The SEC was able to play as full of a schedule as it could last year. As a result, nine teams went bowling and the SEC proved why they are the premier conference in college football with a 7-2 bowl record.
Four teams finished in the top 13 of the AP poll with the Florida Gators and Alabama Crimson Tide meeting for a 52-46 offensive showdown in the SEC Championship Game. The Crimson Tide took care of business against Notre Dame and Ohio State in the College Football Playoffs en route to Nick Saban’s seventh National Championship.
The Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns decided to join the SEC to the shock of many this offseason. The addition of both schools is the first expansion for the SEC since the Missouri Tigers and Texas A&M Aggies joined back in 2012, also from the Big 12. For now, they will join the conference in 2025 but do not be surprised if a change happens as soon as next year. This could very well be the last year of the two-division format for the Southeastern Conference.
SEC East Overview
In the SEC East, the Florida Gators, with Kyle Trask, Kyle Pitts, and Kadarius Toney, put a stop to the Georgia Bulldogs’ winning the division for the third straight year. In the last six years, the Gators and Bulldogs have each split the division three times. The Gators will have to overcome the loss of 12 starters, including their quarterback and top three leading-receivers, which is why they are projected to finish second in the division. There are high expectations out of Athens for Georgia in Year 2 of the J.T. Daniels experience, and it all starts Week 1 in a top-five matchup against the Clemson Tigers. The Kentucky Wildcats and Missouri have been consistently finishing behind either of the aforementioned teams at third and fourth. The Tennessee Volunteers, South Carolina Gamecocks and Vanderbilt Commodores all hired new coaches in the offseason, as each program is a work-in-progress to get the programs to trend in the right direction. In Vanderbilt's case, they are far behind the rest of the conference.
SEC West Overview
The SEC West is Alabama and everybody else. All Alabama knows is how to win under Saban. A 79-6 record in the last six years, 3-2 record in the CFP National Championship and only one season with more than one loss during that span is nothing short of incredible. With the highest win total in all of college football at 11.5 games, one loss in the regular season takes it under. Although the idea Alabama needs to lose just once sounds tempting, the schedule brings up the question if they will be losing any time soon. Playing Alabama under 11.5 wins for -125 is not worth it compared to just betting the money line for the team that has the best potential to upset them that week for plus money (Alabama will be favored in all 12 games). Jimbo Fisher led the Aggies to a 9-1 record and barely missed the playoff because of a 28-point loss to Alabama. A&M will have to find a new life after the departure of four-year starter and school-leading passer Kellen Mond. The LSU Tigers will look to get their offense back to 2019’s form while all eyes are on Lane Kiffin and the Mississippi Rebels offense. Bo Nix and new coach Bryan Harsin have some work to do to get to seven wins. Lastly, a pair of second-year SEC head coaches, Mike Leach and Sam Pittman, will seek bowl eligibility.
As always, search around for the best line available, as it could be the difference between a loss and pushing for your money back!
SEC East best bet: Tennessee under 6 wins -120
Home games: BOWLING GREEN, PITTSBURGH, TENNESSEE TECH, SOUTH CAROLINA, OLE MISS, GEORGIA, SOUTH ALABAMA, VANDERBILT
Away games: FLORIDA, MISSOURI, ALABAMA, KENTUCKY
DraftKings odds SEC East Win Totals | ||||
Team | PFF Projected Wins | O/U Wins | Over | Under |
Georgia | 9.5 | 10.5 | -130 | +110 |
Florida | 8.7 | 9 | +105 | -125 |
Kentucky | 7.3 | 7 | -125 | +105 |
Missouri | 6.9 | 7 | -115 | -105 |
Tennessee | 6.6 | 6 | +100 | -120 |
South Carolina | 4.9 | 4 | +110 | -130 |
Vanderbilt | 4.4 | 3.5 | +105 | -125 |