SEC Championship Odds 2023 – Georgia Favored to Win Another Crown

Will the Georgia Bulldogs cruise to another SEC title, or can a contender emerge to dethrone Kirby Smart's squad? Read on as we track the 2023 SEC championship market based on our best college football odds.

The SEC remains the best conference in college football by a wide margin, but there's rarely much suspense about who will emerge victorious. Georgia and Alabama are responsible for eight of the last 10 SEC titles, with the Crimson Tide securing six and the Bulldogs nabbing two since 2017.

Georgia has recently overtaken Alabama as the team to beat after back-to-back National Championships, but Nick Saban's squad certainly isn't going anywhere. These two teams enter the year as the clear favorites to win the SEC title once again, with Georgia already trading at minus odds to defend its crown.

Will it be business as usual, or can another team topple the SEC giants this fall?

Here's our look at the SEC championship market (odds via our best sports betting apps).

SEC championship odds 2023

(odds accurate as of July 31)

Check out our college football best bets and our 2023 Heisman Trophy odds!

SEC championship betting analysis

Our best sports betting sites seem to be in agreement on the general outlook of the SEC race. That's what happens when a team like Georgia is already trading at minus odds to win the league before a ball has been snapped.

For the best price on the Bulldogs, FanDuel is giving out a -105 value on the defending champs. DraftKings is the go-to shop for those looking to bet on Alabama, which is the last team to hand Georgia a loss.

BetMGM, Caesars, and PointsBet are mostly in line with the rest of the market across the board.

SEC championship odds movement

Last year , Alabama and Georgia were priced much closer to each other after the former defeated the latter in the 2021 SEC title game before a rematch in the National Championship.

The Crimson Tide missed out on the CFP last year, while the Bulldogs went on to win a second straight national title. As such, Georgia enters the year a notch higher than Alabama via the betting market.

LSU, which was voted third in the SEC preseason poll, has been rising up most futures markets this offseason. The Tigers are a trendy team after making it to the SEC title game in Brian Kelly's first year at the helm.

SEC championship odds: Favorite

The Georgia Bulldogs have achieved back-to-back National Championships, but their SEC success has been limited to only one crown in the last two years. After losing to Alabama in the 2021 SEC title game, they redeemed themselves with a victory in the rematch and secured another national title to boot. 

Now considered the top team in college football, Georgia enters the new season with strong odds to win the SEC title for the second consecutive year. They retain 61% of their total production, including 71% from an exceptional defensive unit that ranked fifth in the nation by allowing only 14.3 points per game last season.

The key question for the Bulldogs this year revolves around the starting quarterback position. Stetson Bennett held the role for the past two years, remarkably starting as a walk-on. However, Carson Beck seems to be the frontrunner in this year's QB1 battle, ahead of both Brock Vandagriff and Gunner Stockton.

Fortunately for whoever takes over as quarterback, Georgia's offense boasts a wealth of talent once again. Brock Bowers, regarded as the best tight end in the country, leads a talen ted supporting cast, while the offensive line ranks among the best in the nation.

Georgia's favorable schedule plays a significant role in its prospects for the season. The Bulldogs are expected to be double-digit favorites in 11 out of 12 games. While a road game against Tennessee might pose the biggest challenge, betting Over 11.5 wins (+116 at FanDuel) seems like the best option for this team.

SEC championship odds: Contender

In just one year, there has been a significant shift in perceptions. Last summer, the college football world ridiculed Brian Kelly's southern accent during a speech when he joined LSU. However, the Tigers are now gaining attention as a trendy dark horse pick to contend in the SEC and vie for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

This change indicates that Kelly is, indeed, a good coach, and it reminds us that soci al media may not always offer the most reliable analysis. During Year 1 of the Kelly era, LSU displayed promise, achieving a 10-4 record with an SEC title game appearance. The season concluded on a high note with a resounding 63-7 victory over Purdue in the Citrus Bowl.

The Tigers have an impressive 71% of last year's production returning, including 81% on offense. Their starting quarterback, Jayden Daniels, is back, making it the first time since Joe Burrow that LSU retains its starting QB. Daniels threw for 2,913 yards and 17 touchdowns, while also rushing for a career-best 885 yards and 11 scores.

LSU's season commences with a rematch against Florida State, the same team it faced in last year's opener in what was a close 24-23 loss in Kelly's debut. This time, I believe the Tigers will seek revenge in Orlando, and I'd be inclined to bet on them to cover the 2.5-point spread (-110) available at most of the best sportsbooks.

Beyond that, LSU should only be an underdog once, against Alabama on the road. Consequently, the Tigers have a win total of 9.5 and are given +200 odds to win the SEC West division once again. For those looking for potential upside, that +200 value at FanDuel seems like the best option.

SEC championship odds: Long shot

For Tennessee to emerge as a long shot contender, it will need to dethrone Georgia and win the SEC East to reach the title game. The Bulldogs' consecutive championships might lead to some complacency, presenting an opportunity for chaos in the SEC.

Crucially, Tennessee gets the chance to face Georgia at home in what is likely to be the lone game where the Bulldogs won't be favored by 10-plus points. This matchup is scheduled for Nov. 18, giving us a better understanding of this year's Tenne ssee team by then.

With Hendon Hooker now in the NFL, the offensive reins will be handed to quarterback Joe Milton. The senior signal-caller has spent the last two years in Knoxville and possesses all the necessary tools, particularly his strong arm, to excel under the guidance of coach Josh Heupel, known for his well-functioning offenses.

On the defensive side, Tennessee made strides last year, allowing only 22.8 points per game during an impressive 11-2 campaign. With seven starters returning, continuity may lead to further success.

Expectations are that Tennessee will flirt with double-digit wins this year, and serve as the only team with a chance of preventing Georgia from reaching the SEC title game.

At 18/1 odds available at Barstool, I'm willing to take a chance on the Volunteers making a surprise appearance in the SEC championship. If we get there, we can consider possible hedge opportunities at that time. This ticket offers more upside than Tennessee's current CFP odds, which stand at 13/1.

SEC championship odds: Fade

In the blink of an eye, the Crimson Tide has descended in the SEC hierarchy and are now chasing the Bulldogs for the crown. While Alabama remains Georgia's biggest challenger, there's a lot of uncertainty surrounding the team after missing out on the College Football Playoff last year.

The most significant question mark lies at the quarterback position, as the Crimson Tide need to replace No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. His two years as QB1 covered up many flaws, making it challenging for his successor to follow in his footsteps. Redshirt freshman Ty Simpson is the betting favorite to win the starting job, but there are concerns about how much of a drop-off there might be.

Alabama has also lost its best defensive player in edge rusher Will Anderson, who was selected third by the Texans. With only 40% of last year's total production returning, including just 38% on the defensive side of the ball, the team faces significant challenges.

With plenty of talented players in the pipeline, more than 100 college football programs would trade places with Alabama right now. However, the Crimson Tide are no longer the clear favorites, and there's a chance they might not live up to their usual standards.

As a result, I'm going to take the unexpected approach and bet against a Saban-led team. I'll go with Under 10.5 wins at Caesars, which offers the best price at -150 vig, while other shops have set it at -175 or longer. This might be considered a risky prediction, but this also doesn't seem like your typical Alabama team.

Recent S EC championship winners

SEC championship FAQs

The Georgia Bulldogs defeated the LSU Tigers in the 2022 SEC Championship Game.

The 2023 SEC Championship Game will be decided on Saturday, Dec. 2. The game is slated to begin at 4 p.m. ET.

The 2023 SEC Championship Game will take place inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The game will be broadcast on CBS.

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