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College Football National Championship Prediction and Odds: What Bettors Need to Know

By Reed Wallach

Downtown Indianapolis gets ready for the NCAA College Football Playoff championship. Giant lettering
Downtown Indianapolis gets ready for the NCAA College Football Playoff championship. Giant lettering / Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar / USA TODAY
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We have arrived at the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game!

We have plenty of coverage at BetSided including individual game previews for No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Georgia as well as historical trends for National Championship games.

Below we are going to hit on how to bet this game as well as the updated odds from WynnBET Sportsbook ahead of the awaited matchup, which pits the Crimson Tide and the Bulldogs in a rematch from the SEC Championship game that Alabama won 41-24.

Georgia vs. Alabama Odds, Spread and Total

Spread:

  • Georgia: -3 (+100)
  • Alabama: +3 (-120)

Moneyline:

  • Georgia: -145
  • Alabama: +120

Total:

  • 52 (Over -110/Under -110)

Alabama vs. Georgia Betting Trends

  • The team that wins College Football Playoff Games has covered in 19 of 23 games
  • Alabama is 8-6 ATS this season
  • Alabama went UNDER in seven of 14 games this season
  • Georgia is 9-5 ATS this season
  • Georgia went UNDER in eight of 14 games this season

Georgia vs. Alabama Prediction and Pick

These are the two best teams in the country this season, but I have had Georgia rated as the top team since September. With that in mind, I'm backing the Bulldogs to get some revenge on the Crimson Tide and win the National Championship.

I believe that the betting market is overreacting to Alabama's victory in the SEC Championship, generating betting value on the best defense in the country and an underrated offense. Not to mention, the first meeting was a motivation mismatch with the Bulldogs all but certainly making the CFP regardless of the results. Don't rule out the fact that Georgia could have been holding back a bit ahead of this potential meeting.

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett may not have the credentials that Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young has, but he is second in the SEC in explosive play rate and I believe that he will continue his upward trajectory that he showed in the Orange Bowl victory over Michigan.

If Bennett is able to get the ball going down field that will open up the Bulldogs run game that struggled against Alabama in the SEC Championship, averaging less than 4 yards per carry. With a negative game script in the prior meeting, Bennett was forced to take chances that turned into turnovers. If he is able to settle in and keep the Crimson Tide pass rush honest, the field can open up for the Bulldogs offense.

I also believe that the loss of Alabama star wide receiver John Metchie is not being discussed enough. Metchie had nearly 100 yards in the SEC Championship game before tearing his ACL. Without him, Georgia can focus more on shutting down explosive threat Jameson Williams (184 yards through the air in the prior meeting) and bring more of a pass rush.

The Bulldogs have one of the most feared defensive lines in college football, 11th in tackles for loss, top 15 in generating havoc plays, and they will be able to bring more pressure on Young, who has completed less than 50% of his passes when under duress this season, per Pro Football Focus.

Overall, teams that lost the first meeting in 15-7 straight up in the second meeting, winning the last nine (h/t Stuckey from Action Network).

Don't overreact to the prior result, Georgia is the class of the sport, and I believe they bring out some more wrinkles that could've been hidden in the prior meeting given that they had all but locked up a spot in the CFP.

PICK: Georgia ML -145

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