Upcoming Match-ups

Florida, Texas A&M See National Championship Odds Get Longer in Stacked SEC

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in College Football

Updated Mar 25, 2020 · 3:18 PM PDT

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
The odds of the Florida Gators to make the playoff have grown longer. Photo by Berniestew (Wikimedia Commons) [CC License].
  • There’s been significant movement among some SEC teams in the latest national championship odds
  • Both Florida (+2600 to +3300) and Texas A&M (+5300 to +5900) saw their title odds get worse
  • The odds on LSU (+2800 to +2700) and Auburn (+4600 to +4200) both got a little shorter

They’re still weeks away from playing a game but that hasn’t prevented movement in the ranks of SEC football.

Both the Florida Gators and Texas A&M Aggies saw their average National Championship odds lengthen across a number of top online sportsbooks.

Florida jumped from +2600 on June 26th to +3300 on July 4th. Texas A&M went from +5300 to +5900 over the same span.

2020 CFP National Championship Odds for SEC Teams

SEC School 2020 CFP National Championship Odds
Alabama +220
Georgia +900
Florida +2800
LSU +3300
Auburn +4000
Mississippi State +6600
Texas A&M +6600
Tennessee +12500
Ole Miss +15000
South Carolina +15000
Missouri +20000
Kentucky +20000
Vanderbilt +50000
Arkansas +75000

*Odds taken on 07/05/19

Meanwhile, the odds improved for a pair of SEC Tigers. Auburn’s odds dipped to +4200 from +4600. The betting market on LSU shortened from +2800 to +2700.

Aggies Could Be Road Weary

If you’re seeking a reason for the rise in Texas A&M’s odds, look no further than the schedule the team faces. No NCAA team faces a tougher road gauntlet this season than the Aggies.

Texas A&M travels to meet reigning national champions Clemson on September 7th. Texas A&M close out the regular season with journeys to Georgia on November 23rd and LSU on November 30th.

That sure sounds like 0-3.

Concerns in Gatorland

Florida is listed as a preseason top 10 school but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some matters that could give Gators coach Dan Mullen sleepless nights.

The Gators’ run defense allowed 162.5 yards rushing per game last season. That ranked 65th in the nation.

The Gators’ run defense allowed 162.5 yards rushing per game last season. That ranked 65th in the nation. Florida also returns just one starter from its offensive line.

Florida’s offseason created a mess of headaches. Four players – junior defensive end Antonneous Clayton,  redshirt freshman defensive lineman Malik Langham, freshman quarterback Jalon Jones, and incoming freshman DB Chris Steele, the team’s top 2019 recruit, entered the NCAA transfer portal.

It was later revealed that Jones was accused of two counts of sexual battery. Steele, who’d roomed with Jones, reportedly transferred because complaints he’d registered about sharing a living space with Jones went unheeded.

Cornerback Brian Edwards was arrested and charged with simple battery following an incident involving his girlfriend. Assistant director of player personnel Otis Yelverton was arrested for cyber stalking. Charges against both were ultimately dropped.

Talk about a summer of discontent.

The Way We SEC It

The Gators won’t challenge Georgia for the SEC East title but should still be a comfortable second.

In the West, it’s all Alabama. After that, it could be quite the dogfight.

LSU may finally have a solid offense to couple with its stifling defense. The Tigers should finish second. Texas A&M and Auburn will battle for third. The Aggies must overcome their horrific schedule. The inconsistent Tigers are the wildcard of the SEC. They could go 10-2, or just as easily be 7-5.

If you’re thinking of taking a flyer on any of these teams to win the SEC, LSU is the best bet.

Author Image