The Alabama Crimson Tide has won six of the last ten SEC championships and make perennial appearances in the College Football Playoff. They even won a national championship without winning their division in the SEC two years ago, when Auburn knocked them off in the regular season, but when Auburn lost to Georgia in the SEC Championship, Alabama eked back into the playoff and then ran the table for the national title. So when we see Alabama as the favorite in the SEC once again, that should not be a surprise. We have the odds for each team in the SEC to win the conference in 2019, as well as our thoughts about some of the contenders.
2019 SEC Conference Title Odds, Predictions & Pick
Bama boys on the scene. #SECMD19 pic.twitter.com/loOOKwXXfw
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) July 17, 2019
- Alabama Crimson Tide -165
- Georgia Bulldogs +280
- Florida Gators +1200
- LSU Tigers +1400
- Auburn Tigers +2500
- Kentucky Wildcats, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Texas A&M Aggies +3300
- South Carolina Gamecocks, Tennessee Volunteers +6600
- Ole Miss Rebels, Vanderbilt Commodores +15000
- Arkansas Razorbacks +20000
The Crimson Tide Keep Being the Favorites
Alabama has gone 146-21 (80-13 SEC) under Nick Saban. There has only been one season under Saban — his first season — when the team did not win at least 10 games and finish with a winning SEC record. During his time in Tuscaloosa, the team has won five national championships. In 2019, the Crimson Tide has a particularly friendly schedule, as LSU has to visit Tuscaloosa this year.
The only really tough road date in SEC play for the Tide is Auburn, whom they face in the Iron Bowl in the last game of the regular season. That was the game that tripped Alabama up two years ago. On offense, Alabama welcomes back Tua Tagovailoa, the quarterback won was a Heisman Trophy finalist, along with top receiver Jerry Jeudy and tailback Najee Haris. Dylan Moses and Anfernee Jennings are the top returning starters on defense.
What About the Georgia Bulldogs?
Some view Georgia as a smart play here because of the comparative value that they offer. Kirby Smart starts his fourth season with the Bulldogs, and they have already piled up a record of 32-10 (18-6 SEC) during Smart’s tenure. The past two years, they have won at least 10 games and posted 7-1 SEC records — appearing in the SEC Championship both years.
The Bulldogs do play a neutral site game with Florida in Week 9 and then visit auburn two weeks later. It is true that quarterback Jake Fromm and tailback D’Andre Swift return, along with a host of solid defensive players. However, we have seen Georgia choke against Alabama in the past, and it is hard to argue that the mental strength of the key players will be much different this year.
What about Florida as a sleeper?
After these first two teams, the moneyline shoots upward in a hurry. They did win 10 games in 2018, the first time they had cracked double digits since the 2015 season. Their offense, long a cause for concern, did stack up 41 points against Florida State in their annual rivalry game and then stacked up 41 more against a Michigan team that has a decent defense in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl.
Obviously, if Florida can upend Georgia in Week 9, the math on their odds chances changes significantly — but they would still likely face Alabama in the SEC Championship, even if they made it to the top of the SEC East standings. Until something happens to dislodge Alabama at the top of the conference, it is hard to argue for anyone else to win the SEC, especially with Alabama likely waiting in that title game.
Early 2019 SEC Conference Championship Prediction
Alabama to win. The Crimson Tide just seem to be in everyone else’s collective heads, and they have the talent to make that stick. Someone is going to have to beat the Crimson Tide in the games that matter for them to fall off the top of the odds lists every year.
