Weekend Preview From Behind the Desk: 2024 NCAA Conference Championship Games

In this article, we will talk about all things upcoming this weekend and news that we feel is valuable to the bettor. You can follow along at @BetAmapola on Instagram and twitter so you can get a real time look at the action we are taking and where the money is at, along with any other juicy nuggets we can provide. Feel free to send us a DM on twitter or contact the Amapola Resort located in beautiful Jaco Beach, Costa Rica for more information.  Visit the site here

Iowa State vs Arizona State - B12 Championship

Up until the final weeks of the regular season, BYU was the runaway favorite to make the B12 Championship game. Iowa State was always hanging around the discussion, but what nobody saw coming, was the emergence of Kenny Dillingham and the Arizona State Sun Devils. The Sun Devils finished the regular season 10-2, ranked No. 16 in the playoff rankings, and finished the season on a five game winning streak, including a 28-23 win over BYU. The Iowa State Cyclones enter this matchup also 10-2, ranked No. 16 in the playoff rankings, and are 7-2 in conference play. Barring any chaos from the Mountain West, the winner of the B12 will likely receive an automatic bid, but not the bye in the first round.

Arizona State won this game 45-19.

Clemson vs SMU - ACC Championship                                                                                                    

The ACC has one of the crazier regular seasons. Very few, if any, predicted the steep downfall of preseason No. 10 FSU before the season. Miami looked like the runaway favorite to win the ACC, until SMU started making some noise midway through the season. This is an interesting matchup, both teams come into this matchup currently ranked in the playoffs, SMU is currently No. 9 while Clemson is currently No. 12. However, Clemson will likely fall in the rankings released on Tuesday due to their home loss to No. 15 South Carolina last Saturday. Both teams enter the ACC title game with zero wins over currently ranked opponents. If SMU wins, they'll receive and automatic bye to the second round. For Clemson, it all depends on what happens in the Mountain West and B12.

Georgia vs Texas - SEC Championship

The Bulldogs and the Longhorns join the Mountain West as being the only other rematch from the regular season. Earlier this year, Georgia went into Texas Memorial Stadium and won 30-15, earning their most impressive win of the season. Outside of that loss, Texas is currently ranked No. 3 in the playoff rankings and is sitting at 11-1 on the season. Georgia is currently ranked No. 7, went 10-2 in the regular season, and finished 6-2 in the SEC. Kirby Smart has had an up an down season, with their worst loss of the year falling to Ole Miss 28-10. Since, they have rattled off three straight wins including an impressive ranked win over Tennessee 31-17, and an eight overtime thriller against rival Georgia Tech (7-5). The winner of this matchup will receive a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

NFL Key Injuries:
The playoff picture is starting to take shape, and there are injuries across the league that could have a major impact on the rest of the regular season.
From a starting quarterback recovering from a vicious hit or a reeling team losing two running backs, the injury bug is hurting a handful of teams at the wrong time.
Here is the latest on some notable injured players:

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars

Lawrence has entered the NFL's concussion protocol after taking a vicious hit from Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair in the Jacksonville Jaguars' Week 13 loss on Sunday.
Lawrence was back on the field against the Texans after missing the Jags' previous two games with a sprained AC joint. He was pulled from the game after the hit from Al-Shaair, who was ejected for the play and handed a three-game suspension.
There is no timetable for Lawrence's return.

Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers

Christian McCaffrey and the San Francisco 49ers' season from hell continued in Week 13.
The star running back left the team's blowout loss to the Bills in snowy Buffalo with a PCL injury. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said that McCaffrey will not need surgery, but he was still placed on injured reserve, effectively ending his season unless the 5-7 49ers turn things around and set the stage for a potential playoff return.
Jordan Mason, RB, 49ers
The 49ers can't even catch a break with their backups.
In addition to McCaffrey, the team also placed running back Jordan Mason on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain. Mason is expected to miss four to six weeks.

Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles could be down a key pass catcher for the stretch run.
Tight end Dallas Goedert is considered week-to-week after suffering a knee injury in the team's impressive road win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, NFL Media's Tom Pelissero reported.
Pelissero also reports that Goedert is not expected to suit up against the Carolina Panthers in Week 14, and that the Eagles have not yet made a decision about placing him on injured reserve.

Taysom Hill, TE, Saints

Taysom Hill's season came to an abrupt end on Sunday when he suffered a torn ACL in the New Orleans Saints' loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
The 34-year-old had six rushing touchdowns on the season to go along with 39 carries, 278 rushing yards, 23 receptions and 187 receiving yards across eight games.

We also have UFC, Golf, and many other sports to look forward to this weekend. We are expecting a high volume weekend, best of luck to all.

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