It is not yet clear what will be the theme of this week’s Thanksgiving college football feast.
Let’s get it sorted, conference by conference.
Atlantic Coast Conference: No. 20 Pitt has been locked in the conference championship game, and will take on No. 21 Wake Forest, No. 24 North Carolina State, Clemson. Wake wins the Atlantic Division. With a win by N.C. State and a loss by Wake, N.C. State wins the Atlantic Division. Clemson will win the ACC championship if both teams lose.
American Athletic Conference: No. 4 Cincinnati will face No. 19 Houston. The outcome of Friday’s East Carolina win by the Bearcats will determine where the game will take place.
Big Ten: Michigan-Ohio State wins the East. Wisconsin wins the West with a win, Iowa takes it if they lose to the Hawkeyes and Wisconsin loses. Both teams lose and that will open the door to Minnesota. Purdue’s results are relevant even though they can’t win this division.
Big 12: Oklahoma State is in. Oklahoma State wins the conference title game. If Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma State, it will be a rematch next Wednesday. If Oklahoma State wins, Baylor wins, then it’s Cowboys – Bears.
Conference USA: No. 15 UTSA has clinched a Division and will face the winner of Western Kentucky-Marshall.
Mid-American Conference: Northern Illinois will face the winner of Saturday’s Miami (Ohio) at Kent State game.
Mountain West: There are many possibilities, but the most important game is Boise State at San Diego State. It kicks off at 9 a.m. Pacific Time on Black Friday. With a win, the Aztecs will host the conference title match. Boise State still needs to win its division, even with a win. Air Force holds a tiebreaker.
Pac-12: Utah has clinched the South. Oregon beats Oregon State to win the North, but a loss sends either Washington State or the Beavers to the conference title match for the first-time.
Southeastern Conference: Georgia vs. Alabama has been set. However, both sides need to address some rivalry issues first.
Sun Belt: Same for Appalachian State, No. 23 Louisiana-Lafayette.
These picks are based on FanDuel Sportsbook.
THURSDAY
No. No. 8 Mississippi (plus 11/2) at Mississippi State
The last time the Egg Bowl took place on Thanksgiving night, both coaches were fired within a month. OLE MISS 31-28
FRIDAY
No. No.
CFP is within the Bearcats grasp… EAST CAROLINA 27-24 UPSET SPECIAL.
Colorado (plus 23 1/2) at No. 16 Utah
The Utes won the four previous meetings by an average 23 points… UTAH42-14.
No. 17 Iowa (minus 1 1/2) at Nebraska
The Huskers have been beaten six times by the Hawkeyes, but they have lost the last three by a total of 12 points… NEBRASKA 23, 22.
Boise State (minus 21/2) at No. 22 San Diego State
Broncos won four straight to jump back into conference race… SAN DIEGO STATE, 20-17
North Carolina (plus 6 1/2), at No. North Carolina State
Tar Heels try to be spoilers and save a disappointing season… NORTH CAROLINA 35-28.
Missouri (plus 14 1/2), at No. 25 Arkansas
This is a rivalry? Since joining the SEC… ARKANSAS 35-24, the Tigers have won the last five and six of seven meetings.
SATURDAY
No. No.
Georgia won the Yellowjackets’ first season in Kirby Smart as coach by an average 33 points. GEORGIA 45-7
No. 2 Ohio State (minus 9 1/2), at No. 6 Michigan
Jim Harbaugh’s record as Michigan coach is 0-5 against the Buckeyes. Could this be the year that he finally breaks through? … OHIO STATE 38-31.
No. No.
Tide has lost three out of four visits to Jordan-Hare Stadium. However, the Tigers are on a three-game losing streak.
No. 5 Notre Dame (minus 19 1/2) at Stanford
Cardinal (3-8) Trying to Avoid the Worst Season Since 2006… NOTRE DAME35-13.
No. 10 Oklahoma (plus 4 1/2), at No. 7 Oklahoma State
The Sooners have outdone Bedlam by going 14-2 since Mike Gundy started coaching the Cowboys… OKLAHOMA 28 – 27
Texas Tech (plus 14 1/2), at No. 9 Baylor
Is the Bears likely to go back on the market for a new head coach? Dave Aranda is attracting interest from all over… BAYLOR 35-7.
Oregon State (plus 7 1/2), at No. 11 Oregon
Under Mario Cristobal, the Ducks are tied at 2-2 with the Beavers… OREGON 31-24.
Penn State (minus 11/2) at No. 12 Michigan State
The Nittany Lions are unable to run the ball, but may not have to against Spartans’ leaky secondary… PENNSTATE 27-24.
No. 13 BYU (minus 6 1/2), Southern California
The Trojans don’t seem to have much left to fight in this season’s lost season… BYU 42-31.
No. No.
If they don’t go to a bowl… TEXAS A&M 27,-17, it could be Ed Orgeron’s last game as Tigers Coach.
No. No.
Roadrunners trying not to be defeated… UTSA28-14.
No. 18 Wisconsin (minus 6 1/2) at Minnesota
With 130 meetings, this is the most-watched rivalry in college football.
No. No.
Ex-AAC rivals, which is strange… HOUSTON 42-14.
No. 20 Pittsburgh (minus 13 1/2 at Syracuse).
Orange has lost two consecutive games and is still just one win away from bowl eligibility… PITTSBURGH, 28-20
No. No.
Eagles now have an opportunity to be spoilers with QB Phil Jurkovec returning for BC.
Louisiana-Monroe (plus 21/2) at No. 23 Louisiana-Lafayette
The rivalry game was won by Ragin’ Cajuns by 50… LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE 42-17.
TWITTER REQUESTS
Clemson (minus 11 1/2), at South Carolina — @treys842
The Tigers have won six consecutive games in the Palmetto Bowl. Four of those were by blowouts… CLEMSON 28-14
Western Kentucky (plus 11/2) at Marshall–@philip_runyon
Hilltoppers QB Bailey Zappe can reach 5,000 yards passing with 50 TD passes in an average game… WESTERN KENTUCKY, 35-31
Rutgers plus 1 1/2 at Maryland — @EppingerKevin
Bowl eligible winner… RUTGERS 27 – 23
Florida State (plus 2 1/2), at Florida — @SteveWildzN
Another game in which the winner is eligible for bowl eligibility; this is a far cry from Bowden vs. Spurrier days… FLORIDA STATE 24-21.
Washington State (minus 11/2) at Washington — @bwolf4
If the Cougars are able to end a seven-game losing streak in the Apple Cup, they might be able to land Jake Dickert as interim coach… WASHINGTON STATE NOW 20-17
UMass (plus 6 1/2), at New Mexico State –@dacon1508
Two victories for the Aggies and Minutemen… NEW MEXICO STATE 24-20
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Last week: 21-4 consecutively; 13-12 against spread.
Season: 176-77 consecutive; 138-115 against spread.