Overview
- Oddsmakers list No. 4 Alabama about a 6-point favorite over No. 11 Oklahoma and No. 5 Georgia around -6 to -6.5 against No. 10 Texas on Saturday.
- SportsLine’s model projects underdog covers in both games, forecasting Oklahoma to cover at Alabama and Texas to cover at Georgia in the majority of simulations.
- CFP chair Mack Rhoades said playing in a conference championship is viewed positively by the committee, a stance reported as effectively securing Alabama’s playoff spot if it reaches the SEC title game even with a loss there.
- Alabama enters on an eight-game win streak behind QB Ty Simpson’s efficient season, while a key battleground is turnovers, with Alabama at plus-10 and Oklahoma at minus-five; the Sooners also carry a rest advantage after a bye.
- Georgia is favored at home with ESPN’s predictor giving the Bulldogs roughly a 60% win chance, as Texas seeks to offset road struggles with Arch Manning’s recent uptick and a front that leads the nation in sacks.