per game, the model sees them avoiding turnovers and controlling tempo to stay within the massive number.

The A.I. also likes the under, noting the total dropped from 48.5 to 46.5. According to the model, both teams’ pass rush capabilities should create negative plays that keep drives stalled and the clock moving.

North Texas vs Tulane – American Athletic Championship Pick

The American Athletic champion gets the inside track on the Group of Five’s automatic CFP bid, and the A.I. likes North Texas to cover the 2.5-point road spread. The Mean Green bring the nation’s top-scoring offense, averaging 46.2 points per game.

North Texas converts a staggering 94.3% of red zone opportunities compared to Tulane’s 28.5 points per game output. The model also points to the turnover battle, with the Mean Green holding a +13 differential versus Tulane’s +4 mark. That nine-possession advantage provides multiple paths to cover the modest spread.

Sharp bettors have hammered this game, with 89.28% of spread money backing North Texas. The A.I. sees the Mean Green’s explosive offensive ceiling as too much for Tulane to contain, even on the road in New Orleans.

The model loves the over as well, noting the total climbed from 62.5 to 66.5. With 79.39% of handle on the over and both teams capable of lighting up the scoreboard, the A.I. expects this to be Friday’s highest-scoring game.

UNLV vs Boise State – Mountain West Championship Pick

These teams met on October 18, with Boise State winning 56-31 at home, but the A.I. sees UNLV covering the 4.5-point spread in the rematch. Statistical analysis reveals the Rebels as the superior offensive unit, averaging 37.0 points per game compared to Boise State’s 30.7.

UNLV excels in crucial situational metrics. The Rebels convert 47.2% of third downs versus 45.7% for Boise State, and their 89.1% red zone efficiency tops the Broncos’ 84.8% mark. The model views these edges as significant in a competitive Mountain West battle.

The turnover differential slightly favors UNLV at +6 compared to Boise State’s +4. Sharp money has shown interest in the road underdog, with 42.49% of money coming from just 23.37% of bets, demonstrating professional backing for the Rebels.

The A.I. also likes the over 58.5, reasoning that the total appears conservative given both teams’ high-scoring capabilities. According to the model, road teams often perform better in offensive rhythm games, making UNLV attractive with multiple ways to cover.