Ross Tucker
NCAAF
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This is a tough one. The College Football Playoff finals is here as Georgia and Alabama will meet for a rematch, and oddsmakers have the Bulldogs as a modest favorite for this SEC showdown on January 10th. Let’s dive into my favorite bet for the title game:
College Football Playoff National Championship: Georgia Bulldogs vs Alabama Crimson Tide
The good news is that unlike the College Football Playoff semifinal matchups on New Year’s Eve, I truly believe that the National Championship matchup on Monday night will be an awesome, competitive game. The bad news is I felt the same way about both of the semifinal games and, well, obviously that did not happen.
To be honest, I am surprised by the betting line. After Georgia lost in convincing fashion, 41-24, to Alabama in the SEC Championship I immediately felt and thus predicted that they would match up again in the FBS Championship game and that the Bulldogs would get their revenge and get the win. That said, I thought after what happened in that SEC Title game that the Crimson Tide would be favored and that is not the case. Instead it is the Bulldogs, on the heels of their impressive win over the Michigan Wolverines, who find themselves laying three points in this contest.
Read our extended breakdown of Georgia and Alabama ahead of the National Championship
Best bet for Georgia vs Alabama
I really could go either way here as I would lean toward Georgia to win the game straight up on the money line.
That said, when do you get a chance to get points with Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide? With the Heisman Trophy winner as their quarterback, nonetheless? How about pretty much never. In fact, the last time it happened was the SEC Championship game and I’ve already mentioned multiple times what happened in that one.
I often say on the Pickswise Playbook show when picking NFL games that if I think the game is a toss-up and I can get a field goal or more I am going to take the underdog. That’s been fairly successful over the years for me so that’s what I am going to roll with in his contest as well.
On the one hand, I think Georgia is the better, deeper, more talented team and believe it is difficult to beat the same team twice, especially in such a short period of time.
On the other hand, head coach Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs just seem to have a mental block when it comes to Alabama. It’s been well documented in recent years and even I can remember being on the sidelines for the sheer devastation on the faces of the Georgia players and coaches when Jalen Hurts came off the bench to beat them in the SEC Championship game back in 2018. It’s the huge monkey that Smart just can’t get off of his back.
Given the tossup nature of the game itself and my conflicting emotions, I will take the three points. Roll Tide.
Pick: Alabama +3
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Georgia Bulldogs vs Alabama Crimson Tide
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