Alabama football isn't SEC Championship favorite. How long it's been since Crimson Tide was an underdog
Alabama football finds itself in unfamiliar territory this week as an underdog.
Even writing Alabama football and underdog in the same sentence sounds wrong. It's as strange as calling Goliath an underdog. The two don't fit together.
But as No. 2 Alabama (11-1) prepares to face No. 1 Georgia (12-0) at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the SEC Championship, the Crimson Tide is not the favorite.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Georgia is a 6.5-point favorite, according to Tipico Sportsbook.
It will probably come as no surprise that it's been a while since Alabama football was not favored entering a game. How long? Well, Alabama football quarterback Bryce Young wasn't even in high school yet. Neither was linebacker Will Anderson Jr.
KELLY: Why Alabama football's perceived flaw could serve as a difference-maker against Georgia
ALABAMA FOOTBALL MAILBAG:Iron Bowl heroes, right tackle and can Alabama beat Georgia?
This week marks the first time since Oct. 3, 2015 the Crimson Tide is an underdog, according to ESPN. This ends a 92-game streak.
The opponent that day was also Georgia, which Alabama beat 38-10.
“It’s not often that Alabama is on the other side of that, but, hey, we have to control what we can control," left tackle Evan Neal said. "We’re approaching this game like any other game. We’re approaching this game with intentions to win. Obviously, Georgia is a great team, one of the best defenses we’ve seen all year. We’ve just got to prepare. Prepare, prepare, prepare, all week. Take it one day at a time so that on Saturday we can go out there and execute.”
If there's anyone who knows how to get a team to execute in an SEC Championship Game, it's Nick Saban. He's coached Alabama in eight SEC championships, winning seven.
It's worth mentioning the one he didn't win, though. In 2008, Saban's first SEC Championship Game with the Crimson Tide resulted in a win for Tim Tebow and Florida. The Gators went on to win the national championship.
That's also the most recent time Alabama was 6.5-point underdog or higher, according to SportsLine.
And now Alabama heads to the SEC Championship Game as an underdog again.
"As far as me, I don’t really look at it as an underdog," safety Jordan Battle said. "I feel like it’s just another game. Obviously, Georgia is No. 1. Obviously, they are a great team. They have a great defense. Have a great offense. I feel like, in this game, we just have to make them one-dimensional, like our plan going into every other game.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship, and there is no influence on news coverage.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama-Georgia odds: Crimson Tide football underdog in SEC Championship
