The SEC is offering up plenty of premium matchups this week. One that bettors should target is the primetime contest featuring the No. 17-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (2-1, 0-0 SEC) heading to Georgia to face the No. 5-ranked Bulldogs (3-0, 1-0 SEC).
This ain’t your father’s Alabama team. The Crimson Tide were dominated to start the season by Florida State, losing 31-17. While the perennial power has rebounded with two straight wins, the victories came against an overmatched UL Monroe squad and a struggling Wisconsin team.
Georgia isn’t the juggernaut head coach Kirby Smart had earlier this decade. After dispatching Marshall and Austin Peay, the Bulldogs needed overtime to defeat the Tennessee Volunteers two weeks ago.
For only the third time in a dozen years, these two teams will face off in the regular season. Which perennial power will prevail? We’ll cover that and provide bettors with our top three player prop bets for Saturday’s primetime matchup.
Life beyond Nick Saban hasn’t been kind to the Crimson Tide. After finishing with 10 or more victories in 16 consecutive seasons, Alabama earned “only” nine wins in Kalen DeBoer’s debut campaign.
Despite retaining significant talent that Saban recruited, DeBoer’s offensive stamp is coming into focus this season. The Crimson Tide has transformed into a pass-friendly offense, and quarterback Ty Simpson has been the beneficiary of that change.
The junior signal-caller has completed 71.9 percent of his passes for 862 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s yet to throw an interception this season. Expect Georgia to change that stat line on Saturday, and bettors should take the under on his lofty passing yards prop wager.
The Bulldogs have a luxury at running back this season. Freshman Chauncey Bowens looks to be a future NFL player, having rushed for 121 yards on 29 carries for Georgia. Yet Bowens is second on this team to sophomore sensation Nate Frazier.
In three games, Frazier has notched 189 rushing yards on 39 carries, and he’s scored twice on the ground for the Bulldogs. With Alabama struggling against the run, expect Georgia to feed Frazier multiple times per drive. Expect him to finish with at least 60 rushing yards for the third straight game, covering his player prop bet.
When Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton needs to pass, he has two of the best receivers in the country to choose from. Speedy junior Zachariah Branch is Stockton’s deep threat, averaging 16.5 receiving yards per catch.
His most reliable target is 6-foot-3 senior Colbie Young. The wide receiver has a team-best 13 receptions for 179 yards, hauling in at least 73 yards in the previous two games. Expect him to add to his receiving totals on Saturday, and Young will cover this player prop bet.
Oddsmakers are gifting bettors easy money this week. Alabama’s victory over Wisconsin looks significantly weaker after the Badgers were dominated by Maryland last week, leaving the Crimson Tide without a signature win.
Georgia has that by beating a Tennessee team that should return to the playoffs again this season. The Bulldogs will have no problem with the Crimson Tide in Sanford Stadium; take Georgia to cover their 2.5-point spread easily on Saturday.