The SEC was the innovator in developing a cash cow called the Conference Championship game back in 1992. The Southeastern Conference knew there customer was a football starved fan and would relish the opportunity for one more game to decide the league’s title. Most years this has provided additional excitement by splitting the conference into two divisions, giving more schools an opportunity to compete in the confrontation. Alabama and Florida met in the first three games between these schools in this instant classic. In the first game, unbeaten Alabama came in ranked number two in the country and was a solid 10-point favorite over a Florida team that had lost three times, coached by Steve Spurrier, who had just started things rolling at his alma mater. With this being such a new venture, the SEC settled on Legion Field in Birmingham, the Crimson Tide’s home away from home. This guaranteed a sellout and the game was played there the first two years.Nobody knew how the players would react, since this was a new concept. Alabama had allowed only eight points a game with its stifling defense, but a cocksure Spurrier had his team well prepared with nothing to lose and took the opening kickoff for a touchdown. The Tide’s defense had trouble all game long with the Gators, allowing 347 yards, after averaging surrendering only a 183 yards per game. Alabama hung on to win 28-21 over Florida and that game left such a weak impression on oddsmakers and the wagering public, #1 Miami-Fl. was an 8.5-point favorite in the Sugar Bowl for the national championship. Bama had gotten the nerves out of the way in the SEC title game and gave an overwhelming performance in destroying the top ranked Hurricanes 34-13.
This spawned other conferences to follow suit with mixed success in some cases, however no debating the excitement and discussion these games cause. Bettors receive five additional possibilities to consider that have often had their share of surprises. Here’s a look at the history of each of the conference championships.
SEC
The SEC will be playing it 17th championship game and returns to its roots with No. 1 Alabama facing what many believe is the best team in the country today in Florida. In the previous sixteen years, four teams, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee or LSU have been one of the participants in this contest. The favorite has won 13 of the 16 games and has covered just seven times (7-8-1 ATS). For many college football fans this game would do just fine to settle the national championship in 2008. However, it is step one for the winner, moving to BCS title game and will likely be a favorite against whomever they play.
Past SEC Championship Game Results
Date - Favorite (Line, Total), Underdog: SU / ATS / O-U
12/1/07 - LSU (-7, 58) 21, TENNESSEE 14 - FAV / Push / UNDER
12/2/06 - FLORIDA (-3, 44.5) 38, ARKANSAS 28 - FAV / FAV / OVER
12/3/05 - GEORGIA 34, LSU (-2, 42) 14 - DOG / DOG / OVER
12/4/04 - AUBURN (-14.5, 47.5) 38, TENNESSEE 28 - FAV / DOG / OVER
12/6/03 - LSU (-3, 42) 34, GEORGIA 13 - FAV / FAV / OVER
12/7/02 - GEORGIA (-9, 47) 30, ARKANSAS 3 - FAV / FAV / UNDER
12/8/01 - LSU 31, TENNESSEE (-7, 54) 20 - DOG / DOG / UNDER
12/2/00 - FLORIDA (-10, 51.5) 28, AUBURN 6 - FAV / FAV / UNDER
12/4/99 - ALABAMA 34, FLORIDA (-7, 51) 7 - DOG / DOG / UNDER
12/5/98 - TENNESSEE (-15, 48) 24, MISSISSIPPI ST 14 - FAV / DOG / UNDER
12/6/97 - TENNESSEE (-7.5, 58.5) 30, AUBURN 29 - FAV / DOG / OVER
12/7/96 - FLORIDA (-14, 48.5) 45, ALABAMA 30 - FAV / FAV / OVER
12/2/95 - FLORIDA (-24, 56) 34, ARKANSAS 3 - FAV / FAV / UNDER
12/3/94 - FLORIDA (-7, 46.5) 24, ALABAMA 23 - FAV / DOG / OVER
12/4/93 - FLORIDA (-4.5, 43.5) 28, ALABAMA 13 - FAV / FAV / UNDER
12/5/92 - ALABAMA (-10, 37) 28, FLORIDA 21 - FAV / DOG / OVER
Big 12
The Big 12 joined the festivities in 1996 and exploded onto the scene with a memorable contest. Nebraska had its usual powerhouse and was huge 20.5-point favorites over Texas, who had lost four regular season games. Coach John Makovic emptied the playbook, utilizing trick plays and fourth down attempts and upset the heavily favored Cornhuskers 37-27. This gave the Big 12 affair instant credibility. Two years later, an unbeaten Kansas State squad cruised into the title game as 17.5-point favorites and was upset 36-33 by Texas A&M. Five seasons later, the Wildcats were able to pull the same trick on Oklahoma. The Sooners were unbeatable and two touchdown favorites over Bill Snyder’s K-State club. The Wildcats came out throwing deep and caught an overconfident Oklahoma team off-guard and buried Bob Stoops Sooners 35-7. Those represent the only three losses by the favored team in 12 tries. The underdog is 4-7-1 ATS in the history of the game. Since 2002, this contest has been a series of blowouts, with the average winning margin being 32.1, which includes Texas 70-3 shellacking of Colorado in 2005, the year they won the national championship. Seven of the 12 contests played have covered the spread by 10 or more points. The UNDER is on a streak of five in a row.
Past Big 12 Championship Game Results
Date - Favorite (Line, Total), Underdog: SU / ATS / O-U
12/1/07 – OKLAHOMA (-3, 64.5) 38, MISSOURI 17 - FAV /FAV / UNDER
12/2/06 - OKLAHOMA (-3.5, 44.5) 21, NEBRASKA 7 - FAV / FAV / UNDER
12/3/05 - TEXAS (-25, 60.5) 70, COLORADO 3 - FAV / FAV / OVER
12/4/04 - OKLAHOMA (-23.5, 54.5) 42, COLORADO 3 - FAV / FAV / UNDER
12/6/03 - KANSAS ST 35, OKLAHOMA (-14, 53) 7 - DOG / DOG / UNDER
12/7/02 - OKLAHOMA (-7, 51) 29, COLORADO 7 - FAV / FAV / UNDER
12/1/01 - COLORADO 39, TEXAS (-7, 54.5) 37 - DOG / DOG / OVER
12/2/00 - OKLAHOMA (-3, 53) 27, KANSAS ST 24 - FAV / Push / UNDER
12/4/99 - NEBRASKA (-8, 52.5) 22, TEXAS 6 - FAV / FAV / UNDER
12/5/98 - TEXAS A&M 36, KANSAS ST (-17.5, 46) 33 - DOG / DOG / OVER
12/6/97 - NEBRASKA (-19, 53) 54, TEXAS A&M 15 - FAV / FAV / OVER
12/7/96 - TEXAS 37, NEBRASKA (-20.5, 56) 27 - DOG / DOG / OVER
MAC
In 1997, the MAC joined in and has been the most entertaining of the conference championships. Eight of the 11 games played have been decided by eight points or less in highly competitive conflicts. Unbeaten Ball State adds some real excitement to this year’s encounter and is playing for the title for the first time matched against Buffalo, who is also making maiden voyage to this year’s event. Being the underdog is the better position in this match-up as they are 7-4 ATS, with the favorite 6-5 straight up. Following the same trail, the team with the poorer record heading into the game is 6-2-1 ATS.
Past MAC Championship Game Results
Date - Favorite (Line, Total), Underdog: SU / ATS / O-U
12/1/07 – C MICHIGAN (-3, 64) 35, MIAMI OHIO 10 - FAV / FAV / UNDER
11/30/06 - C MICHIGAN (-3, 46.5) 31, OHIO U 10 - FAV / FAV / UNDER
12/1/05 - AKRON 31, N ILLINOIS (-13, 53.5) 30 - DOG / DOG / OVER
12/2/04 - TOLEDO 35, MIAMI OHIO (-1.5, 64) 27 - DOG / DOG / UNDER
12/4/03 - MIAMI OHIO (-6.5, 57) 49, BOWLING GREEN 27 - FAV / FAV / OVER
12/7/02 - MARSHALL (-2.5, 62.5) 49, TOLEDO 45 - FAV / FAV / OVER
11/30/01 - TOLEDO 41, MARSHALL (-2.5, 63.5) 36 - DOG / DOG / OVER
12/2/00 - MARSHALL 18, W MICHIGAN (-6.5, 54.5) 14 - DOG / DOG / UNDER
12/3/99 - MARSHALL (-20, 56.5) 34, W MICHIGAN 30 - FAV / DOG / OVER
12/4/98 - MARSHALL (-12, 48) 23, TOLEDO 17 - FAV / DOG / UNDER
12/5/97 - TOLEDO (, ) 14, MARSHALL 34 - N/A / N/A / N/A
ACC
The ACC and Conference USA are the latest to engage in the fray in the last few years. The ACC has had severe attendance problems, not being able to bring many of the locals to the contests played in Jacksonville. They will change venues this year and try their luck in Tampa. The ACC has seen the favored teams lose outright two of three times, opening up more conjecture for this season. The matchup pits Boston College and Virginia Tech in a rematch of their 10/18 contest. This is the first ACC title game appearance for the Eagles. The Hokies are making their third trip in four years.
Past ACC Championship Game Results
Big 12
The Big 12 joined the festivities in 1996 and exploded onto the scene with a memorable contest. Nebraska had its usual powerhouse and was huge 20.5-point favorites over Texas, who had lost four regular season games. Coach John Makovic emptied the playbook, utilizing trick plays and fourth down attempts and upset the heavily favored Cornhuskers 37-27. This gave the Big 12 affair instant credibility. Two years later, an unbeaten Kansas State squad cruised into the title game as 17.5-point favorites and was upset 36-33 by Texas A&M. Five seasons later, the Wildcats were able to pull the same trick on Oklahoma. The Sooners were unbeatable and two touchdown favorites over Bill Snyder’s K-State club. The Wildcats came out throwing deep and caught an overconfident Oklahoma team off-guard and buried Bob Stoops Sooners 35-7. Those represent the only three losses by the favored team in 12 tries. The underdog is 4-7-1 ATS in the history of the game. Since 2002, this contest has been a series of blowouts, with the average winning margin being 32.1, which includes Texas 70-3 shellacking of Colorado in 2005, the year they won the national championship. Seven of the 12 contests played have covered the spread by 10 or more points. The UNDER is on a streak of five in a row.
Past Big 12 Championship Game Results
Date - Favorite (Line, Total), Underdog: SU / ATS / O-U
12/1/07 – OKLAHOMA (-3, 64.5) 38, MISSOURI 17 - FAV /FAV / UNDER
12/2/06 - OKLAHOMA (-3.5, 44.5) 21, NEBRASKA 7 - FAV / FAV / UNDER
12/3/05 - TEXAS (-25, 60.5) 70, COLORADO 3 - FAV / FAV / OVER
12/4/04 - OKLAHOMA (-23.5, 54.5) 42, COLORADO 3 - FAV / FAV / UNDER
12/6/03 - KANSAS ST 35, OKLAHOMA (-14, 53) 7 - DOG / DOG / UNDER
12/7/02 - OKLAHOMA (-7, 51) 29, COLORADO 7 - FAV / FAV / UNDER
12/1/01 - COLORADO 39, TEXAS (-7, 54.5) 37 - DOG / DOG / OVER
12/2/00 - OKLAHOMA (-3, 53) 27, KANSAS ST 24 - FAV / Push / UNDER
12/4/99 - NEBRASKA (-8, 52.5) 22, TEXAS 6 - FAV / FAV / UNDER
12/5/98 - TEXAS A&M 36, KANSAS ST (-17.5, 46) 33 - DOG / DOG / OVER
12/6/97 - NEBRASKA (-19, 53) 54, TEXAS A&M 15 - FAV / FAV / OVER
12/7/96 - TEXAS 37, NEBRASKA (-20.5, 56) 27 - DOG / DOG / OVER
MAC
In 1997, the MAC joined in and has been the most entertaining of the conference championships. Eight of the 11 games played have been decided by eight points or less in highly competitive conflicts. Unbeaten Ball State adds some real excitement to this year’s encounter and is playing for the title for the first time matched against Buffalo, who is also making maiden voyage to this year’s event. Being the underdog is the better position in this match-up as they are 7-4 ATS, with the favorite 6-5 straight up. Following the same trail, the team with the poorer record heading into the game is 6-2-1 ATS.
Past MAC Championship Game Results
Date - Favorite (Line, Total), Underdog: SU / ATS / O-U
12/1/07 – C MICHIGAN (-3, 64) 35, MIAMI OHIO 10 - FAV / FAV / UNDER
11/30/06 - C MICHIGAN (-3, 46.5) 31, OHIO U 10 - FAV / FAV / UNDER
12/1/05 - AKRON 31, N ILLINOIS (-13, 53.5) 30 - DOG / DOG / OVER
12/2/04 - TOLEDO 35, MIAMI OHIO (-1.5, 64) 27 - DOG / DOG / UNDER
12/4/03 - MIAMI OHIO (-6.5, 57) 49, BOWLING GREEN 27 - FAV / FAV / OVER
12/7/02 - MARSHALL (-2.5, 62.5) 49, TOLEDO 45 - FAV / FAV / OVER
11/30/01 - TOLEDO 41, MARSHALL (-2.5, 63.5) 36 - DOG / DOG / OVER
12/2/00 - MARSHALL 18, W MICHIGAN (-6.5, 54.5) 14 - DOG / DOG / UNDER
12/3/99 - MARSHALL (-20, 56.5) 34, W MICHIGAN 30 - FAV / DOG / OVER
12/4/98 - MARSHALL (-12, 48) 23, TOLEDO 17 - FAV / DOG / UNDER
12/5/97 - TOLEDO (, ) 14, MARSHALL 34 - N/A / N/A / N/A
ACC
The ACC and Conference USA are the latest to engage in the fray in the last few years. The ACC has had severe attendance problems, not being able to bring many of the locals to the contests played in Jacksonville. They will change venues this year and try their luck in Tampa. The ACC has seen the favored teams lose outright two of three times, opening up more conjecture for this season. The matchup pits Boston College and Virginia Tech in a rematch of their 10/18 contest. This is the first ACC title game appearance for the Eagles. The Hokies are making their third trip in four years.
Past ACC Championship Game Results
Date - Favorite (Line, Total), Underdog: SU / ATS / O-U
12/1/07 – VIRGINIA TECH (-4, 48) 30, BOSTON COLLEGE 16 - FAV / FAV / UNDER
12/2/06 - WAKE FOREST 9, GEORGIA TECH (-1, 40) 6 - DOG / DOG / UNDER
12/3/05 - FLORIDA ST 27, VIRGINIA TECH (-14.5, 45) 22 - DOG / DOG / OVER
Conference USA
Conference USA does not have the football tradition to play such a game at a neutral site and instead has one of the teams participating as the host. The home team has won and covered two-thirds of the contests. Last year the oddsmaker posted a 73-point total, hindering this contest from going Over for the first time in this defensively challenged conference. In looking at the history of all games played on the home field of one team, the host is 7-2, covering the spread on five occasions. The Over has been the play in six of the nine affairs.
Past Conference USA Championship Game Results
12/1/07 – VIRGINIA TECH (-4, 48) 30, BOSTON COLLEGE 16 - FAV / FAV / UNDER
12/2/06 - WAKE FOREST 9, GEORGIA TECH (-1, 40) 6 - DOG / DOG / UNDER
12/3/05 - FLORIDA ST 27, VIRGINIA TECH (-14.5, 45) 22 - DOG / DOG / OVER
Conference USA
Conference USA does not have the football tradition to play such a game at a neutral site and instead has one of the teams participating as the host. The home team has won and covered two-thirds of the contests. Last year the oddsmaker posted a 73-point total, hindering this contest from going Over for the first time in this defensively challenged conference. In looking at the history of all games played on the home field of one team, the host is 7-2, covering the spread on five occasions. The Over has been the play in six of the nine affairs.
Past Conference USA Championship Game Results
Date - Favorite (Line, Total), Underdog: SU / ATS / O-U
12/1/07 - CENTRAL FLORIDA (-7.5, 73) 44, TULSA 25 - FAV / FAV / UNDER
12/1/06 - HOUSTON (-5.5, 53.5) 34, SOUTHERN MISS 20 - FAV / FAV / OVER
2/3/05 - TULSA (-2.5, 57) 44, C FLORIDA 27 - FAV / FAV / OVER
12/1/07 - CENTRAL FLORIDA (-7.5, 73) 44, TULSA 25 - FAV / FAV / UNDER
12/1/06 - HOUSTON (-5.5, 53.5) 34, SOUTHERN MISS 20 - FAV / FAV / OVER
2/3/05 - TULSA (-2.5, 57) 44, C FLORIDA 27 - FAV / FAV / OVER
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