SEC Championship Betting Preview: Alabama In Unfamiliar Territory

Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) celebrates with Alabama Crimson Tide tight end Cameron Latu (81) after scoring a touchdown against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second half at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Image Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

This week marks the first time in 92 games that Alabama will take the field as an underdog, as the Crimson Tide are a 6.5-point pup versus No. 1 Georgia in the SEC championship. The last time Nick Saban’s squad was getting points? Oct. 3, 2015, against … yep, Georgia. Alabama was a 1.5-point road underdog in that contest, but the Tide went on to defeat the Bulldogs 38-10. 

It’s difficult to envision a similar scenario playing out Saturday in Atlanta, as Georgia hasn’t even given up 38 points in its last five games combined. So what can we expect in this battle of top four teams? Should you take the points with Alabama, or will the Bulldogs continue to roll (pardon the pun) without breaking stride? We break it all down while looking at the current odds, action, trends, and sportsbook data in this SEC Championship Betting Preview. 

Game Info

  • Date: Saturday, December 4
  • Time: 4 p.m. ET
  • Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia (neutral site)
  • TV: CBS
  • Weather: Dome

Best Odds

Sportsbook Spread Total
FanDuel Georgia -6.5 (-115) 48.5
DraftKings Georgia -6.5 (-115) 49.5
BetMGM Georgia -6.5 (-110) 49.5
Caesars Georgia -6.5 (-110) 49.5
FoxBET Georgia -6.5 (-118) 49

Odds updated as of 2:40 pm ET Dec. 3.

Betting Action Report: Money On The Dawgs

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett gestures for a first down during a game
Image Credit: Joshua Jones—USA TODAY Sports

UPDATE 3:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: The SEC championship look-ahead line at DraftKings was Georgia -4. When the matchup reopened Sunday morning, the Bulldogs were 6.5-point favorites. Georgia then bounced between -6.5 and -6 a few times and is currently -6.5 (-115). Bettors definitely like the Dawgs at less than a touchdown, with 78% of tickets and 88% money on Georgia. The total moved from 50.5 to 51, then backed up to 49.5, with the Over drawing 52% of bets and 63% of money.

Editor’s Note: Check out Patrick Everson’s College Football Week 14 Action Report with betting insights on Iowa-Michigan, Baylor-Oklahoma State, and more.

BetPrep Betting Trends

Georgia Key Trends

  • The Dawgs are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 neutral site games and are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 neutral site games as a favorite.
  • Georgia is 5-2 ATS in its last seven conference games.
  • The Under is 6-2 in UGA’s last eight games.

Alabama Key Trends

  • The Crimson Tide have covered in four of their last five as an underdog.
  • Alabama is 11-3 ATS in its last 14 games following an ATS loss.
  • The Under is 4-1-1 in the Tide’s last six neutral site games.

Statistical Trends

If Alabama is going to avoid its second loss of the season, the Crimson Tide will need to do something that no opponent has done against Georgia: Figure out the Dawgs’ defense. 

Georgia enters Saturday’s SEC championship allowing just 6.9 points per contest and hasn’t allowed more than 17 points in a game all year. The Bulldogs are the first team to enter a conference championship game allowing less than seven points per game; the last FBS team to finish the regular season holding opponents to less than a touchdown per game was Oklahoma in 1986.

Conversely, Bama has scored at least 20 points in each of its past 38 games, the second-longest active streak in FBS. The last time the Tide were held under 20 points was against Clemson in the 2018 national championship game.

Final Thoughts

Here’s what Props.com’s Matt Perrault had to say about this game on the Props City Podcast:

“A part of me says to bet this [live] in-game. At first blush, this is a Georgia rout. … Man, that Alabama offensive line is going to have a real tough time against Georgia. That’s the whole game to me. Can they keep Bryce Young upright?”

Banking on Georgia? You can find the Bulldogs -6.5 (-110) at numerous sites, including BetMGM, Caesars, and PointsBet. 

Rolling with the Tide? The best spread/price combination comes in the form of Alabama +6.5 (+100) at FoxBet. 

Everyone loves the Bulldogs. At BetMGM, Georgia -6.5 has the most tickets and handle of any college football game this weekend.