College football picks, schedule: Predictions against the spread, odds for

This weekend’s conference championship games are all that is stand between some of the top teams in the nation and either the College Football Playoff or New Year’s Six bowl games. The opportunities are limited across Friday and Saturday for teams to jockey for position, but the opportunities nevertheless exist across five specific league title games being played over the weekend.

The weekend off got off to an unexpected start with No. 11 Utah surging past No. 4 USC to capture its second straight Pac-12 crown and a Rose Bowl appearance — all while effectively hindering the Trojans’ College Football Playoff hopes. 

Should USC fall out of the top four, a door suddenly opens for No. 5 Ohio State to join the four-team field as it sits home after falling last week in The Game. That’s not to say the Trojans would necessarily be eliminated if defeated, but with two losses to the Utes, it would likely be tough for the CFP Selection Committee to put USC into the limited field. Should USC go down and Ohio State take its place, the Big Ten would become just the second conference to get two teams into the playoff in the same season (SEC).

Elsewhere, Saturday’s showdowns are mostly about seeding. CBS Sports bowls expert Jerry Palm contends that current No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Michigan and No. 3 TCU are all likely in the playoff, win or lose. The Wolverines have the easiest road to the top seed as a more than two-touchdown favorite over unranked Purdue. The Bulldogs have taken a firm hold on the first spot but must contend with No. 14 LSU, which seemed like a legitimate challenger before being upset by Texas A&M last week. And then there’s the Horned Frogs, which have the toughest test of the bunch as they battle No. 10 Kansas State, which it barely beat on the road earlier this season.

Be sure to stick with CBS Sports throughout the weekend for college football coverage from Friday’s first couple championship games through Selection Sunday. Let’s take a look at our expert picks for the best games during Championship Weekend.

Big 12: No. 3 TCU vs. No. 10 Kansas State

Featured Game | TCU Horned Frogs vs. Kansas State Wildcats

Noon | ABC, fuboTV (Try for free) — Kansas State outplayed TCU for most of its first matchup in Fort Worth, Texas, before quarterback injuries, but the Horned Frogs have improved mightily over the past month. TCU posted 62 points with ease despite missing key pieces against Iowa State, and it certainly has kept the earlier matchup against K-State at the front of its…