1 Georgia vs 8 Alabama: SEC Championship preview and best bets

Perhaps the biggest game of Championship Saturday will take place when SEC titans face off in Atlanta. The Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide look to establish supremacy and punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff.

If you’re interested in betting on this game, be sure to check out all the exclusive promos and best odds on Michigan’s top sportsbooks .

Matchup1 Georgia Bulldogs vs 8 Alabama Crimson TideGametimeSaturday, December 2nd, 3:30 PM ETLocationMercedes Benz Stadium I Atlanta, GeorgiaWatchCBS

Bulldogs Seeking CFP Three-Peat

The Georgia Bulldogs enter the SEC Championship game on a roll. Georgia stands as one of three programs in the FBS that rank top-10 in both offense and defense. The ‘Dawgs surrendered 15.8 points per game (6th) and scored 39.6 points per game (8th).

Georgia’s offense ranked fifth in yards-per-play this season (7.3), and the Bulldogs checked in at sixth in yards-per-game (496.4). Both of those numbers would set new school records. Against the four ranked programs Georgia faced this season, the Bulldogs averaged 40 points per game and 498 yards of total offense.

Georgia’s defense isn’t too far behind. The Bulldogs scoring defense ranked ninth in total defense, surrendering 294.3 yards per game. Georgia was particularly stout against the pass, allowing just 176.5 passing yards per game.

A win all but locks up the CFP top seed for Georgia. After becoming the first program to win back-to-back titles, the Bulldogs hope for a three-peat. The best college football betting sites favor Georgia in those efforts.

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Crimson Tide Ready to Play Spoiler

The Alabama Crimson Tide don’t normally play the role of spoiler, but a win on Saturday could short-circuit their rival’s title hopes. There’s more on the line for ‘Bama, though, as their stunning comeback victory over Auburn last week kept their own CFP hopes alive.

Alabama enters with the most wins (10) over a top-ranked team in NCAA history, with their most recent victory coming over No. 1 Georgia in the 2021 SEC Championship Game.

Alabama comes to this contest with the 17th-ranked scoring offense (35.8 points per game). The offense posts 6.5 yards per play, 27th in FBS. The Crimson Tide defense ranks 14th (17.9 points per game).

Quarterback Jalen Milroe must continue his stellar play of late. He’s thrown multiple touchdowns and completed over 65 percent of his passes in each of the last three contests. Milroe’s threat as a runner could play a role, too. He can help Alabama cover the 5.5-point spread places like DraftKings sportsbook have posted.

If the Crimson Tide have any shot at making the CFP field this season, this is a must-win. They look to snap Georgia’s 29-game winning streak, a run that started following Alabama’s victory over the Bulldogs in the 2021 SEC title game.

Alabama has a 28% chance of making the playoff, according to ESPN's analytics. With a win over Georgia, Alabama's odds increase to:

+41% with Texas, Florida State and Washington wins

+43% with Texas, FSU and Oregon wins

+80% with Oklahoma State, FSU and Washington wins

+81%...

— Mike Rodak November 28, 2023

Georgia vs Alabama: Best Bets

Sportsbooks favor Georgia in this game, and the opening spread of 5.5-points hasn’t moved. Check out some of the best bets for the SEC Championship from BetMGM Sportsbook :

BetGeorgia BulldogsAlabama Crimson TideSpread-5.5 (-115)+5.5 (-105)Moneyline-225+180SpreadOver 55.5 (-115)Under 55.5 (-105)

While Alabama holds the lead in the all-time series between these programs (41-26-4), the Bulldogs won the last matchup, a 33-18 victory in the 2022 CFP National Championship Game. Georgia sports a 5-7 mark against the spread, but they’ve covered four of their last seven. The Over has hit in seven of Alabama’s last eight games, including five straight.

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