by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Nov 30, 2021SEC Championship Game
Game time: 7 p.m. ET; Dec. 4, 2021
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Where to watch: CBS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Georgia -6.5
BetMGM: Georgia -6.5
Caesars: Georgia -6.5
Season record
No. 4 Alabama: 11-1 (7-1 SEC)
No. 1 Georgia: 12-0 (8-0 SEC)
It was a CFB "November to Remember" as Larry Ness ended the month 17-8, winning his CFB Game of the Year (Mia-Fl on 11/20) plus a "signature" LEGEND Play (LSU on 11/27). In fact, it's been a CFB "season to remember," as Larry enters Saturday 53-34-2, +$14,651 with all plays, including 14-3 with top-rated 10*s. Catch Larry’s and other plays available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers.
Alabama - Georgia preview and analysis
Last week
Alabama: won 24-22 (4OT) at Auburn
Georgia: won 45-0 at Georgia Tech
The matchup we’ve all been waiting for.
The Georgia Bulldogs will get the chance to show how legit they are Saturday when they play in the SEC Championship game against the Alabama Crimson Tide, in a game that ultimately decides the College Football Playoff picture.
It’s the penultimate matchup in the SEC and the only game that has mattered in the conference this season. If Georgia wins, it remains No. 1 in the country and opens the door and ends all speculation that the Bulldogs are the top team in the SEC.
If Alabama wins, we’re looking at two teams playing in the College Football Playoff and potentially taking a worthy one-loss team out of the equation.
The Crimson Tide are near-touchdown underdogs in this matchup, and you can’t blame the books for that call. ‘Bama looked flat in their 24-22 four-overtime victory against the Auburn Tigers in the Iron Bowl.
It was undoubtedly the most difficult game for Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, largely considered a Heisman Trophy frontrunner by most. He threw for 317 yards on 25 of 51 passing with two touchdowns and one interception.
Auburn, despite not having quarterback Bo Nix, stifled the Alabama offense for about 3.75 quarters of game action before Young led a game-tying touchdown drive in the final seconds.
“After halftime, it just seemed like everybody was all in and we were fighting like I’ve never seen us fight all year long,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “Our players were as happy as I’ve ever seen them after the game.”
Alabama comes in with a six-game winning streak against Georgia that includes the 2018 SEC Championship as well as the 2018 National Championship. Saban is 8-2 all-time against Georgia, while Georgia coach Kirby Dach is 0-3 against his former mentor.
But if there was a time for Georgia to finally exorcise the Alabama demons, it would be this year with one of the greatest defenses in college football history. After pitching a shutout against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, the Bulldogs finished the regular season by averaging a very nice 6.9 points allowed this season.
"What we have done in the regular season is all good, but if we don't finish it the right way none of this matters," said linebacker Nakobe Dean.
Georgia hasn’t won an SEC title since 2017 when the Dogs defeated Auburn, and 2005 before that against LSU.
Prediction
If you’re a fan of chaos, you’re rooting for Alabama to lose this one. But this game is so hard to pick because we really don’t know how Alabama’s offense will do against Georgia’s defense. There hasn’t been that test yet. The first couple of drives are going to be important in dictating the game. I think Georgia wins but it stays close. Georgia by 4
Betting trends
Georgia is 5-0 ATS in its last five after allowing 275 yards or fewer the previous game.
The over is 7-1-1 in the last nine meetings.
The underdog has gone 6-1 ATS in the last seven.
Alabama is 1-4 ATS in its last five after allowing 275 yards or fewer the previous week.
Statistical leaders
Alabama:
Passing: Bryce Young -- 3,901 yards, 40 TD, 4 INT
Rushing: Brian Robinson Jr. -- 1,016 yards, 14 TD
Receiving: Jameson Williams -- 1,261 yards, 13 TD
Defense: Will Anderson Jr. -- 14.5 sacks
Georgia:
Passing: Stetson Bennett -- 1,985 yards, 21 TD, 5 INT
Rushing: Zamir White -- 691 yards, 10 TD
Receiving: Brock Bowers -- 652 yards, 10 TD
Defense: Nakobe Dean -- 5 sacks, 2 INT
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
