The SEC has earned its reputation as the premier conference in college football.
An SEC team has won the national championship in 13 of the past 17 seasons.
The conference’s stronghold on college football has only intensified since Georgia ascended to the top of the sport.
The Bulldogs’ transformation into a juggernaut has also ushered in a semblance of divisional balance in the conference.
From 2009-16, the SEC West won eight straight conference championship games.
Since then, Georgia has appeared in five SEC title games, winning two.
The Bulldogs’ emergence as a national powerhouse has also made predicting the conference champion a trickier proposition.
After a dominant run by Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide from 2009-16, just three of the past six SEC champions entered as preseason favorites.
Though you won’t confuse the SEC for a wide-open conference like the Big 12, there is hope for teams outside of Athens.
We’ll start with Georgia, the preseason favorite (-110 at BetMGM).
The Bulldogs are replacing Stetson Bennett at quarterback and four starters on defense.
All four of those defenders heard their names called at the 2023 NFL Draft.
Carson Beck is the presumed starter and has a soft opening slate (UT Martin, Ball State) to work out the adjustments.
Luckily for Beck, Georgia has a deep backfield, flanked by versatile weapons such as Missouri transfer receiver Dominic Lovett and All-American tight end Brock Bowers.
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The defense returns starting experience at all three levels — headlined by All-America candidates Mykel Williams (DE), Jamon Dumas-Johnson (LB) and Javon Bullard (SS). It’s essentially a forgone conclusion Georgia will be in Atlanta in December.
The buzz around the Alabama (+260) program this offseason is that the lack of clarity at quarterback leaves Saban and the Tide as vulnerable as they’ve been in years.
But it’s worth noting that this roster is comprised of three of the top seven recruiting classes of all time.
After being humbled by Tennessee and LSU last fall, the Tide are loaded with blue-chip talent on defense, particularly in their secondary.
Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele has a chance to build off a unit that just finished ninth in scoring defense. Drawing LSU and Tennesee at home is a major plus.
Whether it’s Tyler Buchner, five-star Ty Simpson or the dual-threat Jalen Milroe, Alabama has the talent to stand toe-to-toe with Georgia in Atlanta.
Brian Kelly didn’t waste any time turning things around in Baton Rouge. LSU (+450) won the West and threw for 502 yards against Georgia in the SEC title game.
The Tigers have not one, but two Heisman candidates at quarterback (Jayden Daniels and Garrett Nussmeier), four returning starters along the offensive line and a breakout star at receiver in Malik Nabers. What LSU needs is for its patchwork back seven to jell.
The Tigers added a marquee transfer at linebacker (Speights, Oregon State) and four blue-chip cornerbacks headlined by Texas A&M five-star Denver Harris. Zy Alexander, a third-team FCS All-American last season, has a chance to be the most impactful corner after a successful spring.
If you’re looking for a flyer at a good price, Tennessee (20/1, BetRivers) is your team.
The Volunteers return 14 starters and draw Georgia at home late in the year.
Joe Milton III has the strongest arm in the nation and looked masterful in a 17-point triumph over Clemson in the Orange Bowl.
They’ll need their pass defense to improve by leaps and bounds (126th) if they hope to win their first SEC title in 25 years. But at 14/1, this is the best value play in the SEC.