Consider the Southeastern Conference the mitochondria of college football; it’s the powerhouse conference of the NCAA. The last four college football national champions hailed from the SEC and they’ve had six of nine champions since the NCAA adopted the College Football Playoff in 2014.
The SEC was dominated by Alabama and head coach Nick Saban for more than a decade; however, there’s been a tidal shift. The University of Georgia and HC Kirby Smart, who was Alabama’s defensive coordinator from 2008 to 2015, have won the last two national titles.
The last time a team completed a three-peat was when the Minnesota Golden Gophers won it all in 1934, 1935, and 1936. Not even the great Alabama Crimson Tide won it three times in a row, giving UGA a chance to make modern college football history.
SEC CFB Futures Odds
Keep track of the best SEC betting lines for the college football season:
CFB odds used to make these predictions were current as of Monday, July 17, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. and were found at DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Georgia (-115)
- Alabama (+300)
- LSU (+450)
- Tennessee (+1400)
- Texas A&M (+1400)
- Ole Miss (+4500)
- Auburn (+8000)
- South Carolina (+9000)
- Kentucky (+10000)
- Arkansas (+10000)
- Florida (+10000)
- Mississippi State (+12000)
- Missouri (+15000)
- Vanderbilt (+50000)
Best Bet & Favorite To Win SEC
Georgia Bulldogs (-115)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.5 unit(s)
The Bulldogs last lost a game on December 4, 2021, and have just three losses in the last three years. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken took his talents to the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, and yet this offense may be better than it was a year ago.
Carson Beck is the favorite to take snaps from under center and last year’s leading pass-catchers Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey are returning.
The heart of the UGA defense is with inside linebackers Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Smael Mondon. They will lead what will be the nation’s top defense.
TGD’s Lance Patton also believes Georgia is the early favorite to win the title in 2024.
Sleeper Bet To Win SEC
LSU Tigers (+450)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.25 unit(s)
Brian Kelly and Co. took down Alabama, made it to the SEC Championship game, and return a ton of key starters, including quarterback Jayden Daniels, who should emerge as a Heisman Trophy candidate.
Look for a big improvement across the defense after a slightly down 2022 campaign thanks to the return of Harold Perkins on the edge and the arrival of transfer LB Omar Speights, who was first-team All-Pac-12 at Oregon State. LSU’s defense finished 41st in yards allowed last year, so there’s plenty of room for growth.
SEC Team To Fade
Alabama Crimson Tide (+300)
In any season in recent memory, having the Tide at +300 to win the SEC would be a slam dunk… Times are changing.
Alabama lost offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien to the New England Patriots. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding made a lateral move to take on the same role at Ole Miss.
The Crimson Tide have yet to name a starting quarterback and their best playmaker on offense may be WR Malik Benson, a JUCO transfer. Based on talent, Alabama’s RB committee lacks a clear leader.
While the defense, anchored by cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, remains the Tide’s crown jewel, this is an uneven team that will rely heavily on ball control and defense in an era where a more dynamic offense is a must.
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