The 2023 SEC Championship Game is less than a month away, and the matchup is set between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide have clinched their spots in the title game with two regular season games to go since they’ve got perfect 7-0 records during SEC play, and the odds for their upcoming matchup are up at .
The oddsmakers have the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs as 3.5-point favorites over the No. 8-ranked Crimson Tide, and the last time these two SEC powers met was in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship.
Whoever wins the SEC Championship Game is all but guaranteed a spot in the 2024 College Football Playoff field, with the Bulldogs still having a shot to get in even if they lose being that would likely be their only loss on the season.
A similar scenario was in play in 2021 with the Crimson Tide defeated the Bulldogs to win the SEC title and made the CFP field despite having a regular season loss.
The Bulldogs ended up taking home the national title that season in the rematch, and they’re now two-time defending national champions after defeating TCU last season.
This year’s Bulldogs haven’t been quite as dominant statistically, but they’ve still managed to run the table and are arguably more dangerous on offense with junior quarterback Carson Beck.
As for the Crimson Tide, a loss to the Bulldogs would eliminate them from the CFP conversation, but they appear to be peaking at the right time much like in 2021 and have seen sophomore quarterback Jalen Milroe step up in recent weeks.
A path for both making the CFP could be trickier this time around though, as the winner out of No. 3 Ohio State and No. 2 Michigan is a near-lock for a spot, and No. 4 Florida State and No. 5 Washington would likely both get in if they remain undefeated.
The Bulldogs could find themselves out of the CFP in that scenario if they fall to the Crimson Tide, but the oddsmakers like their chances to remain unbeaten in their quest for a three-peat.
SEC Championship Betting Info
Early betting line: Georgia (-170, -3.5) vs. Alabama (+143)
Day/Time/Location/TV: Saturday, Dec. 2 at 3 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (CBS)