It’s conference championship weekend, and title games in the Power Five conferences will help finalize the four teams in the College Football Playoff as well as the slate of schools to populate the major bowls that take place around New Year’s Day.
There are plenty of other lower-profile conference championships being decided around the country, however. Here’s a look at who to like in some of those games on this weekend’s odds board.
North Texas Mean Green vs. UTSA Roadrunners
Friday, December 2, 2022 – 07:30 PM EST at the Alamodome
The Conference USA title game is a rematch between UTSA, who swept through its conference schedule undefeated, and North Texas, who beat Rice in the regular season finale to earn a spot in the game at 6-2 in CUSA.
UTSA won the first meeting, also held on its home turf in the Alamodome, 31-27 on Oct. 22. The Roadrunners scored a touchdown with 15 seconds left to finish a back-and-forth game on top. Otherwise, these two schools would have been tied atop CUSA.
UTSA’s only losses are to Houston and Texas, both ranked at the time they played, but the Roadrunners have won five one-score games.
What Should We Expect This Friday?
The game promises to be an offensive shootout. North Texas leads all Group of Five teams in yards per play and rank in the top 30 in college football in rushing, scoring, total offense and passing offense.
They’re among the best teams in the country at avoiding penalties and sacks. UTSA ranks in the top 15 in passing, scoring and total offense, and the run game has improved as the year went on. UTSA topped 200 yards on the ground in five of the last seven games.
UTSA will be without running back Brenden Brady and tight end Gavin Sharp for the game. North Texas also has two running backs questionable with leg injuries in Oscar Adaway III and Ayo Adeyi.
It was a tight game the first time around, and there’s no reason to see that change significantly. UTSA may walk away with the championship, but they won’t roll over the Mean Green.
NCAAF Pick: North Texas +8.5 (-110) at BetMGM
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers vs. Troy Trojans
Saturday, December 3, 2022 – 03:30 PM EST at Veterans Memorial Stadium
One of the biggest surprise teams to emerge from the Group of Five conferences in recent years is Coastal Carolina. Even though the Chanticleers are playing for the Sun Belt championship on Saturday, however, they may just be the third-best story in their conference this year.
Coastal tied for first in the Sun Belt East, at 6-2 in the conference, with James Madison, a former FCS program in its first year at college football’s highest level. JMU isn’t even eligible for a bowl, since it’s still so early in the process of moving to FBS. James Madison demolished Coastal in the regular season finale, 47-7
If the best rookie team ever in FBS isn’t enough to steal Coastal’s Cinderella shine, the team the Chants are playing in the Sun Belt Championship Game certainly is. Troy lost to Ole Miss to open the season and App State in week three. They haven’t lost since, storming to the West Division title at 7-1.
Coastal Carolina’s Defense
Coastal is hopeful that quarterback Grayson McCall, who went down with an ankle injury nine games into the season, will be able to return for the game, although it seems far from certain that he’ll be ready to go. In his place, Jarrett Guest has completed less than half of his passes and has one touchdown to go with four interceptions.
Even without McCall, Coastal has a powerful offense, including the sixth best rushing attack in the NCAA. They’ll be able to control the clock on the ground and, even though their defense may not be dominant, it will be matched with a Troy offense that finished in the middle of the pack in the Sun Belt in most categories.
Coastal may not get the upset win, but the line appears to be giving too much credit to Troy for the win streak and taking too much from Coastal based on last week’s game.
NCAAF Pick: Coastal Carolina +8.5 (-110) at BetMGM
