Georgia vs. Alabama odds, best bets: Top 5 SEC rivals meet in Tuscaloosa

Georgia vs. Alabama Betting Preview

Georgia Bulldogs betting news, analysis

The Dawgs did not disappoint after entering yet another season as one of the favorites to win it all. Their Week 1 blowout win over Clemson in Atlanta becomes more impressive week by week as the Tigers feature a much improved offense this season.

Georgia’s Week 3 win over Kentucky was far from a masterpiece, but the Bulldogs deserve some credit for pulling off an SEC road win when they were just not at their best.

Georgia has had to replace its best 2023 players heading into this season, including prolific pass catchers Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey, and there have certainly been some growing pains thus far.

Top RB Trevor Etienne, who was suspended for the opener against Clemson, was held in check by the Wildcats on an ugly night for the offense as a whole in Lexington two weeks ago.

With the exception of the second half of the season opener, UGA’s offense has rarely looked like the machine it has been for most of the last few years. Against Bama, it won’t help that Georgia is without its best lineman, All-American right guard Tate Ratledge, due to an ankle injury.

Read more in Newsweek’s NCAAF Week 5 betting preview

Georgia’s defense has been dominant this year, however, limiting Clemson and Kentucky to just 15 points combined. The Wildcats were able to run the ball with some success on UGA (170 rushing yards on 45 carries), but Clemson didn’t have as much luck on the ground.

The Bulldogs D feature stars at every level, from D-linemen Mykel Williams and Nazir Stackhouse up front to LB Smael Mondon Jr. in the middle to veteran safety Malaki Starks in the secondary. One of the keys for Georgia D in this matchup is Williams’ status, which is a game-time decision as he battles an ankle injury, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

So far this year, Georgia hasn’t faced an offense like Alabama’s — although the same could really be said for those two teams, on both sides of the ball.

News, betting analysis on Alabama Crimson Tide

Bama hardly looked invincible in Week 2 against South Florida (the Tide led 14-13 early in the fourth quarter), but bounced back with an impressive blowout victory on the road against Wisconsin in Week 3.

The Badgers suffered an injury to starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke early in this game and never recovered. Bama’s performance at Camp Randall Stadium was nonetheless impressive.

Quarterback Jalen Milroe has dominated UW as both a passer and runner, and he looks like a force in his first season under coach Kalen DeBoer, with 14 total touchdowns (eight passing, six on the ground) and no interceptions. DeBoer arrived as Nick Saban’s replacement this offseason with an excellent reputation for developing quarterbacks.

Milroe, who overcame some early season struggles a year ago to lead Bama to an SEC title and a near-upsetting loss to Michigan in an overtime loss in the CFP semifinals, will be the most important player on the field Saturday night.

His running ability makes Alabama a nightmare to defend, especially in the red zone. As long as Milroe and RBs Jam Miller and Justice Haynes can keep Bama’s offense balanced, the Tide should be able to outplay Georgia in this game.

The biggest weakness of Bama’s offense has been pass protection. Milroe has been sacked 44 times in 2023, and he has already been sacked five times this season. Bama allowed four or more sacks to Milroe eight (!) times a year ago, including a total of 11 in two losses (against Texas in September and Michigan in the CFP).

This year, the Tide have two studs at offensive tackle (Kadyn Proctor and Elijah Pritchett). Both missed time early in the season but started against Wisconsin. If they hold off Georgia’s pass rush and give Milroe time to throw, Bama’s chances of winning this game will improve significantly. Since Bama beat Georgia at a neutral site in the 2023 SEC title game despite allowing four sacks, it should have a great chance to win Saturday with better pass protection in its own backyard.

The Crimson Tide defense is a difficult unit to evaluate after opening the season against Western Kentucky and South Florida and facing Wisconsin’s backup signal-caller for much of this game. The best players to watch in this defense are LB Deontae Lawson and safety Malachi Moore.

This unit contained both the Michigan and Georgia offenses a year ago and only really struggled against the Longhorns in an early season home loss.

Georgia vs Alabama prediction, best bets

Betting against UGA when they play someone other than Alabama has been a horrible idea in recent years. But the Tide have always been a tough matchup, even for Kirby Smart’s best teams. The question now is whether that will remain the case in the post-Nick Saban era.

Saturday night, expect the home crowd to help Bama’s offense control this game. We’ll go with the Tide slowing down Georgia’s running game and having Georgia quarterback Carson Beck beat them over the top with a passing attack that remains somewhat unproven.

Ultimately, I like Bama to win in an instant classic decided by a late Milroe touchdown.

At some point these offenses are going to find answers and score points, but I don’t see this total reaching 50, which makes both the under and first half tempting.

Best bets Georgia vs. Alabama

• Alabama moneyline (-105 – widely available)
• First half under 23.5 (+102 to DK)
• Less than 50.5 (-104 to FD)

Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. Check the sportsbook operator’s terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence on media coverage.