The 2017 edition of the SEC Football Championship between Ole Miss and Alabama will be one for the history books. The two teams have traded blows for decades, with Alabama finally securing the all-time series victory with a 28–23 decision in last year’s semifinal. With so much on the line, fans nationwide are paying close attention.
The game is part of a crucial two-week span for both teams. Ole Miss will try to defend its conference title while Alabama looks to continue its quest for a second straight national championship. The betting line for the game is available online and in sportsbooks, and can vary from sharp to generous depending on what website you visit. Here’s a breakdown of wagering on, and the outcome of, the historic 2017 SEC Football Championship Game.
The Odds
The odds for the game are currently available online at numerous betting websites. Bettors will find prop bets, including several that reference individual players, as well as a complete game wager. The biggest news for would-be bettors is the inclusion of this year’s matchup as a “pick ’em” game. This is the first time in the history of the series that both teams are ranked in the top four nationally. It’s also the first time the teams have met since 2014, a span in which Alabama is 61–6.
Past Performance
Ole Miss is 5–1 ATS in its last 6 games after scoring 20+ points in their previous game. The Rebels are 19–3 ATS in their last 22 games following a win, and 4–1 ATS in their last 5 games decided in the final five minutes. Alabama is 4–3 ATS in its last 7 games after scoring 20+ points, and 14–3 ATS in its last 17 games following a win. The Tide are 41–16 ATS in their last 57 games overall, and are 34–6 ATS in their last 40 games at home.
Matchup Overview
The teams met three times previously this season, with each game ending in a tie. Ole Miss won the first two matchups, including a 20–17 triple-overtime thriller in Oxford last month. The most recent meeting was a 26–23 upset victory for the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. This is the first time in series history that Alabama has won back-to-back games, but the second time in the last three years that Ole Miss has knocked off the reigning national champions.
Ole Miss has a 2–1 edge in the all-time series. The Rebels defeated the Tide 41–14 in the 2014 season, but Alabama reclaimed the W with a 28–23 triumph last year. Despite the lopsided score, this game, as mentioned, was a thriller. In triple overtime, it took a 73-yard game-winning drive by Jalen Hurts and a critical fourth-down stop by Rashaan Evans to secure the win for Alabama. No team has ever come back from a 15-point deficit to win a college football game, and this year’s edition was no different. It was one of the best games of the season, so it’s no wonder why it’s widely seen as a national title contender.
Ole Miss also has a 2–1 record in the all-time series against LSU. The two teams have split the previous five contests, with each winning three times. The Rebels won the 2014 season opener by a score of 13–3 and have rebounded nicely by winning the last two matchups, including a 28–21 stunner in Oxford last month. The last time the teams met was in November 2016, a 17–10 LSU victory in Death Valley. This year’s game will mark the fourth meeting between these longtime rivals, with three previous games ending in a tie.
LSU is 4–1 ATS in its last 5 games overall, and 5–1 ATS in its last 6 games at home. The last time the Tigers were home was the 2016 Cotton Bowl, a 36–28 defeat at the hands of the eventual champion Florida State Seminoles. LSU has not beaten an SEC team this season, losing its last three games by a combined score of 126–44. The Tigers will be playing without several key players, including cornerbacks Anthony Averett and Dre Kirkpatrick, as well as linebacker Travis Lewis. This is a massive blow to an already wounded team.
Overall Impressions
It’s hard to find a bad thing to say about either of these two teams. Both have been dominant, with Alabama securing a spot in the top five of every major category. Despite losing half of its starting offensive line from a year ago, the Crimson Tide are even more lethal with the triple option attack. Hurts, who missed last year’s entire season due to injury, has been flawless from the get-go, leading the team to a perfect 5–0 start.
Ole Miss is no slouch either, highlighted by preseason All-American Jalen Hurts and dynamic rusher Juwan Mitchell. The Rebels lost a ton of talent from a year ago, but have reloaded and are even more dynamic with junior college transfer Jordan Jefferson stepping in at quarterback. Senior wide receiver Lyn-Jelbert has also had a major impact, hauling in 12 receptions for 227 yards and two touchdowns in the last two games.
The winner of the game will not only secure its spot in next year’s college football playoff, but will also book a spot in the National Football League draft. That’s a lot to gain from a single game.