FanDuel has released numbers for the sides and totals of five potential matchups in the SEC, Big Ten and ACC Championship Games.
The betting shop has Georgia (9-2 straight up, 3-8 against the spread) installed as a 1.5-point favorite (-115 price) in a rematch with Texas, which has +104 odds to win outright. The total is 52.5 points.
When these teams met in Austin on Oct. 19, Kirby Smart’s team raced out to a 23-0 lead by halftime. Although Texas rallied to make it a one-possession game at 23-15 with 2:12 left in the third quarter, the Bulldogs got a one-yard touchdown run from RB Trevor Etienne with 12:04 remaining and captured a 30-15 victory as four-point road underdogs.
UGA prevailed despite an abysmal performance from veteran quarterback Carson Beck, who threw for only 175 yards and was intercepted three times. Etienne had 87 rushing yards and three TDs on 19 carries.
Georgia LB Jalon Walker was in Quinn Ewers’ face all night, recording seven tackles, four QB hurries and three sacks. DE Mykel Williams added three tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble.
Ewers was briefly lifted in favor of Arch Manning for the Longhorns’ last two possessions of the first half, only to return at the start of the third quarter. Ewers completed 25-of-43 passes for 211 yards and two TDs, but he coughed up a pair of fumbles and was intercepted once.
UGA limited Texas (10-1 SU, 6-5 ATS) to merely 29 net rushing yards on 27 attempts.
The Longhorns haven’t been underdogs yet this year. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are 1-2 both SU and ATS in three games as single-digit ‘chalk.’
Texas A&M (8-3 SU, 3-8 ATS) can get to Atlanta and the SECCG for the first time since joining the league in 2012 if it can beat Texas in the first meeting of this storied rivalry since 2011.
FanDuel has UGA listed as a 9.5-point favorite vs. the Aggies, who have +265 odds to win outright. The total is 49.5 points.
Like Texas, Mike Elko’s team hasn’t been an underdog yet this season.
FanDuel has Ohio St. (10-1 SU, 6-5 ATS) as a 3.5-point favorite vs. Oregon in what would be another rematch at the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis. The Ducks are +130 on the money line, and the total is 53.5 points (‘under’ -115, ‘over’ -105).
When these teams met in Eugene on Oct. 12, Oregon (11-0 SU, 5-6 ATS) edged the Buckeyes 32-31 as a 3.5-point home underdog. Atticus Sappington’s 19-yard field goal with 1:47 remaining provided the winning points.
Ohio St. had plenty of time to pull out this back-and-forth affair on the final drive. However, a sack on the first play of the drive forced the Buckeyes to waste a bunch of clock.
Several plays later, QB Will Howard found Emeka Egbuka for a 26-yard completion to the Oregon 28. Howard spiked the ball on the next play to set up a second-and-10 situation with 28 seconds left.
But then an offensive pass interference penalty on freshman WR Jeremiah Smith proved to be a killer, pushing the Buckeyes back to the 43 and out of field goal range.
An incomplete pass on the following play left only 10 seconds remaining. The next play was another incompletion, but the Ducks had 12 men on the field, resulting in a five-yard penalty.
Instead of attempting a 55-yard field goal for the win, Ryan Day left his offense on the field. Howard inexplicably fled the pocket for a 12-yard gain but time expired.
Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel completed 23-of-34 passes for 341 yards and two TDs without an interception. He also had 32 rushing yards and one TD on only four attempts. RB Jordan James had 115 rushing yards and one TD on 23 totes.
In the losing effort, Howard connected on 28-of-35 passes for 326 yards and two TDs without an interception. Howard had 13 rushing yards and one TD on nine attempts.
SMU (10-1 SU, 7-4 ATS) has already clinched a berth in the ACC Championship Game in its first season in the league. The Mustangs will play Miami if it wins at Syracuse tomorrow. If the Orange pull an upset at the Carrier Dome, Clemson will get in and face SMU in Charlotte.
FanDuel has Miami listed as a 3.5-point favorite vs. the Mustangs, who are +132 on the money line. The total is 63.5 points.
Clemson is a 2.5-point favorite vs. SMU, which is +105 on the money line. The total is 57.5 points.
SMU takes an eight-game winning streak into Saturday’s showdown at home vs. California. The Mustangs have been underdogs twice this year, winning 66-42 vs. TCU as 1.5-point home ‘dogs and 34-27 at Louisville as 6.5-point road ‘dogs.