2021 College Football Conference Championship Week Picks Against the Spread

• College Football Conference Championship Week features games on Friday, December 3rd and Saturday, December 4th
• Oregon and Utah rematch for the Pac-12 Title, while Michigan and Iowa faceoff in the Big Ten Championship
• Read below for the best ATS picks for College Football Conference Championship Week

2021 College Football Conference Championship Week has arrived, and there’s no shortage of great matchups on tap for Week 14. The slates on Friday, December 3rd and Saturday, December 4th feature several games with betting value.

Oregon and Utah rematch in the Pac-12 Title Game, while Michigan faces Iowa for the Big Ten Championship. Over in Charlotte, Pittsburgh and Wake Forest clash in the ACC Championship.

Here are betting odds and three CFB ATS picks to consider for Conference Championship Week.

Oregon vs Utah Odds

All odds as of November 30th at DraftKings

Pick #1: Utes Squash Ducks

Utah and Oregon will meet for the second time this season when they faceoff in the Pac-12 Championship Game on Friday. The Utes dominated the Ducks in a 38-7 victory in Salt Lake City on November 20th. The winner of the rematch will punch their ticket to the Rose Bowl.

Oregon is going to be a popular public underdog due to reputation and the revenge element, but Utah is simply the better team. The Utes are the only team in FBS to rank top-30 in both scoring offense (35.2 points) and scoring defense (21.5 points allowed).  Kyle Whittingham’s squad has won five straight games.

Build the statue 🐐@UtahCoachWhitt pic.twitter.com/rDu1IOQjMl

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) November 27, 2021

Oregon is likely to put up a much-better fight in the rematch, but it’s hard to see them fixing all their issues in such a short period of time. Utah has averaged 218.2 rushing yards in their last six games and have three talented running backs who know how to find holes in Oregon’s defensive line.

Oregon’s rush attack looked great against Oregon State in Week 13, but Utah’s rush defense is 24th-best in the country. The Utes are giving up just 119.5 yards on the ground per game. While they may not completely shutdown Oregon’s run game this time, they should still win the battle in the trenches.

There’s plenty of talk about Oregon getting revenge, but this is also a revenge spot for Utah after losing to the Ducks in the 2019 Pac-12 Title Game. Whittingham has been building the program to this moment, and they’ll beat Oregon by at least a field goal on the strength of their three-headed rushing monster.

• Pick: Utah -2.5 (-115)

Iowa vs Michigan Odds

Pick #2: Wolverines Suffocate Hawkeyes

Michigan is favored by nearly 11 points over Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday. It’s the largest spread of any conference championship game this weekend. There’s reason to back the Wolverines as favorites when you consider some key matchup advantages.

The Wolverines have one of the best pass rushes in the nation led by the dynamic tandem of Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo. Both edge rushers have double-digit sacks this season and will dominate a weak Iowa offensive line that’s allowed 31 sacks in 12 games.

Time to study the tape of the Hutchinson/Ojabo show… pic.twitter.com/JYgC41ryaO

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) November 28, 2021

Michigan, meanwhile, has two RB’s in Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins who will run over an Iowa rush defense that’s been gashed by Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Hawkeyes don’t have the offensive weapons to keep pace with the Wolverines, as they rank second-last in the Big 10 in total offense (299.1 YDS).

The big concern for Iowa in this game is QB Spencer Petras, as he’s completing only 58.1% of his passes for nine TDs and six interceptions. Iowa is going to have to run the ball against Michigan, which is going to be a challenge considering the Wolverines are only giving up 123 yards on the ground per game.

Michigan is peaking at the right time with the chance to win their first outright Big Ten Title since 1997. The Wolverines have won and covered the spread in four straight games entering Saturday and won’t get caught looking ahead. Look for Michigan to handle Iowa convincingly on the strength of their defense and ground game.

• Pick: Michigan -10.5 (-110)

Wake Forest vs Pittsburgh Odds

Pick #3: Pitt’s Pickett Torches Demon Deacons

PIttsburgh QB Kenny Pickett will have the opportunity for his “Heisman moment” when he faces Wake Forest in the ACC Championship Game on Saturday. The fifth-year senior is the fourth-favorite in the Heisman odds entering this pivotal showdown at Bank of America Stadium.

Pittsburgh and Wake Forest have the top two offenses in the ACC and are both averaging around 42 points per game. The main difference is defense, where the Panthers are only allowing 23 points and 353 yards per game. In comparison, WFU is surrendering 29 points and 427 yards per contest.

Pitt held the top rusher in the ACC to a season-low 29 yards on Saturday.

Pleased with our performance.#H2P » #WeNotMe pic.twitter.com/J7YMHIQWC2

— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) November 28, 2021

Wake Forest is going to score in this game, but they’re going to have no answer for the Panther high-powered offense. When you look at the Demon Deacons recent losses to UNC and Clemson, they were bullied in the trenches and couldn’t contain mobile QB’s Sam Howell and DJ Uiagalelei.

Kenny Pickett has rushed for over 200 yards this season and is complimented by three running backs who have rushed for at least 400 yards. Sam Hartman is also a mobile quarterback, but he’s going up against an elite Pittsburgh rush defense that is allowing only 92 yards per game.

Pitt holds enough matchup advantages to beat Wake Forest by at least a field goal. In a battle between two talented pivots, getting pressure on the QB will be key. The Panthers are second in average sacks (3.83), while WFU ranks 46th (2.50). Look for Pitt’s defense to clamp down, while Pickett has his Heisman moment on offense.

• Pick: Pittsburgh -3 (-110)