NCAAF Betting: Week 15 SEC Games
It’s another online betting week in the Southeastern Conference and we’re ready with the Week 15 news. The SEC Championship Game is set for Dec. 19 between the Alabama Crimson Tide, champions of the SEC West, and the Florida Gators as champions of the SEC East. Alabama regained its SEC West title after LSU took it away in 2019.
Florida had not been to the SEC title game since 2016. Georgia had won the SEC East the past three seasons, but Florida was finally able to knock off the Bulldogs. Alabama and Florida are both in action as they try to stay in the hunt for the College Football Playoff. The Crimson Tide and Gators want to get through this week without suffering significant injuries. They also know that the bowl games are not four weeks after the conference championship games, as we would have in a normal year. Given the limitations of the pandemic, the playoff semifinals are just 13 days after the SEC Championship Game, which puts added emphasis on needing to stay healthy for the team.
NCAAF Week 15 SEC Betting Rundown
Alabama Crimson Tide vs Arkansas Razorbacks
Sportsbook Odds: Alabama -32
The Alabama offense is a juggernaut behind quarterback Mac Jones and receiver DeVonta Smith, players who both have a claim to the Heisman Trophy. Alabama is easily a far better team than Arkansas, and in a midseason game situation — in which Alabama is trying to build a strong national profile — the Crimson Tide would likely blow the doors off the Razorbacks and win by 40 or more points. However, with the SEC Championship Game next week, one can easily envision a scenario in which Alabama gets up by 28 points in the third quarter and then rests its starters.
The Tide might coast home in the fourth quarter to a 20– or 17-point win, which isn’t nearly as close as the score indicates. Circumstances might enable Arkansas to cover the spread here –- not because Arkansas is a unique threat or an underrated team, but simply because Alabama doesn’t have to win this game by a large number of points to impress national voters. The Tide just have to get the win, stay healthy, and move on to Florida. If Alabama beats Florida, it will be in the College Football Playoff.
Georgia Bulldogs vs Missouri Tigers
NCAAF Week 15 SEC Betting Odds: Georgia –13
This is a makeup of a previously scheduled game postponed due to NCAAF COVID-19 issues. Georgia’s offense was a real question mark at the time this game was originally scheduled, but the Bulldogs’ switch at quarterback, to USC transfer J.T. Daniels, has given their offense a clear boost. Stetson Bennett, the starting quarterback at the beginning of the season, is talented, but he is short. He simply could not see the field. Opposing defensive linemen batted down his passes. Bennett’s field vision led to a number of bad throws in other situations.
The Bulldogs tried out D’Wan Mathis, but it’s clear he is a better runner than a passer. He soon transferred out of the program. In came Daniels, who has the height and field vision needed to make Georgia’s offense whole. He played well in his debut versus Mississippi State. Daniels should be able to handle an average Missouri defense.
Tennessee Volunteers vs Vanderbilt Commodores
College Football Odds: Tennessee -15
The Tennessee Volunteers aren’t good. They have shown promise at times, but they have struggled all season in the second halves of games. The Volunteers led Arkansas by 13 at halftime and lost by 11. They led Georgia at halftime and lost by 23. They were tied with Auburn and halftime and lost by 13. Week after week after week, it’s the same story.
This week, in NCAAF news, however, Tennessee goes up against a Vanderbilt team which has cratered in 2020. The Commodores had actually shown some promise midway through the season. They battled Florida deep into the third quarter in a competitive game before finally losing steam in the fourth quarter. However, a 41-0 loss to Missouri – without attempting a field goal, in a game marked by the arrival of female placekicker Sarah Fuller – was a total embarrassment and a huge step backward. Having fired head coach Derek Mason, Vanderbilt seems adrift and listless. Tennessee is a rivalry game for Vanderbilt, but it appears that the bottom has already fallen out, especially on offense. Tennessee, for all of its second-half struggles, is well=positioned to win, comfortably.
LSU Tigers vs Florida Gators
NCAAF Week 15 SEC Betting Odds: Florida -22
The Florida Gators face a situation similar to Alabama. Florida is a far better team than LSU. But, Florida has one eye on that Alabama game next week in Atlanta. The Gators – had they played LSU earlier in the season when this game was originally scheduled – had a real chance of winning by 35 points or thereabouts. They still do in this case… but the likelihood is lower, given that Florida needs to prepare for ‘Bama. And probably wants to keep its playbook more limited in advance of going up against Nick Saban and Jones. Florida winning straight up is not in doubt. However, the Gators – who have looked like a bored team for most of the past month – could once again labor through an inefficient performance and wind up winning by “only” 14 points or so.
Auburn Tigers vs Mississippi State Bulldogs
Odds: Auburn -7.5
This is another makeup of a postponed game. Auburn is limping to the finish line. The Tigers have lost four games and showing no signs of long-term growth under embattled coach Gus Malzahn. Yet, for all of the problems Auburn is going through, the Tigers look a lot better than Mississippi State. The Bulldogs peaked in Week 1 against LSU. Mississippi State’s offensive line has failed to give this passing offense a chance to come together for head coach Mike Leach. Auburn is not an especially good team, but it is considerably better than Mississippi State.
