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2015 NFL Draft Guide To College Conference Championship Games

NFL Draft Guide To Conference Championship Games

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Seven of the 10 FBS conferences will be decided by championship games this week. Evaluators will be keeping an eye on prospects to see how they perform with titles and playoff berths on the line. Here are the players and matchups you should be watching in each conference championship game.

ACC: Florida State vs. Georgia Tech

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ACC: Florida State vs. Georgia Tech

ACC Championship
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While Jameis Winston receives the media attention, the Florida State defense is attracting scouts. There's talent on all three levels with Eddie Goldman and Mario Edwards, Jr. on the line, Terrance Smith on the second level and P.J. Williams and Ronald Darby in the secondary. They'll face a new challenge this week: defending the option. The top Georgia Tech prospects are safeties Jamal Golden and Isaiah Johnson. Both have late-round grades.

Big Ten: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin

Big Ten Championship
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Big Ten: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin

Big Ten Championship
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The Big Ten will be won in the trenches when Wisconsin has the ball. The Wisconsin offensive line may not be as loaded with NFL prospects as it has been in recent years, but the group is solid. Right tackle Rob Havenstein is the most likely to be drafted in 2015. The group will be challenged by the Buckeyes' defensive line. Run-stuffing tackles Michael Bennett and Adolphus Washington will try to contain Badgers' star RB Melvin Gordon.

Conference USA: Marshall vs. Louisiana Tech

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Conference USA: Marshall vs. Louisiana Tech

Conference USA Championship
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When Louisiana Tech has the ball, RB Kenneth Dixon is the player to watch. He finished the regular season with back-to-back 100 yard games and has scored in every game this season. Marshall will focus on the passing game. QB Rakeem Cato will look to extend his FBS-record of 44 straight games with a touchdown pass. Cato and WR Tommy Shuler are potential late-round picks, but Marshall's best prospect is DE James Rouse.

MAC: Northern Illinois vs. Bowling Green

MAC Championship
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MAC: Northern Illinois vs. Bowling Green

MAC Championship
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The 2015 draft won't feature many players from the MAC. The best prospect on either side is Northern Illinois FS Dechane Durante. Durante is a physical player who is likely a Round 6 or 7 pick. Bowling Green is led by RB Travis Greene. Injuries have slowed him this year, but he's an intriguing prospect. He went from rarely used WR as a freshman to 1,500-yard RB as a sophomore. A disappointing 2014 season makes returning to school his best option.

Mountain West: Boise State vs. Fresno State

Mountain West Championship
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Mountain West: Boise State vs. Fresno State

Mountain West Championship
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After an injury to WR Matt Miller, Boise State is left with one projected draft pick. That would be RB Jay Ajayi, who after a slow start has run for at least 100 yards and two touchdowns in his last seven games. At No. 49, Fresno State safety Derron Smith is the highest-rated player on my board in this game. Smith and DT Tyeler Davison will need to slow Ajayi for the Bulldogs to have a chance. Josh Harper is the go-to WR for Fresno State.

Pac-12: Oregon vs. Arizona

Pac 12 Championship
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Pac-12: Oregon vs. Arizona

Pac 12 Championship
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Oregon has several prospects looking to end their Pac-12 careers with a title. QB Marcus Mariota is the only first-round lock. CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and DE Arik Armstead, both of whom failed to make an impact in the Oct. 2 loss to Arizona, lead the defense and are both Round 2 talents. Arizona WR Austin Hill is the Wildcats' top prospect while RB Terris Jones-Grigsby will look to repeat his 210-yard performance against Oregon two months ago.

SEC: Alabama vs. Missouri

SEC Championship
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SEC: Alabama vs. Missouri

SEC Championship
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Similar to the Big Ten game, this one will be won on the line. If Missouri defensive ends Shane Ray and Markus Golden can get to Alabama QB Blake Sims before Sims has a chance to throw to star WR Amari Cooper, Missouri has a chance. Ray and Golden are the best pass-rushing duo in the nation and will force Lane Kiffin to call screens and quick throws. On defense, Alabama safety Landon Collins will be spying Missouri QB Maty Mauk all game.

Shawn Spencer is an NFL Draft writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Spencer_NFL, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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