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By Max Meyer

Whether it’s a conference championship or eyeing an even bigger prize, many teams have the chance to be rewarded for strong regular season campaigns this week.

There are 10 conference championships on this upcoming slate, as well as one rescheduled Pac-12 clash between USC and California that was originally postponed due to COVID-19.

Even with the lighter schedule, there has not been a shortage of odds shifts at Caesars Sportsbook in these crucial games. Six of the spreads have moved by at least a point, highlighted by one contest where the favorite has flipped and the line has swung by 4 points. Additionally, four totals have been altered by over a point.

UTSA’s potential perfect regular season was spoiled in the finale after North Texas thrashed them in a 45-23 defeat. The Roadrunners still opened as the 2.5-point favorites in the C-USA Championship Game over Western Kentucky, who also finished with a 7-1 conference record. Yet, the Hilltoppers now have the minus sign next to their name, as they’re -1.5 at Caesars Sportsbook.

“UTSA won on the road at Western Kentucky earlier this season, but the last few games they’ve been trending down,” said Adam Pullen, Assistant Director of Trading at Caesars Sportsbook. “Western Kentucky just completely pummeled Marshall in the second half, so it seems like the fortunes for both teams are going in opposite directions. And some people think it’s difficult to beat a team twice in the same season. I’m not surprised by this move, I had Western Kentucky as a small favorite.”

The only conference championship spread that has changed by multiple points is out in the Mountain West. San Diego State is looking to win its first conference crown since taking it in back-to-back years in 2015 and 2016. Surprising Utah State has never done so before, and is participating in its first Mountain West Championship Game since 2013.

The Aztecs opened as 3.5-point chalk, however this spread has since zoomed up to San Diego State -6. The only bigger favorites in their respective conference championship games are Cincinnati (-10.5 vs. Houston), Michigan (-10.5 vs. Iowa) and Georgia (-6.5 vs. Alabama).

Speaking of Alabama vs. Georgia, the Bulldogs were listed at -6 on Sunday night after the Crimson Tide escaped Auburn with a quadruple-overtime triumph. The line has already ticked upward to Georgia -6.5, though is it done climbing?

“I don’t think this will get to 7, but Alabama’s been fighting tooth and nail to get those victories lately,” Pullen said. “Based on results this season, if it was any other team, I wouldn’t be surprised if this got to 7. Just because it says Alabama there, though, everyone can’t believe that they’re getting this many points. I think Alabama moneyline will be a very popular bet given that they haven’t been in this position in a long time.”  

For totals, there have been two that have shifted by multiple points, and both of them have decreased by 2.5. Houston vs. Cincinnati has gone from 56 to 53.5, while Baylor vs. Oklahoma State has dropped to 46.5 from 49.

“It figures to be a low-scoring game with two good defenses,” Pullen said. “But last week’s Oklahoma-Oklahoma State was a high-scoring game, and Baylor gave up some big plays to Texas Tech. It seems a tad low to me, but Oklahoma State’s defense has been so great up until last week. I’d assume some over money is going to come in, the public usually likes to go over for any big game.”

Check out the biggest spread and total shifts at Caesars Sportsbook for this week’s college football games below.