Odds to Win 2023 SEC Championship: Georgia and Alabama Lead the Way
Georgia Looks to Make History With Third Consecutive National Title
Can Alabama or Louisiana State Keep Georgia from Winning it All in 2023?
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Georgia and Alabama have dominated the SEC in recent years and when it comes to the odds to win the 2023 SEC championship, Georgia leads the way at -115 followed by Alabama at +300. Other than Louisiana State priced at +450 in the SEC title odds, the rest of the conference is well back.
Georgia (-500) is the overwhelming choice to win the SEC East Division title with Tennessee the closest challenger at +500. Things are a little more competitive in the West Division with Alabama (-105) leading LSU (+200) and Texas A&M (+550).
Since 2012, the only times that the SEC championship was won by a team other than Alabama or Georgia came in 2013 when Auburn outscored Missouri 59-42 and in 2019 when LSU rolled to a 35-10 win over Georgia.
Georgia is first in the Associated Press and coaches’ polls as the Bulldogs received 121 of 129 first-place votes. Alabama and LSU come in fourth and fifth followed by Tennessee (10th in the coaches’ poll and 12th in the writers’ poll. Ole Miss, which is 22nd in both polls, and Texas A&M (23rd in the Associated Press poll and 25th in the coaches’ poll) give the SEC six of the top 25 teams. Texas and Oklahoma, who will be joining the SEC next season, are also ranked in both polls.
Going for Three-Peat
Since a playoff system has been in place, no team has won three straight national titles. The last time it happened was when Minnesota accomplished the feat in 1934, 1935 and 1936. The final title for the Gophers coincided with the debut of the Associated Press poll.
Before Georgia won the last two titles, the last program with back-to-back national championships was Alabama in 2011 and 2012. Before that, it was accomplished by Nebraska in 1994 and 1995.
Obviously, there is plenty at stake for Georgia. It should be no surprise that Georgia is favored in the odds to win the 2023 SEC championship.
The Bulldogs are not favored to post a perfect NCAAF regular season as there is a +110 price for them to go over 11.5 regular-season wins compared to -140 odds to finish under that total. When it comes to the NCAAF standings, keep in mind that Georgia was 8-0 in the always challenging SEC during the 2022 season.
Alabama has a -170 Moneyline to go under 10.5 wins and come in at +140 to finish over that total.
It is a different story when it comes to LSU as the odds are currently at -125 for the Tigers to top 9.5 wins during the regular season and there are -105 odds to go over that mark.
Texas A&M, one of the biggest disappointments in college football during the 2022 season, is priced at -125 to go over eight wins and -105 to go under.
Who’s Ready for Some Football?
The season is nearly upon us.
The first game involving a team from the SEC is on Saturday when Vanderbilt welcomes Hawaii to Nashville.
The Commodores, coming off a five-win season, are listed as a 16.5-point favorite. The last time Vanderbilt was favored by that much against a fellow Football Bowl Subdivision team came in 2014 when the Commodores edged UMass 34-31 at a 16.5-point favorite.
Florida is a 7-point underdog to two-time defending Pac-12 champion Utah on Aug. 31.
There will be 11 SEC teams in action on Saturday, Sept. 2.
When looking at the college football odds, the closest game might be the one between South Carolina and visiting North Carolina with the Gamecocks favored by 2.5 points in a game being played in Charlotte.
Kentucky, Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee and Texas A&M are all favored by at least 26 points as some of the top teams in the odds to win the 2023 SEC championship will make their season debuts. Five of the games are against Football Championship Subdivision teams and there is no line posted yet.
The most anticipated game is probably the Sept. 3 clash featuring LSU and Florida State, a pair of top-10 ranked teams, meeting in Orlando. LSU is currently the 2.5-point favorite according to the NCAAF picks.
Plenty of Star Power Remains in SEC
Nine of the first 16 players taken in the 2023 NFL Draft came from SEC programs beginning with Alabama quarterback Bryce Young going first to the Carolina Panthers.
Even with the departure of Young, Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson, Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson, Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter and Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs, there are still plenty of players to watch in the SEC.
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels (+1200) is tied for the second-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy.
Carson Beck, who just recently made NCAAF news by being named the starting quarterback at Georgia, comes in at +1800 followed by Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton at +2500. Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman, who only appeared in five games as a freshman, has +4000 odds to win the Heisman.
Arkansas quarterback K.J. Jefferson seems a little undervalued in the Heisman odds at +6000 with Devin Leary, who transferred from North Carolina State to Kentucky, priced at +8000 in the Heisman odds.
Among the non-quarterbacks, Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins is priced at +5000 after running for 1565 yards and 16 touchdowns as a freshman.
For NCAAF betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
