Scott Van Pelt gives his winners for conference championship weekend

All I can say is thank goodness all those dire predictions of doom for Twitter didn’t come true. Everyone who got the tweet with Thanksgiving week winners can be thankful for that. We went 9-1; if the Apple Cup came through, the birdcage actually would have happened. Kinda glad it didn’t, because had I gone 10-0, I think I would have just walked off the stage like Randy Watson in “Coming to America.” As it is, we’re 17 games over .500 — another good season in progress here. But we remain humble and focused.

Season: 65-48-3

Pac-12 championship game

No. 11 Utah vs No. 4 USC (-2.5, 67)
Friday 8 p.m. ET, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

Van Pelt’s pick: No. 11 Utah (+2.5)

As for this championship week, we will begin on Friday in Vegas with Utah plus the points against USC in the Pac-12 title game. A lot had to go the Utes’ way to even be in the game, and Kyle Whittingham’s team gets a chance to spoil the Trojans’ playoff hopes. They gave ‘SC its only loss, and it is tough to beat a good team twice — but that’s just what they did last year with Oregon.

SVP: 8-6 all time when picking against Lincoln Riley

Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship

No. 10 Kansas State vs No. 3 TCU (-2.5, 62.0)
Saturday 12 p.m. ET on ABC, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Van Pelt’s pick: No. 10 Kansas State (+2.5)

On the Saturday slate, we will take another bite of the team from the Little Apple. We backed Kansas State when it visited Fort Worth … it was up 28-10, but TCU did what it has done all year and roared back to not only win but cover. We’re on the Cats in the Big 12 title game… EMAW and all that.

SVP: 1-5 this season when picking against TCU

Sun Belt championship

Coastal Carolina at Troy (-8.5, 48)
Saturday 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, Veterans Memorial Stadium, Troy, Alabama

Van Pelt’s pick: Troy (-8.5)

As America’s No. 1 Sun Belt tout, I feel I should take the title game out of general principle — which is not to say it’s a GPG game — I’m mostly just doing it out of a sense of obligation. We are laying the points with Troy. The Trojans have won nine in a row. Coastal limps in a bit after losing by 40 to JMU last week.

SVP: 13-2 when picking Sun Belt teams this season

American Athletic championship

No. 22 UCF at No. 18 Tulane (-4, 57)
Saturday 4 p.m. ET on ABC, Yulman Stadium, New Orleans

Van Pelt’s pick: No. 22 UCF (+4)

We have a rematch in New Orleans of a game UCF won earlier this year over Tulane, and I will back the road team plus the points in this one. Feels like a close four-quarter battle, and I like the candy in a game like that.

SVP: 32-12 all time when picking AAC conference games

SEC championship game

No. 14 LSU vs No. 1 Georgia (-17.5, 52.5)
Saturday 4 p.m. ET, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Van Pelt’s pick: Georgia (-17.5)

On the other hand, what’s the most points we’ve lain in this segment? I don’t know, but we are putting a bunch on the table in Atlanta. Who’s that coming down the track? Mean machine in red and black to roll into the playoff. (Editor’s note: SVP laid 33.5 points with No. 5 Oklahoma at home against West Virginia in 2019. 52-14… Winner.)

SVP: 5-1 all time when laying at least 17 points

Mountain West championship game

Fresno State at Boise State (-3, 53.5)
Saturday 4 p.m. ET, Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho

Van Pelt’s pick: Fresno State (+3)

Speaking of Bulldogs, Fresno lost by 20 to Boise earlier this year. It was their fourth loss in a row. They haven’t lost since. They are getting just 3 on that same field in the Mountain West title game? Oh. OK. We will take them.

SVP: 5-1 when picking Mountain West teams in past two seasons

Big Ten championship game

Purdue vs No. 2 Michigan (-17, 52)
Saturday 8 p.m., Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis

Van Pelt’s pick: Purdue (+17)

One last underdog to close this out. We implore our friends from West Lala to bang that big drum and keep it close with Michigan off the Maize and Blue’s statement win in The Shoe last weekend. I expect the Wolverines to win and make their second consecutive CFP appearance, but we’re hoping the Boilers can scheme up enough plays and chuck it around enough to hang around in Indy.

SVP: 6-2 all time when picking Purdue

And that’ll do it. Seven for the people before we turn our attention to the NFL and bowl season.