Alabama Looks to End No. 1 Georgia’s Unbeaten Run in SEC Final
Georgia vs Alabama: SEC Game Sees Bulldogs Favored by 5.5
Looking to take the next step in their quest for a third straight national championship, the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs will face the No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC title game on Saturday (4 p.m. ET) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Georgia is now up to a 5.5-point favorite (-110) after opening at -4. It’s also -210 on the moneyline. The projected total, meanwhile, has remained relatively steady at 55.5 (-110 Over, -110 Under).
What can bettors expect? Read on as we break down the odds for Georgia vs Alabama: SEC Game.
Bulldogs vs Crimson Tide 
Date & Time:
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium; Atlanta
Streaming: CBS
Bettors Cashing in With Tide
Alabama has been one of the more profitable teams in college football for bettors, going 8-4 against the spread. That’s the highest cover rate (66.7%) among SEC schools. Despite that, skepticism remains about the Crimson Tide’s ability to keep pace with Georgia.
The Crimson Tide opened as 4-point underdogs. That line has since climbed as high as +6.5 before peeling back to +5.5. It’s an unfamiliar feeling for the Crimson Tide, with this being the first time this season they’ve been an underdog.
Leading up to the Iron Bowl, Alabama had covered the spread for four straight weeks. A 13.5-point favorite, the Crimson Tide needed a last-minute touchdown to beat rival Auburn 27-24. That was their 10th consecutive win outright.
Notably, Alabama has also been highly predictable in regard to the Over/Under. The Crimson Tide have gone Over the projected total in nine of their 12 NCAAF games, the third highest rate (81.8%) in the country behind LSU (91.7%) and Memphis (83.3%). Keep that in mind when analyzing the odds for Georgia vs Alabama: SEC Game.
Georgia’s Unblemished Run Continues
Georgia has been on the opposite end of the spectrum for bettors, going just 4-7-1 ATS. That includes a 2-4-1 mark at home. The Bulldogs have also been favored in every game this season, including six times by at least 25 points. This is the smallest spread since a 38-10 win over Tennessee, in which the Bulldogs closed as 8.5-point favorites.
While there’s been action on Alabama in recent days, the Bulldogs still should finish above the opening line of -4. After all, they’ve won an SEC-record 29 consecutive games. They’re 9-0 against ranked NCAAF teams during that stretch, with only two of those victories decided by fewer than 10 points. Their average margin of victory throughout the streak is more than 25.
If anyone can topple Georgia, it’s Alabama. Nick Saban has been overwhelmingly successful when coaching against his former assistants. But as the market indicates, a majority of bettors are banking on Georgia continuing its dominance.
To Play or Not to Play
As of Friday, Georgia was priced -550 to make the College Football Playoff and +200 to win its third consecutive national championship. Only Michigan (+190) has better NCAAF Championship odds. Whether the Bulldogs can cash in on those odds may largely depend on health.
Two of their top playmakers, tight end Brock Bowers and receiver Ladd McConkey, sat out last week’s 31-23 victory over rival Georgia Tech with ankle injuries.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said that Bowers, a finalist for the Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end, was closer to playing against Georgia Tech. He’s already missed three games on the NCAAF schedule, including two since undergoing surgery. Fortunately for the Bulldogs, there seems to be optimism about both players being available. Obviously, that can swing the odds closer to kickoff for Georgia vs Alabama: SEC Game.
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