Scully's college football conference championship picks

Conference championship week is upon us, and the highly anticipated matchup between Georgia and Alabama in the SEC Championship Game highlights 10 games.

The SEC championship will be one of our three picks this week. Let’s get to the selections!

Oregon vs. Utah

Oregon was riding high late in the season, after it won five straight and rose to the top four in the College Football Playoff rankings, and the Ducks started to believe the press clippings.

Utah brought them back to earth in a humbling setback two weeks ago, dominating the line of scrimmage and special teams, as the Utes jumped out to a 28-0 halftime advantage at home. But Oregon will earn a measure of revenge on a neutral site in the Pac-12 Championship Game.

The Ducks have the firepower to turn the tables. They got the offense back on track last week, compiling 231 rushing yards in a comfortable win over Oregon State, and Anthony Brown looked sharp, completing 23 of 28 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns.

Utah’s offense remains formidable, but Oregon has the defensive playmakers, including probable All-American end Kayvon Thibodeaux, to wreak havoc after the recent embarrassment.

Oregon has won and covered all three games as an underdog this season. Utah, which has now won five straight, won’t bring the same emotion as last time, and we’ll grab the points with Oregon.

NCAAF pick: Oregon +3

Georgia vs. Alabama

Alabama recorded only 71 rushing yards against Auburn and was held under 100 yards for the third time this season. Auburn exposed Alabama’s biggest weakness, its offensive line, with blitz-heavy packages.

Georgia’s top-ranked defense will dominate the line of scrimmage in the SEC Championship Game.

Alabama couldn’t get anything going until the final two drives of regulation last week, finishing with 17 plays in which the Crimson Tide gained no yards, and Brian Robinson Jr. left in the third quarter with a lower-body muscle issue.

Alabama lacks depth at running back, and cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis is also banged-up.

Defensive woes dogged them late in the season. Alabama surrendered 468 yards and 21 first downs to Arkansas, prevailing by a 42-35 margin before escaping Auburn, and high-scoring Georgia is more than capable of keeping the Tide’s defense on the field for long stretches.

Georgia’s defense will make a statement against a less-than-stellar Alabama team, capping a perfect regular-season campaign with a resounding double-digit victory!

NCAAF pick: Georgia -6.5

Baylor vs. Oklahoma State

Gerry Bohanon may give it a go with a bad hamstring, but Baylor won’t enter the Big 12 Championship Game in top form.

Oklahoma State will take advantage.

Baylor may have peaked when beating Oklahoma in mid-November, as it struggled to defeat Kansas State and Texas Tech the last two weeks.

Bohanon was injured early against Kansas State and missed Baylor’s narrow win over Texas Tech last week. The quarterback won’t be at full strength if he returns Saturday.

Oklahoma State made things difficult for itself with a string of turnovers against Oklahoma last week, but the Sooners buckled down when it counted, holding Oklahoma’s high-powered offense scoreless in the second half, as OSU rallied to win.

The Sooners own the top-ranked run defense in the Big 12, and we like Spencer Sanders’ progress as a passer this season. He provides excellent balance to top running back Jaylen Warren.

The Cowboys will enhance their profile with a convincing win over Baylor.

NCAAF pick: Oklahoma State -5