Kirby Smart brings the undefeated Georgia Bulldogs into Bryant-Denny Stadium, where they haven’t won since 2007. Georgia is riding high after a gritty one-point victory over Kentucky in their SEC opener.
Meanwhile, first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer has Alabama off to a scorching 3-0 start after stepping in for the retired Nick Saban. The Crimson Tide have been dominant on both sides of the ball, outscoring opponents 147-26.
The undefeated Georgia Bulldogs are set to face their stiffest test yet when they match up against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first top-five collision on the SEC calendar this season. Who has the advantage when these two perennial powers meet?
Our Georgia vs. Alabama prediction has those answers and more.
Georgia vs. Alabama Betting Preview
All Georgia vs. Alabama odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. The CFN Spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- Spread
Georgia -1 - Moneyline
Georgia -118, Bama -102 - Over/Under
49.5 - Game time
7:30 p.m. ET - Location
Bryant-Denny Stadium | Tuscaloosa, Ala. - Predicted Weather at Kick
77 degrees, partly cloudy - How To Watch
ABC
Alabama opened as +4.5 home dogs, but that has come down under a field goal to +1. The total has also tumbled on this one, as it originally opened at 54 and has now come down to 49.5.
Georgia is 1-2 against the spread, with their only cover coming in an opening-week blowout win over Clemson. Alabama will enter 2-1 against the spread, as the only spread they haven’t covered was a 30-point spread against South Florida.
Georgia Remaining Winning Probabilities
Of note, the Georgia Bulldogs get their first of their real tests out of the way with the Tide in Week 5. They are set to be heavy favorites in all but two of their remaining games along the way.
Using the CFN Football Playoff Meter and our proprietary Strength of Schedule metrics, we can generate the winning probability for each of Georgia’s remaining games.
- Auburn 95.1%
- Mississippi State 98.8%
- @ Texas 39.4%
- Florida 95.1%
- @ Ole Miss 48.2%
- Tennessee 66.9%
- UMass 99.9%
- Georgia Tech 91.7%
Georgia is currently heavy favorites over all but Texas and Ole Miss on their schedule, though these numbers were run before Ole Miss’ loss to Kentucky in Week 5. That should jump and the Dawgs should be favorites in each matchup except for a pivotal road trip to Texas this season.
Alabama Remaining Winning Probabilities
Similar to Georgia, Alabama gets their biggest test out of the way early. Though they have a 49.4% chance of knocking off Georgia by these numbers, their remaining games see them heavily favored or at least incredibly close (LSU, Tennessee) down the stretch in all but one game.
Using the same metrics as above, here are Alabama’s winning probabilities remaining:
- @ Vanderbilt 92.8%
- South Carolina 91.3%
- @ Tennessee 47.2%
- Missouri 64.6%
- @ LSU 50.0%
- Mercer 99.9%
- @ Oklahoma 74.9%
- Auburn 93.9%
Games at Tennessee and LSU are must-win games for an Alabama team that will likely be double-digit favorites in every other outing.
Prediction for Georgia vs. Alabama
Get ready for a thrilling showdown as Georgia and Alabama go head-to-head, featuring two of the nation’s top quarterbacks. Carson Beck has been lights out for the Bulldogs, racking up 680 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and no interceptions, showcasing his accuracy and calm under pressure.
On the other side, Jalen Milroe has been just as effective for the Crimson Tide, tallying 394 passing yards and five touchdowns without a turnover. Milroe’s impact isn’t limited to the passing game—he’s also Alabama’s leading rusher with 81 yards and four rushing touchdowns.
The Crimson Tide’s ground game is bolstered by the duo of Justice Haynes and Jam Miller, who have combined for four rushing touchdowns. Georgia counters with its own powerful backfield featuring Trevor Etienne and Nate Frazier, forming a formidable rushing attack.
Both teams have a bevy of receiving weapons. Alabama’s freshman phenom Ryan Williams already has three touchdowns, while Georgia’s deep receiving corps boasts six different players who have found the end zone this season. This matchup promises to be an offensive spectacle.
It’s the first regular-season clash between Georgia and Alabama since October 17, 2020, when the Crimson Tide rolled to a 41-24 victory on their way to an undefeated season and national championship.
Alabama has won two of the last three meetings, including last year’s SEC Championship Game, where they handed Georgia its only loss and dashed their playoff hopes.
To change the narrative, Georgia’s Carson Beck needs a bounce-back performance after a tough outing against Kentucky, where he threw for just 160 yards on 15-of-24 passing. With standout offensive guard Tate Ratledge sidelined, the Bulldogs’ offensive line will have to step up to protect Beck and establish the run game.
Defensively, Georgia will rely on outside linebacker Jalon Walker and defensive end Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins to control the line of scrimmage. To win in Tuscaloosa, they’ll need to contain Jalen Milroe and prevent him from breaking the game open with his legs.
Keeping Milroe from creating on the ground will be Georgia’s top defensive priority. His ability to stay mistake-free, as he did in last year’s 27-24 SEC Championship win, could once again tip the scales. If Milroe plays turnover-free football, Alabama will be tough to beat at home, especially as their offense hits its stride.
Look for this contest to tighten up late, with both teams leaning on their quarterbacks to make plays in crunch time. The absence of Ratledge could be the difference, and I see Alabama’s offense doing just enough at home to secure a pivotal SEC win.
The Prediction: Alabama 24, Georgia 20
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