BetMGM bonus code: 2023 Alabama National Championship, SEC Championship odds and predictions
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The Alabama Crimson Tide won’t miss the College Football Playoff in back-to-back years under Nick Saban, right?
Alabama backers have been asking themselves this question all offseason, and it’s almost time to see if they can successfully manifest it. Below are the three best Alabama bets of the 2023 season, and each is available via our BetMGM bonus codeALBONUS, worth up to $1,000 in first-bet bonuses.
The Crimson Tide missed the CFP last season for the first time since 2020 and only the second time in the format’s nine-year lifespan. Alabama went 11-2 with road losses to Tennessee and LSU by a combined four points.
To make matters worse, each defeat came on the final play of the game. While Bama may have been one of the four best teams in college football in 2022, the CFP committee maintained its stance that two-loss teams get no preferential treatment in postseason play, even if they’re from the SEC.
This will only be the case for one more year as the CFP expands to 12 teams in the 2024 season. But Saban and Co. now know the standard is one loss or back to a less meaningful bowl game.
The most prominent Alabama storyline is the departure of Bryce Young to the NFL, leaving Jalen Milroe, Tyler Buchner, and Ty Simpson to battle for QB1 duties. While Saban has yet to declare a Week 1 starter, BetMGM has faith in Milroe, as he carries +5000 odds to win the Heisman, while the other two are +8000.
The biggest threat to Bama claiming the National Championship is the Georgia Bulldogs, who are +200 to win it all. Georgia, led by coach Kirby Smart, is the first school to win consecutive titles in the CFP era.
But the Bulldogs also have question marks at passer, as two-year starter Stetson Bennett is now a pro. Carson Beck is his successor, but the 20-year-old has just 58 passing attempts in two seasons in Athens.
Former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees joined the Tide this offseason and promises to be a major help in bringing the new QBs along. Rees boasts an impressive track record in his three years coaching the Irish.
Alabama’s exceptional offensive line will provide plenty of time in the pocket for the eventual starting passer to get acclimated.
If you don’t have faith in the Tide to finish the job, opting into its CFP qualifier market provides a safer bet. If Alabama can maintain an undefeated record going into the SEC Championship game, which will likely be against -380 SEC East favorite Georgia, the Tide can afford to lose the game and still earn a CFP berth.
Navigating the SEC West hasn’t been a breeze in recent years, but Alabama is fortunate to play many of its toughest opponents at Bryant-Denny Stadium. That includes Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee, LSU, and a non-conference game vs. Texas.
Bringing Milroe, Buchner, or Simpson along won’t be easy, but playing the pivotal games at home will be a plus.
It’s tradition for college football powerhouse programs to schedule seemingly easy wins in Week 1 or 2 of the season. It gives fans an almost guaranteed victory to cheer on while the coaches get a low-stakes game to learn what kinks need to be fixed.
In the past five seasons, excluding the 2020 COVID year when SEC teams only played conference opponents, Alabama has taken these cupcake matchups seriously. The Crimson Tide hasn’t always covered the giant point spread, which is 38 points in Week 1, but it’s consistently lit up the scoreboard.
- 2022 vs. Utah State: 55-0
- 2021 vs. Mercer: 48-14
- 2020: COVID season
- 2019 vs. Duke: 42-3
- 2018 vs. Arkansas State: 57-7
- 2017 vs. Fresno State: 41-10
Look for another high-scoring affair from the Crimson Tide to kick off the 2023 season.
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