College football picks: Conference games are the closest they have been in at least a half century

Conference football games have been fiercely competitive in recent weeks, with a trend of close matches reaching levels not seen in at least half a century. In the Bowl Subdivision alone, 30 one-score games were played in a single week, the most since 1973. This season, there have been 128 conference games decided by eight points or fewer, surpassing the number from the same point last year.

The average point difference in these contests is a low 13.9, the smallest mark since at least 1973, according to Sportradar. In the Power Four conferences, 69 one-score games have already been played, with the ACC leading at 51%, followed by the Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC at 50%, 39%, and 44% respectively. The article highlights several upcoming matchups, emphasizing the competitive nature of these contests.