Alabama is coming off one of its biggest wins in recent history after knocking off Georgia 41-34 on Saturday. At the very least, it’s the biggest win in the Kalen DeBoer era. The Tide dominated early, jumping out to a 28-0 lead in the first half. Georgia mounted an impressive second-half comeback, even taking the lead late in the fourth quarter. However, Alabama remained poised and responded with a touchdown and two-point conversion with just over two minutes left.
The win not only moved the Tide to 4-0 on the season but also catapulted them to the top of the National Championship odds board. They entered the game with the fourth-shortest odds at +800 on BetMGM, but they now sit tied with Ohio State as the favorite at +375. While the Buckeyes still hold the edge in ticket and handle percentage, with 15.5% of tickets and 17.2% of the money, Alabama is receiving 6.7% of the tickets and 7.1% of the money.
Quarterback Jalen Milroe also saw his Heisman Trophy odds improve, becoming the favorite to win the award at +200. He threw for 374 yards and two passing touchdowns while leading the team with 117 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. With a dynamic player like Milroe at quarterback, it’s hard not to view the Tide as championship contenders.
Their receiving corps further bolsters their case as one of the best in the country, especially after its performance against Georgia’s defense. Freshman Ryan Williams, who is only 17, racked up 177 yards on six receptions, including a highlight-reel catch for the game-winning touchdown. Germie Bernard was one of 11 receivers to catch passes from Milroe in Week 5, showcasing the depth of this Alabama team—an essential trait for winning a national title.
If the Tide continue to play as they did against Georgia, they’ll be well on their way to the College Football Playoff. However, four of their remaining eight games are against ranked teams, including three road games at No. 4 Tennessee, No. 13 LSU, and No. 19 Oklahoma. Between the Vols and Tigers, Alabama will also host No. 9 Missouri. Three consecutive games against ranked opponents is a challenging stretch, even for elite teams.
While lines have yet to be posted for these games, I’d expect Alabama to be slight favorites in each. If you think the Tide might slip up and finish the regular season with one loss, it may be worth waiting to bet on them to win the title. There’s also a strong chance they’ll face Georgia again in the SEC Championship Game, and a loss there could offer better value on their championship odds.
Currently sitting at No. 1 in the AP Poll, Alabama’s stock is at its highest point this season, which is why it might not be worth buying in at the current price.
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