SEC betting preview and predictions
It's Alabama and everybody else in the SEC this year.
Probably.
Maybe?
Sort of.
While the Crimson Tide are 12-5 to win the national title and the chalk to take the conference, a couple of public darlings could sweep in and make things interesting. Georgia is practically expected to run the table during the regular season, while Florida and LSU are potentially in the mix for double-digit wins.
Fortunately, we're not here to pick a title winner out of what's long been billed as the best conference in the nation. Instead, we dive into our favorite best bet, value play, and pick to avoid for the 2019 season among SEC futures.
('Over' prices in parentheses)
| Team | Win Total | SEC Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 11.5 (+140) | 5-8 |
| Arkansas | 5.5 (+145) | 300-1 |
| Auburn | 7.5 (-150) | 18-1 |
| Florida | 9 (+140) | 10-1 |
| Georgia | 11 (+120) | 3-1 |
| Kentucky | 6.5 (-130) | 30-1 |
| LSU | 9 (-110) | 12-1 |
| Mississippi State | 7.5 (-150) | 50-1 |
| Missouri | 8.5 (+130) | OFF |
| Ole Miss | 5 (+120) | 300-1 |
| South Carolina | 5.5 (-140) | 80-1 |
| Tennessee | 6.5 -(130) | 80-1 |
| Texas A&M | 7.5 (-120) | 30-1 |
| Vanderbilt | 4.5 (-140) | 300-1 |
Best bet - Tennessee Over 6.5 (-130)
It wasn't all that long ago that the Volunteers' bandwagon was full. Though Tennessee registered back-to-back nine-win seasons in 2015-16 during the Butch Jones era, there was a sense of underachievement. It's been a trying couple of seasons since. An 0-6 record in SEC play under Jones in 2017 before he got the boot followed by a 5-7 season with Jeremy Pruitt at the helm sunk the Vols' stock. But it might be the perfect time to buy some Tennessee.
The Volunteers return 83 percent of their starting production from 2018, second only to Western Michigan. They shooed out unimaginative offensive coordinator Tyson Helton and replaced him with former Georgia quarterbacks coach and OC Jim Chaney. In three seasons under Chaney, the Bulldogs' offense improved every year, going from 24.4 points per game to 34.9 and then 37.3 last season, which ranked No. 12 in the country.
They start the season with games against Georgia State, BYU, and Chattanooga - three winnable contests to get the season off to a hot start. Although there's a tough SEC schedule in the middle and a clash with UAB, there are seven wins on this docket.
| Tennessee Schedule |
|---|
| vs. Georgia State |
| vs. BYU |
| vs. Chattanooga |
| at Florida |
| vs. Georgia |
| vs. Mississippi State |
| at Alabama |
| vs. South Carolina |
| vs. UAB |
| at Kentucky |
| at Missouri |
| vs. Vanderbilt |
Value play - LSU to win the SEC (12-1)
LSU's a pretty fascinating team heading into 2019. While Georgia is most ripe for unseating Alabama and Florida's ceiling keeps rising, the Tigers feel a bit disrespected in the betting markets for a second straight season.
In terms of returning production, LSU ranks No. 15 with 76 percent of its starters coming back. The offense should open up a bit more this season and the Tigers get an overrated Texas team, as well as home games against Texas A&M and Auburn. We'd make them closer to 9-1 to win the conference.
Bet to avoid - Auburn to win the SEC (18-1)
It feels like a cop-out to recommend avoiding a future at 18-1, but the price on Auburn to win the SEC is still extremely short. The Tigers rank No. 84 in returning production and get Oregon for a neutral-site game, they're on the road against A&M, Florida, and LSU, and they also face Georgia and Alabama. Yikes.
Auburn at 18-1 is the worst price on the board, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a close second.
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.