College football predictions: “Doubleheader” is the theme for several conference title matchups.

No football coach would express enthusiasm about the challenge of defeating the same opponent twice in one season.

This situation will be faced by four teams competing in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conference championships, while at the FCS level, the Southwestern Athletic Conference is also set for a rematch.

The FBS games featuring rematches include Western Kentucky at Jacksonville State in the Sun Belt, UNLV at Boise State in the Mountain West, Ohio versus Miami (Ohio) in Detroit for the Mid-American Conference, and Georgia facing Texas in Atlanta for the Southeastern Conference.

Teams such as Western Kentucky, Boise State, Miami, and Georgia are all seeking to complete a season sweep over their rivals.

Since the year 2000, there have been 78 instances of same-season rematches at the FBS level, with 43 resulting in sweeps and 35 ending in splits, as reported by Sportradar.

The SEC matchup between Georgia and Texas is particularly anticipated. Georgia, ranked fifth in the AP Top 25, previously defeated No. 1 Texas 30-15 in their meeting on October 19 in Austin. Both sides have attempted to downplay the rematch narrative in the lead-up to this game.

“I believe it’s going to be a difficult challenge, but we’re certainly ready for it,” stated Georgia safety Dan Jackson.

In contrast, Texas running back Quintrevion Wisner noted that no two games are identical and expressed eagerness for the upcoming contest.

“Teams evolve and adapt,” he remarked. “You can’t dwell on the last game, regardless of the outcome.”

As for the matchups, here are some predictions for the FBS games, taking into account the current AP Top 25 rankings:
The first rematch features Western Kentucky (plus 4) at Jacksonville State for the Conference USA title. The teams just clashed a week earlier, with Western Kentucky securing a close 19-17 victory at home, ending Jacksonville State’s impressive eight-game winning streak. This is a milestone for the Gamecocks, marking their entrance into the championship game in their second season as an FBS competitor.

Prediction: Jacksonville State 27, Western Kentucky 24.
Next is No. 19 UNLV (plus 4) visiting No. 10 Boise State in the Mountain West title game. The victor is almost guaranteed to secure the Group of Five’s bid for the College Football Playoff. The Rebels, having achieved 10 victories for the first time in 40 years, will seek to end their 0-7 streak against Boise State, having narrowly lost 29-24 in Las Vegas on October 25.

Prediction: Boise State 29, UNLV 26.
In the American Athletic Conference, Tulane will face No. 24 Army (plus 5 1/2). Army quarterback Bryson Daily is producing an impressive 135 rushing yards per game, leading the conference, while Tulane struggled defensively last week, allowing 236 rushing yards and 11 runs of over 10 yards.

Prediction: Army 31, Tulane 24.
The Big 12 Championship features No. 16 Iowa State taking on No. 12 Arizona State (minus 2 1/2) in Arlington, Texas. Both teams were unexpected arrivals at this stage, particularly Arizona State, who were predicted to finish last in their conference. A closely contested game may hinge on a major play, which could favor Arizona State’s explosive playing style.

Prediction: Arizona State 30, Iowa State 27.
In a Mid-American showdown, Ohio faces Miami (Ohio) (minus 2 1/2) in Detroit. The two have split their recent matchups, with Miami’s 30-20 victory on October 19 contributing to their ongoing seven-game winning streak after a rocky start to the season. Miami’s quarterback Brett Gabbert has thrown 16 touchdowns during this successful run.

Prediction: Miami (Ohio) 28, Ohio 21.
The SEC Championship sees No. 5 Georgia squaring off against No. 2 Texas (minus 2 1/2). The winner will earn an automatic bid and a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff, while the losing team should still secure an at-large berth. Texas aims for a stronger showing after their earlier defeat to Georgia, where they struggled from early turnovers.

Prediction: Texas 33, Georgia 27.
In the Sun Belt, Marshall (plus 5 1/2) visits Louisiana-Lafayette. The Ragin’ Cajuns quarterback Ben Woodridge is leading the conference’s passing metrics, while Marshall’s Braylon Braxton has proven his versatility by leading his team back to victory last week from a 17-point deficit.

Prediction: Louisiana-Lafayette 38, Marshall 31.
A highly anticipated matchup in the Big Ten pits No. 3 Penn State against No. 1 Oregon (minus 3 1/2) in Indianapolis. This encounter will be the first since the 1995 Rose Bowl, with a lot at stake for both teams regarding the automatic College Football Playoff bid and first-round bye. Expect a fiercely competitive game.

Prediction: Oregon 30, Penn State 21.
Finally, No. 18 Clemson faces No. 8 SMU (minus 2 1/2) in the ACC Championship at Charlotte, North Carolina. The Tigers, despite having three losses, enter the matchup without the burden of expectations after clinching their place due to Syracuse’s win over Miami. SMU, having achieved a perfect conference record, aims for a victory to secure their playoff fate.

Prediction: SMU 29, Clemson 26.
In the SWAC Championship, Southern (8-4) will challenge Jackson State (10-2). Jackson State previously defeated Southern 33-15 in their regular-season encounter and boasts an impressive offensive performance this season. Southern’s standout, Ckelby Givens, leads the FCS with 26.5 tackles for loss.
Prediction: Jackson State 35, Southern 21.
Reflecting on last week’s predictions shows a successful straight-up record of 19-4 and against the spread a record of 13-10. Over the entire season, the straight-up tally stands at 211-57, with the against-the-spread record at 135-132.

Stay updated on poll alerts and the AP Top 25 throughout the season.