CFP National Championship Prediction: Georgia vs. Alabama Odds
It’s an all-Southeastern Conference matchup in the College Football Playoff national championship game on Monday from Indianapolis as No. 3 Georgia faces No. 1 Alabama.
The Bulldogs are 3-point favourites to win on the NCAAF odds, with a total of 52.0.
CFP National Championship pres. by AT&T Betting Analysis
The SEC is so much better than the other college football conferences that a Georgia-Alabama matchup for the national title felt destined all season – they were the only schools ranked No. 1 in the polls during the year.
It’s the second time in the College Football Playoff era that two schools from the same conference will play for a championship. Following the 2017 season, Alabama beat Georgia 26-23 in overtime. The Tide have won three national titles in the CFB era and are looking to become the first repeat champions. The Dawgs haven’t won a national title since 1980 when they had a young running back named Herschel Walker.
These schools played for the SEC title in Atlanta in early December and Alabama handed Georgia its only loss, 41-24. Eventual Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young threw for 421 yards and three touchdowns as the Crimson Tide torched the nation’s top-ranked defence for 536 yards.
The underdog is 7-1 against the spread in the past eight meetings.
Georgia Bulldogs
A No. 3 seed has yet to win the CFP national title – every other seed has at least twice. Georgia was a 7.5-point favourite in the Orange Bowl semifinal against No. 2 Michigan and spanked the Wolverines 34-11, the Dawgs’ biggest margin of victory against a Top 10 team in 80 years. Michigan was one of the top rushing teams in the country but was held to 91 yards on 27 carries by the country’s No. 1 defence. Led by national award winners Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean, that unit has allowed an FBS low 12 touchdowns this season and scored three itself.
Dawgs QB Stetson Bennett shook off a shaky SEC title game by throwing for 313 yards and three scores with no picks vs. Michigan. Georgia coach Kirby Smart is a former Nick Saban assistant at Alabama and is 0-4 straight up vs. his former boss. UGA is 0-4 ATS in its past four following an ATS win.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Saban is 25-1 all-time against his former assistant coaches but that one loss came this season vs. Texas A&M and Jimbo Fisher. Saban already holds the record with seven national titles (one at LSU) but is tied with six at Alabama with Bear Bryant. Saban’s streak of being favoured in 21 straight bowls or playoff games will end in this one. Saban is 7-2 SU all-time in national title games with both losses coming to Clemson. The Tide were 13-point favourites in their Cotton Bowl semifinal against unbeaten Cincinnati and dominated in a 27-6 win. Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for 204 yards and Young threw for three scores.
A reminder that Canadian receiver John Metchie III is out injured. He was hurt in the SEC title game vs. Georgia after catching six balls for 97 yards and a score. The junior finished the season with 96 catches for 1,142 yards and eight TDs. Alabama is 5-1 ATS in its past six as an underdog – this is only the seventh time it has been since 2008.
UGA
ALA