If you’re talking about the SEC and college football, then surely you know that there’s Alabama – and then there’s everyone else!Despite losing the 2017 national championship, not only are the Crimson Tide expected to repeat as SEC champs this coming season, but they are once again, the prohibitive college football betting favorites to win the 2018 national championship. Let’s find out why the Tide are the SEC and national championship favorites and whether or not one of their longtime conference counterparts could pull off the conference title upset for the ages.
Analyzing The Best Early 2017 NCAAF SEC Title Bets and Expert Predictions
Alabama -190
The Crimson Tide lost a bunch of talent on the defensive side of the ball with defensive end Jonathan Allen and linebackers Reuben Foster, Ryan Anderson and Tim Williams all taking their talents to the NFL, along with sure-handed tight end O.J. Howard.Still, Alabama Crimson Tide has a bunch of five-star recruits waiting in the wings to replace their departed stars and a gifted dual-threat quarterback in sophomore Jalen Hurts that looked really special to me a year ago as a true freshman. The Tide also have a great 1-2 combination at running back in Damien Harris and Bo Scarborough that will once again be the foundation for Alabama’s offensive success. Unless they somehow manage to lose two conference games (they won’t), all roads to the SEC championship will go through Alabama whether you like them or loathe them.ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE TEAM STATISTICS
Offensive total yards: 455.27Average Score For: 38.80Offensive rush yards: 246.93Defensive total yards: 262.13Average Score For: 38.80Defensive rush yards: 64.27Offensive passing yards: 208.33Defensive passing yards: 197.87Average Score Against: 13.00LSU +400
With the no-nonsense Ed Orgeron entering his first full season as head coach, I’m expecting LSU to have a powerful defense that will help them challenge for the conference crown – at least, for a little while. Running back Derrius Guice is a superstar just waiting to happen, but I’m not completely sold on quarterback Danny Etling. The Tigers will also have a new offensive system under first-year coordinator Matt Canada. The Tigers will be very good in 2017, just not good enough to beat out Alabama for the conference crown.LSU TIGERS TEAM STATISTICS
Offensive total yards: 423.08Average Score For: 28.33Defensive total yards: 314.42Offensive rush yards: 233.00Defensive rush yards: 118.00Offensive passing yards: 190.08Defensive passing yards: 196.42Average Score Against: 15.75