Georgia and Texas Could Fight It Out for SEC Supremacy
After Falling Short in 2023, Georgia Leads the Way in the 2024 SEC Championship Odds
Ewers and Texas Looks To Make an Immediate Impact in the SEC
Somehow, the SEC might have gotten even better in the offseason with the additions of Oklahoma and Texas, as nine of the 19 teams with the shortest odds of winning the College Football Playoffs come from the SEC. Keep that in mind when looking at the 2024 SEC championship odds.
It won’t take long to see some compelling matchups involving SEC teams. In Week 1, Georgia is currently a 13-point favorite versus Clemson according to the college football betting odds, Texas A&M is listed as a 1.5-point favorite against Notre Dame, Miami and Florida will be meeting for just the second time in the last 11 seasons, and LSU faces USC.
Georgia leads the way among SEC schools at +320 in the odds of winning the national championship, followed by Texas at +700. Alabama (+1200), Ole Miss (+1500), LSU (+1600), Tennessee (+3500), and Texas A&M (+3500) are other teams to beat when it comes to the college football playoffs 2024 contenders.
Eleven of the top 13 transfers are either leaving or joining SEC programs led by new Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor, Ole Miss defensive lineman Walter Nolen, and receiver Isaiah Bond, who went from Alabama to Texas.
Bulldogs In a Familiar Spot
Even with tight end Brock Bowers and offensive lineman Amarius Mims being selected in the first round and receiver Ladd McConkey and defensive back Kamari Lassiter going in the top half of the second round of the NFL Draft, Georgia is the College Football Playoff front-runner and also setting the pace in the 2024 SEC championship odds.
Led by quarterback and Heisman Trophy No. 2 favorite Carson Beck, Georgia is priced at +200 to win the SEC.
Spoke with my guy Carson Beck about how he plans to take his game to the next level in his second season as the dawgs starter as well as how he handles the hype that is around him!! @GeorgiaFootball pic.twitter.com/eV0u2sHUI8
— DjShockley (@DjShockley3) July 17, 2024
Georgia’s bid to win three consecutive national titles ended when the Bulldogs failed to receive one of the four spots in the College Football Playoff field after falling to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.
Georgia is at -110 to go over 10½ regular-season wins and -120 to finish with 10 wins or less.
Defensive end Mykel Williams is showing up on 2025 NFL mock drafts as a potential top-five pick.
Beck has the shortest odds at +300 to be the first player chosen in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Texas Looks To Make a Strong First Impression
The only SEC team that returns its head coach and starting quarterback from a squad that took part in the College Football Playoffs is Texas.
A quick look at the NCAAF predictions shows that the Longhorns trail only Georgia and Ohio State in the odds of winning the national title with quarterback Quinn Ewers is third at +1000 in the odds of winning the Heisman Trophy even though the highly touted Arch Manning is waiting in the wings.
Texas is priced at +250 to win the SEC title in its debut season in the best conference in college football.
According to the 247sports.com database, Texas is fifth in the ranking of the best class of transfers. However, three of the teams ahead of them are from the SEC.
Is There Life As Saban in Tuscaloosa?
Times are changing with legendary coach Nick Saban retiring and that resulted in an exodus of players transferring out of Alabama. It also resulted in the odds trending in the wrong direction for the Crimson Tide.
Four of the top 20 outgoing transfers left Alabama, with defensive back Caleb Downs and quarterback Julian Sayin both landing at Ohio State, receiver Isaiah Bond going to Texas, and cornerback Dezz Ricks transferring to Texas A&M.
Kalen DeBoer, fresh off leading Washington to the national title game, takes over at Alabama and he does have plenty of talent to work with.
The Crimson Tide brings back quarterback Jalen Milroe, the highest finisher in the 2023 Heisman Trophy voting among returning NCAAF players.
‘It’s time to give everybody flowers who’s a part of our Alabama 2024 football team…it’s been a difficult offseason’ 🏈🐘
Alabama QB Jalen Milroe opens up about the wave of change in recent months for the Crimson Tide #RollTide pic.twitter.com/sFemuEFdxS
— Alabama Crimson Tide | AL.com (@aldotcomTide) July 17, 2024
Alabama is priced at -110 to be part of the College Football Playoff field. Find top deals for college football bowl games at BetMGM.
Ole Miss Among Four Teams Flying Under the Radar
When looking at the 2024 SEC championship odds, Ole Miss (+650 to win the SEC), LSU (+950), Tennessee (+1000), Missouri (+1200), and Texas A&M (+1200) could keep Georgia, Texas, and Alabama from dominating in the SEC.
Ole Miss still has quarterback Jaxson Dart, although the transfer of running back Quinshon Judkins to Ohio State does hurt. Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is no stranger to working the transfer portal, and the Rebels have the top-rated transfer class in the country.
Texas A&M transfer Walter Nolen could be one of the first defensive players selected in next year’s NFL Draft.
This is a key year at LSU for Brian Kelly, who has yet to overwhelm after leaving Notre Dame to head to Baton Rouge. Replacing Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels will be no easy task, while receiver Malik Nabers joined Daniels as a top-10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Based on Kelly’s track record coaching in high-profile games, tread carefully when it comes to going with LSU to win the SEC.
Missouri could be a sneaky dark horse pick. The Tigers could be undefeated going into the late-October matchup with Alabama. Luther Burden might be the most talented receiver in college football.
The jury is still out on Tennessee after the Volunteers were 0-3 against ranked teams last season.
Texas A&M and new head coach Mike Elko opens the season against Notre Dame and kicks off conference play versus Florida in Week 3, so it shouldn’t take long to figure if the Aggies are ready to contend.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Oklahoma (+3500) looks to make some noise in its first season in the SEC. The first SEC game comes against Tennessee on Sept. 21, so it will be put up or shut up time for the talented Sooners.
Auburn lost its last three games in 2023 and went 0-4 against ranked teams, so keep that in mind when considering the +5000 odds.
Kentucky (+8000) plays Georgia at home in Week 3 and two weeks later will make the trip to face Ole Miss so the Wildcats could make some noise in the SEC.
For NCAAF betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
Can’t get enough? Here’s more!
- 2024 NCAAF Cheat Sheet: Stanford Cardinal Stats & Odds
- 2024 NCAAF Cheat Sheet: Virginia Cavaliers Stats & Odds
- 2024 NCAAF Cheat Sheet: California Bears Stats & Odds
- 2024 NCAAF Cheat Sheet: SMU Mustangs Stats
- 2024 NCAAF Cheat Sheet: NC State Wolfpack Stats & Odds
