Alabama Once Again Odds-On Favorites to Win 2020 SEC Title

• Alabama is the heavy favorite to win the SEC after missing the conference championship game last year
• Georgia looks to replace Jake Fromm, Florida intriguing with coach Dan Mullen and QB Kyle Trask
• Read below for our analysis and SEC Title pick

The closer we get to the pandemic-induced truncated college football season, the better Alabama looks in the eyes of bettors.

The latest odds to win the 2020 SEC title have the Crimson Tide at better than even money. This comes even Alabama had a bad season – at least by its incredibly lofty standards – in which it went 11-2 last fall and did not reach the College Football Playoff for the first time since its inception in 2015.

Nevertheless, the odds have continued to grow shorter for Alabama over the summer.

Odds to Win 2020 SEC Title

Odds taken Aug. 7

Losses Won’t Stem Tide

Alabama lost quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III in the first round of the NFL Draft but coach Nick Saban is not concerned about his offense.

The man who has won five national titles in 13 years at Alabama believes Mac Jones is ready to handle the starting quarterback duties. Jones led the Crimson Tide to a victory over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl to cap last season while replacing the injured Tagovailoa.

Have heard that Mac Jones has been a very good leader in these meetings and workouts going on. He's looking really good and has a great mentality. This whole returning senior group and juniors have done great being leaders to the freshman and sophomores coming in. #RollTide

— Mason (@BamaBunker) August 2, 2020

Jones also has two of the best weapons in college football in wide receiver DeVonta Smith and running back Najee Harris.

Saban’s concern is on the other side of the ball. Alabama’s defense was ravaged by injuries last season and ranked outside the top five in the conference for the first time in more than a decade.

Georgia Has QB Bonanza

Georgia is the favorite in the SEC East as it suddenly has exceptional depth at quarterback following the departure of Jake Fromm to the NFL Draft.

The Bulldogs have a pair of transfers in Jamie Newman from Wake Forest and JT Daniels from Southern California.

Newman had a big season for the Demon Deacons a year ago. Daniels was a big-time recruit who was injured early in his freshmen season in 2019. Kedon Slovis took over and cemented his status as the starter.

I don’t see much of a QB battle in Athens and made my case on UGA Sports Live.

🏈Jamie Newman (2019)
▫️32 total TD
▫️85.2 PFF passing grade
▫️3 turnover worthy plays

🏈JT Daniels (2018)
▫️14 total TD
▫️61.5 PFF passing grade
▫️29 turnover worthy playshttps://t.co/RmhnJHZuW4 pic.twitter.com/sgDlWTqn5J

— Dayne Young (@dayneyoung) July 14, 2020

After struggling to score points at times last season, coach Kirby Smart has brought in Todd Monken as coordinator to liven up a struggling offense.

Tough Act to Follow

LSU is the third choice in the SEC, according to the oddsmakers. However, that seemingly has more to do with what the Tigers did last season than what they might do this season.

Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Joe Burrow is gone from a national championship team that went 15-0 along with plenty of other key players.

New passing game coordinator Scott Linehan, the one-time Minnesota Vikings head coach, will break in a new quarterback in Kyle Brennan. Brennan, though, will have wide receiver J’Marr Chase, the winner of last year’s Biletnikoff Award.

Nevertheless, it is hard to envision the Bayou Bengals overtaking Alabama in the SEC West for a second consecutive season.

Look Out for the Gators

Florida figures to be the top challenger to Georgia in the SEC East after winning New Year’s Six bowls each of the last two seasons.

Kyle Trask took over for the injured Felipe Franks at quarterback early last season and shined in his first full year as a starter since his freshman year of high school. Trask is a solid darkhorse candidate for the Heisman.

The Gators also have Kyle Pitts, arguably the best tight end in college football. And, keep in mind, Dan Mullen is 21-5 in his first two years as head coach in Gainesville.

Hot potato 🥔 🎯
Working getting that ball out quick but under control.@ktrask9 @DeriqKing_ @dukebutlerjr @maddox_kopp pic.twitter.com/z5LPhKa7ox

— Select Qb Athletics (@SelectQb) May 29, 2020

Alabama is the heavy chalk and there are two simple reasons for that. The Crimson Tide is talented and motivated after their “down” year in 2019.

It is hard to see anyone beating Alabama, but Florida is certainly a good value play at +1200 with Trask and Mullen.