Remember the terrifying gauntlet known as the SEC West? With Alabama, LSU, Arkansas, Ole Miss, and even the likes of Mississippi State and Auburn in there, it was a true house of horrors for teams to negotiate before getting to the SEC Championship. The SEC East had Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida (and Missouri and Kentucky), but that side of the conference seemed a lot more manageable for teams that could get on a run. Now that the conference has added Oklahoma and Texas, the SEC has done away with divisions. Alabama saw head coach Nick Saban retire after a storied career that saw his Crimson Tide dominate not just the SEC but the nation. With Kalen DeBoer set to take Saban’s spot, are they the NCAAF betting favorite to win the SEC this time around? The answer to that is a resounding “No.” But are they a smart pick? Read on.
College Football Betting: Is Alabama the Favorite to Win the SEC in Football?
Odds to Win the SEC Championship
- Georgia Bulldogs +185
- Texas Longhorns +310
- Ole Miss Rebels +650
- Alabama Crimson Tide +950
- LSU Tigers +1000
- Tennessee Volunteers +1100
- Missouri Tigers +1500
- Texas A&M Aggies +2000
- Oklahoma Sooners +4000
- Auburn Tigers +5000
- Kentucky Wildcats +9000
- South Carolina Gamecocks +10000
- Florida Gators +12000
- Arkansas Razorbacks +20000
- Mississippi State Bulldogs +30000
- Vanderbilt Commodores +50000
Live College Football Championship Betting Odds For Today
Kirby Smart
Kirby Smart led Georgia to back-to-back national championships in 2021-22, and the Bulldogs have only missed two SEC Championship games since he arrived in Athens. He has become a wizard of the transfer portal as well as high school recruiting, and that talent pipeline alone makes the Bulldogs a perennial favorite to win the SEC at least for the time being. The Bulldogs are known for their defense, but the Georgia offense might be back at an elite level again. Quarterback Carson Beck put together solid numbers last year as a first-year starter. His arm might be the biggest cannon in the nation, and the O-line in front of him is elite. Florida transfer Trevor Etienne joins Roderick Robinson to make a terrific tailback tandem, and the wide receivers are also elite.
Does Brian Kelly have a shot at SEC glory with LSU? The program is back as a double-digit win team, but Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels headed for the NFL. The new quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier, has shown some promise, but he hasn’t had much playing time. The defense was ridiculous last year, keeping LSU from closing several important games. They brought in Missouri defensive coordinator Blake Baker to shape up the unit, but his crew only has two defensive tackles who have played in meaningful games. The LSU defenders with more than five career sacks are edge rusher Sai’vion Jones and linebacker Harold Perkins.
And what about Alabama? It’s true that Nick Saban’s shoes will be immense to fill. However, the Tide is the defending SEC champs. The transfer portal saw the Tide lose top receiver Isaiah Bond and safety Caleb Downs. Even so, the talent pool is still one of the best in the nation. Kalen DeBoer came from Washington to take over the program, and he has never won fewer than nine games in his initial season as a head coach. When he came to Washington in 2022, the Huskies went 11-2 and tied for second in the Pac-12. Last year, his second season, the Huskies had a perfect 12-0 regular season. They beat Oregon a second time in the Pac-12 Championship and then beat Texas in the CFP semifinal before losing to Michigan in the title game. The line offers a good bit of value given DeBoer’s resume and the talent that Alabama still has in the locker room.
Dark Horse
Want a dark horse? Check out Missouri. The Tigers will have one of the nation’s best passing attacks as quarterback Brady Cook returns, as does top target Luther Burden. The defense saw five players get drafted into the NFL, including three DBs, and they have a new DC in Corey Batoon. Williams Nwaneri joins the defense as a five-star D-line recruit, and coach Eli Drinkwitz has, at least so far, done a solid job turning the Tigers from SEC doormats to dark-horse contenders.
“I’m always going to be ready to perform when needed.”
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) June 5, 2024
Tyler Booker is poised to lead the Alabama offensive line this fall.#RollTide | @Gatorade pic.twitter.com/cw8uRoXas1
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