The 2024 college football season kicks off Saturday, August 24. Nate Jacobson and Ben Wittenstein preview the major conferences with their predictions and best bets.
Which team is the best bet to win the conference?
Nate’s pick — Georgia to win the SEC (+190, DraftKings)
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There’s a lot to like about Georgia. The Bulldogs have a returning starter at quarterback in Carson Beck and the depth across the roster to withstand playing potentially 16 games with the expanded College Football Playoff. They’re also extremely motivated after missing out on the four-team playoff last season.
The 2021 and 2022 national champions were the best team in the country from a power rating perspective last year, but a weak schedule couldn’t overcome a SEC title game loss to Alabama that allowed Michigan and Washington to play in the championship game. Georgia is hungrier than ever to finish atop the SEC, which now has 16 teams, and make a deep playoff run.
I’m also confident on the Bulldogs winning the conference because of some doubts about their closest competition.
Texas is the second betting favorite, but the Longhorns lost key cogs on defense to the NFL and are taking a big step up in competition from the Big 12 to the SEC. Ole Miss has a loaded roster, but I don’t trust Lane Kiffin enough to beat an elite program like Georgia. Alabama will still be a contender, but the Crimson Tide will naturally take a step back without Nick Saban.
Georgia plays all three teams on the road this season. I’ll be looking to bet on the Bulldogs in those individual games along with a conference future.
Ben’s pick — Alabama to win the SEC (+800, ESPN BET)
You know we’re living in crazy times when picking Alabama to win the SEC is considered a “non-boring” pick.
Could I play it safe and choose powerhouse Georgia? Sure. But life is short. And I’m almost 30. So I’m trying to take some risks.
Getting Bama at 8-1 is too intriguing to pass up.
With Nick Saban gone, the Crimson Tide seem to have become an underdog in the eyes of the public. People are betting against their team total, already putting new coach Kalen DeBoer on the hot seat and generally dismissing Alabama with Texas and Oklahoma joining the conference.
But what if Bama is still good?
What if the team that returns QB Jalen Milroe, three offensive line starters and a host of defensive players still has a shot? And with a new coach who turned Washington from a four-win team into a national title contender, the Tide might have that special something.
Alabama does have a difficult schedule, but it benefits from playing some of the tougher opponents after bye weeks. The Tide also get Georgia at home in late September.
Given the long odds and the public’s skepticism, I’m all-in on Alabama.