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SEC Football Betting Preview: Picks, Predictions, Over/Unders and Dark Horses

By Reed Wallach

Jan 10, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) pressures Georgia
Jan 10, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) pressures Georgia / Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
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The best conference in college football will be just that in 2022, no question about it.

Alabama is the favorite to win the National Championship with Bryce Young looking to make it back-to-back Heisman Trophy wins along with the best defensive player in the country in Will Anderson. Just behind them is the defending champions, the Georgia Bulldogs.

Plenty of talented teams make up the SEC though with a team like Tennessee attempting to take a step forward under second year head coach Josh Heupel. Who else is in the mix in 2022?

Let's get you ready for SEC football this season, here is everything you need to know:

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook

2022 SEC Win Totals

  • Alabama: 10.5 (Over -255/Under +205)
  • Arkansas: 7.5 (Over +125/Under -145)
  • Auburn: 6.5 (Over +135/Under -160)
  • Florida: 7 (Over -125/Under +105)
  • Georgia: 10.5 (Over -230/Under +185)
  • Kentucky: 8 (Over -115/Under -105)
  • LSU: 7 (Over +115/Under -135)
  • Mississippi State: 6.5 (Over -125/Under +105)
  • Missouri: 5.5 (Over +115/Under -135)
  • Ole Miss: 7.5 (Over -135/Under +115)
  • South Carolina: 6 (Over -125/Under +105)
  • Tennessee: 7.5 (Over -160/Under +135)
  • Texas A&M: 8.5 (Over -150/Under +130)
  • Vanderbilt: 2.5 (Over +120/Under -140)

2022 SEC Football Conference Championship Odds

  • Alabama: -145
  • Arkansas: +6000
  • Auburn: +15000
  • Florida: +4500
  • Georgia: +155
  • Kentucky: +5500
  • LSU: +7000
  • Mississippi State: +12000
  • Missouri: +30000
  • Ole Miss: +5000
  • South Carolina: +15000
  • Tennessee: +5000
  • Texas A&M: +1800
  • Vanderbilt: +100000

SEC Conference Championship Favorite: Alabama (-145)

The Crimson Tide enter at the top of all power ratings with the reigning Heisman Trophy winner Young anchoring the offense and Anderson leading the defense.

The Crimson Tide are going to be double digit favorites against all of their SEC opponents, a signal that they are seen as a cut above the rest this season.

Nick Saban is reloading around the aforementioned future top five picks though. Nearly all the significant pass catchers (Jameson Williams, John Metchie III, Jahleel Billingsley) are gone and the team is going to lean on transfers Jermaine Burton (Georgia) and Tyler Harrell (Louisville) to pick up the slack.

As well, 1,000 yard rusher Brian Robinson is gone. Saban nabbed explosive Georgia Tech transfer, Jahmyr Gibbs, in addition to some top recruits to fill in the void.

On defense, Anderson is the star of the show after racking up 34 tackles for a loss last season. The defensive line was one of the best in the country , and they posted the 22nd best success rate in the country. If there are questions, it comes in the secondary where the team needs to replace two starting cornerbacks.

There may be new faces around Young and Anderson, but after being runners up to the National Championship, the team enters as the favorite to get over the hump in 2022.

SEC Championship Dark Horse: Ole Miss (+5000)

I'm not an advocating for fading both Alabama and Georgia in this market, but if there's a team with a path towards a top 10 ranking this season it may be Ole Miss and not Tennessee. While the Vols may be great this season, the word is out on them and I think they lose "dark horse" qualifications.

The Rebels do need to replace Matt Corral, but head coach Lane Kiffin did a great job replacing him with Jaxson Dart from USC. Dart played sparingly as a freshman, but showcased immense arm talent and should thrive with Kiffin's up tempo offense.

Kiffin also brought in two stud transfers in the backfield with Uylsses Bentley (SMU) and Zach Evans (TCU). The offensive line also returns four starters so there should be plenty of upside despite losing Corral, who also was hurt down the stretch of the season.

The schedule is quite kind to the Rebels in 2022, unlike Tennessee for example.

While the team does go to Texas A&M, they avoid Georgia in cross-division matchups and get Alabama off of a bye after the Crimson Tide go to Baton Rouge. Could they be vulnerable and tired, setting up for a let down? That's one of the best spots on the board for a team that won 10 games last season.

SEC Championship Pick: Alabama Over Georgia

Would it be anyone else?

I'll give the nod to Bama here even though I think they are slightly overrated in the market heading into the season given that they will have the two best players on the field, but don't sleep on Georgia this season.

The team may be losing a ton of production on the defense but this is a team that has recruited at a high level for several years now and has plenty of blue chip prospects waiting to break out and be top picks similar to those that went on the first night of the NFL Draft this past year. Jalen Carter may be the No. 1 pick in the 2023 Draft and Nolan Smith was fifth in tackles last season.

While the Bulldogs lost Burton to Alabama, there is plenty of talent on hand as most of the pass catchers from last season were underclassmen such as Brock Bowers, Adonai Mitchell and former No.1 TE recruit Arik Gilbert, who missed all of last season.

If Stetson Bennett takes a step forward as a passer, this Georgia offense has higher upside in 2022 on that side of the ball.

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