Atlanta, GA. takes center stage on Saturday in the Southeastern Conference and nationally as the game of the year takes place at 3 PM CT on CBS with the No.3 Alabama Crimson Tide squaring off with the No.1 Georgia Bulldogs. Bryce Young versus the Georgia defense. Stetson Bennett versus the Alabama defense, which he struggled against last season, but he’s improved markedly and the Crimson Tide defense has had issues at times though Will Anderson and Henry To’oTo’o have not. The Crimson Tide has had Georgia’s number and Kirby Smart, along with every other assistant, besides Jimbo Fisher, has not defeated the great one.

Other key conference championship matchups with several of these games with playoff implications. The Crimson Tide must win. If they do, both Alabama and Georgia will go to the Playoff. If Georgia wins in a close game, it could be precarious for the Tide, but there’s always the chance of chaos on Saturday.

Here’s a look at this weekend’s games.

Last Week, 18-8, Overall, 217-94, 70%

ATS, Last Week, 10-15, Overall, 160-148, 52%

SEC Championship

No.3 Alabama (11-1, 7-1) vs. No.1 Georgia (12-0, 8-0)

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, ATL.

3 PM CT

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jamie, “Coach, what’s the problem?” Maybe one of the dumbest, rudest questions she could have asked Coach Saban at halftime of the Auburn game.

Dawgs by 6 1/2

It’s very unusual for the Crimson Tide to be an underdog. It’s the first time in 92 games, and Coach Saban is 24-1 against his former assistants, including 3-0 against Kirby Smart. As much as I’d like to pick Alabama for my Alabama readers, I can’t do it. The offensive line might struggle mightily against the Georgia defensive front of Jordan Davis and company, and the secondary could have problems with the great Georgia tight end Brock Bowers and the Georgia receiving corps. George Pickens is back at wide receiver for the Dawgs, but not sure how effective he’ll be coming off his ACL tear from last season. He played last Saturday versus Tech and caught 1 pass for 5 yards. Bryce Young is spectacular, but he might be on the run a lot on Saturday. Smart might employ Auburn’s defensive game plan from last Saturday, which almost throttled the Tide’s hopes of having a shot at the Playoff. If Young has time, he can find Jameson Williams and John Metchie for explosive plays. B Rob is questionable with a lower body injury. He’s pulled something, but Saban won’t be any more specific than that. If it’s a groin, it’ll be very hard, and if it’s hamstring, that’ll be hard too. Trey Sanders is the No.1 running back if that’s the case and he did some good things against the Tigers last Saturday. Backup is uncertain, though the Tide may use 3rd string quarterback Jalen Milroe in that role. He’s quite a runner.

The Crimson Tide secondary played pretty well last Saturday. The run defense is still solid. Georgia’s 3 man backfield attack of Zamir “Zeus” White, James Cook, and Kenny McIntosh is effective, but they’ll be tested by the Tide defense. Will Anderson will have to play a big role in getting his team over the top. He’s had a Bednarik Award season for sure, given to the nation’s top defensive player, and has a shot at the Heisman, though Young, with a good game, could lock that up Saturday. But listen to these numbers, Anderson leads the nation in tackles for loss with 27 1/2 for -113 yards, and is second in the country in sacks with 13 1/2 for -79 yards. What a year. There’s a very good argument for this young stud to get the Heisman. It’ll be an interesting vote. It could go to a defensive player this season. Aiden Hutchinson for Michigan is having a huge year as well at defensive end, so he could be a factor. Anderson has the dominant numbers though. If I had a vote, I’d vote for Will.

But this is a tough matchup for the Crimson Tide. Georgia has just been dominant in all 3 phases of the game. I like the Dawgs in Atlanta. It may be tough for the Tide to make the playoff this year.

Georgia 31, Alabama 21

Big Ten Championship

No.2 Michigan (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten) vs. No. 13 Iowa (10-2, 7-2)

Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis

7 PM CT

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny

MIch by 11

I like the Wolverines, but I like it closer than projected. Michigan qualifies for the Playoff as the No.2 seed.

Michigan 24, Iowa 17

American Conference Championship

No. 21 Houston (11-1, 8-0 American) @ No.4 Cincinnati (12-0, 8-0)

Nippert Stadium, Cincy

3 PM CT

ABC

Tess, Gregory, Katie

Bearcats by 11 1/2

The Bearcats become the first group of 5 team to make the Playoff. at No.4.

Cincinnati 31, Houston 24

Big 12 Conference Championship

No.9 Baylor (10-2, 7-2, Big 12) vs. No.6 Oklahoma State (11-1, 8-1)

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX.

11 AM CT

ABC

Sean, Todd, Molly

Cowboys by 5 1/2

This should be a compelling game. The Cowboys defeated the Bears the first time they met at Stillwater, 24-14, but I like the Bears to make this a highly competitive game this time around. Give me the Cowboys to emerge victorious and make the playoff as the No.3 seed ahead of Cincy. Michigan at No.2, Georgia at No.1 and Cincy at No.4. I’m not buying this Notre Dame garbage once again. Their best victory is over Wisconsin and Wisconsin is not even in the top 25 and is 8-4, which is fine, and they’re solid, but if that’s the best you’ve got Notre Dame, I’m sorry, you don’t belong. Now their coach, Brian Kelly, is heading to LSU, which is hard to understand why LSU would hire him. His teams aren’t tough and he keeps getting hammered by the Crimson Tide in the BCS Championship Game and playoff games, so why would they hire him? Maybe they just ran out of choices. They could have done better. Jimbo, who the jury is still out on also, decided to stay at A&M, and I’m not sure about Lane. He may be the coach of Oklahoma by the end of this column, though in his tweets, he seems pretty committed to Ole Miss. They’re going to offer him a handsome contract, but Lane is kind of a vagabond, so it’ll be interesting to see how the next 5 or 6 days unfolds. It has been reported that Notre Dame may offer the job to 35 year old defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman. Luke Fickell would seem like the obvious candidate, so I want to see how this plays out today. Fickell will be paid pretty handsomely at Cincy, and he’s proven you can make the playoff there, if he wins Saturday, so he could want to stay longer. Will be interesting to monitor.

Baylor could be missing star quarterback Gerry Bohanon, who’s struggling with a hamstring injury, but he has practiced this week, so he could very well play.

OK. State 34, Baylor 31

Friday

PAC-12 Championship

No. 10 Oregon (10-2, 7-2) vs. No. 17 Utah (9-3, 8-1)

Allegiant Stadium, Vegas

7 PM CT

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Holly

Utah by 2 1/2

I like the more physical team. The Utes blasted the Ducks 38-7 in Salt Lake 2 weeks ago, and I just like their power and toughness here. Tavion Thomas has rushed for 978 yards and 18 TDs and TJ Pledger has added 651 yards and 5 TDs for the Utes. Oregon has an excellent running back of their own in Travis Dye, who’s rushed for 1,036 yards and 14 TDs. Quarterback Anthony Brown of Oregon has rushed for 642 yards and 9 TDs, and passed for 2,536 yards, and 15 TDs against only 4 ints. Utah quarterback Cameron Rising has passed for 2,109 yards, 17 TDs against 3 ints. He’s also rushed for 346 yards and 5 TDs. Give me the Utes in a very good game in that epic stadium.

Utah 31, Oregon 27

Saturday

ACC Championship

No. 15 Pitt (10-2, 7-1) vs. No.16 Wake Forest (10-2, 7-1)

Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte

7 PM CT

ABC

Mark, RG III, Quint

Panthers by 3

I’ll take Sam Hartman and the Demon Deacons in a shootout. Wake could make a New Year’s Six Bowl with a victory, though they’d need some help sitting at No.16.

Wake 42, Pitt 41

Sun Belt Championship

App State (10-2, 7-1) @ No.24 Louisiana (11-1, 8-0)

Cajun Field, Lafayette, LA.

2:30 PM CT

ESPN

Dave, Dusty, Lugues

App State by 3

Billy Napier has done a remarkable job at Louisiana, and has earned a job as the Florida head football coach. That’s a big step, but he’s a good coach. But coaching in this game may be tough for his team. They know he’s leaving and that has to take away some of the excitement of playing in this one. It’s hard on a team when their coach leaves. I’m sure some of them understand this is a tremendous opportunity for their him, but others resent him for leaving. So I’ll take the Mountaineers due to that fact.

App State 31, Louisiana 27

Mountain West Championship

Utah State (9-3, 6-2) @San Diego State (11-1, 7-1)

Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, CA.

2 PM CT

FOX

Joe Davis, Brock Huard, Bruce Feldman

SDSU by 6

I’m pretty bullish on this Aztecs team after they came back from a 14-0 deficit to defeat Boise State last Friday at Dignity Health, 27-16. It was impressive. Give me the Aztecs to finish off the season 12-1 and head to a solid bowl game.

San Diego State 27, Utah State 17