Alabama projects to be betting favorite for every game in 2014 season
Alabama has not been the underdog in the eyes of the betting lines since the 2009 SEC Championship Game and the Crimson Tide are expected to extend their streak of 54 straight games as the betting favorite throughout the entire season according to some early lines.
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Despite losing the final two games of their season, Alabama is still viewed in the eyes of the bookmakers to be the favorites in the season opener with 5DimesEU.com listing Alabama as a 24-point favorite in its season opener against West Virginia and starting the season off on the right foot once again.
The marquee games on the Tide’s schedule are their SEC games against Florida, LSU and of course Auburn in the Iron Bowl as they look to exact revenge after last year’s heartbreaking loss as time expired when Chris Davis returned a missed field goal for the game-winning touchdown.
Alabama is listed as a six-point favorite over Auburn for the 2014 Iron Bowl which could set records for television ratings. The line will fluctuate during the week of the game, but the early inclination is Alabama is a touchdown better than Auburn in their eyes. Last year, Auburn was a 9.5-point underdog and won 34-28.
The other two most challenging games for Alabama on paper would appear to be the Florida Gators and LSU Tigers and Alabama is currently a 21-point favorite for its Sept. 20 home game against the Gators who look to rebound after a dismal 4-8 season in 2013.
That’s a monstrous spread, but the line for the game vs. LSU is much slimmer as Alabama will open as a 2.5-point favorite for their road date to Death Valley on Nov. 8. The Tigers have played Alabama as tough as anyone during the Nick Saban-Les Miles era and is a difficult venue for road teams, so this is a stark contrast from last year’s 14-point line when the game was played in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Are you going to put any money down on Alabama this season? Which way will you be laying your money for these marquee games?