Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com
It’s the final full weekend of the 2020 college football regular season, although some teams finished up in Week 14, while several others will try to play makeup games in Week 16 – which is when all the major conference title games will be played.
There’s an interesting scenario when No. 7 Cincinnati visits No. 24 Tulsa on Saturday as those two will turn right around and play one another in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game next weekend. Saturday’s winner will determine on which campus that is played. This matchup has been pushed back twice, from October 17 and then December 4 due to COVID-19 issues. The Bearcats haven’t played since November 21 due to cancellations. They are -12.5 favorites and have won 27 straight games when favored.
Arguably the best rivalry in the sport is renewed when Michigan visits No. 4 Ohio State – we hope. Both teams have had COVID-19 issues of late. The Buckeyes were able to play last Saturday and win easily at Michigan State but were without Coach Ryan Day. However, OSU has had two games called off and per Big Ten rules (barring a change), a third would mean the Buckeyes would be ineligible to play in the conference title game even though they clearly are the best team.
Michigan, meanwhile, had to call off last Saturday’s game against Maryland because of an outbreak in Ann Arbor. So, in theory, Jim Harbaugh, who is winless as the UM coach against bitter rival Ohio State, could keep the Buckeyes from playing for the Big Ten title if Harbaugh’s team can’t take the field. Oh, and this could be Harbaugh’s final game as Michigan coach, too, as he may leave for the NFL. OSU is -28.5, which is about unheard of in this rivalry. The Buckeyes have won the past eight in the series, coming by an average of 14.4 points.
The only team Florida has lost to is Texas A&M, and the No. 6 Gators close their regular season with a frankly unnecessary rescheduled home game against LSU. UF is already in the SEC title game so really nothing good can come from facing the Tigers other than perhaps QB Kyle Trask boosting his Heisman Trophy chances – either he or Alabama’s Mac Jones will win it. Florida is -23 and 6-1-1 ATS in its past eight at home.
Neither No. 17 North Carolina or No. 10 Miami can reach the ACC title game, but Saturday’s winner from South Florida would be in good shape for a New Year’s Six Bowl – especially if the Hurricanes are victors. They are -3. The Heels have covered four of the past five in the series.
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