For the fifth time in 10 years, Alabama will meet Georgia for the SEC crown. Georgia has yet to beat Alabama in an SEC Championship Game since Kirby Smart took over as the Dawgs’ head coach, though he has gotten closer the longer he has built his program.
Alabama rolled Georgia in the 2016 title fight, 54-16. Alabama won the 2021 title game 41-24. In 2023, when the 2 sides met again, Georgia lost by just 3.
Nick Saban is no longer around to torment Smart, with Kalen DeBoer taking his place and looking to lead the Crimson Tide to a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.
The game kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on ABC. Let’s look for a few DFS angles to attack.
SEC Championship DFS predictions
Below are 3 DFS picks for the SEC Championship Game that can be found across some of the best apps for daily fantasy sports on the market. New users can hit the banner below each player pick and our SDS sign-up bonus will be applied to your account.
Alabama QB Ty Simpson: Higher than 0.5 interceptions
Ty Simpson has only thrown 4 interceptions this season, 2 of which came in the blowout win over Eastern Illinois. That game looks like an aberration in hindsight; he only dropped back to pass 19 times — the lowest since Week 2 — and yet he threw as many interceptions as he had in his first 10 games combined. Simpson bounced back and was turnover-free in the win at Auburn.
But Simpson hasn’t exactly been clean with he ball. He has 14 turnover-worthy plays this season, per PFF. In the first meeting with Georgia, he had 2 but didn’t throw a pick.
Simpson surged in confidence after his season-opening stinker, but this game represents another new frontier. There’s something different about a conference title game — the nerves, the pressure. Simpson has struggled when pressured this season, and Georgia’s defense has started to turn it up of late. The Dawgs have 4 of their 8 interceptions on the season in their last 3 games. Corner Ellis Robinson IV has a pick in each of his last 2 appearances. I think the Dawgs get at least 1 off Simpson.
Via Underdog
Georgia RB Nate Frazier: Higher than 60.5 rushing yards
Chauncey Bowens ran for 119 yards and a touchdown against Alabama in the first meeting. But after getting hurt against Texas on Nov. 15, Bowens hasn’t seen the field. He dressed, but didn’t play against Georgia Tech, and Smart said after the game he could have played but the staff ultimately decided to hold him out after he was limited in practice.
Part of the calculus there has to include Nate Frazier’s surge. He has taken hold of the backfield since exploding for 181 yards on 12 carries in early November. Frazier has led all Georgia backs in carries in 7 straight games, and he has at least 61 yards in 3 of his last 4.
Bowens, if available, would cut into Frazier’s workload a bit, but Georgia should be able to run on this Alabama defense and that means Frazier should get enough volume to threaten this number. Alabama ranks 48th nationally in yards per carry allowed, giving up 3.9 per play to opposing rushing attacks. Auburn ran for 152 last week. Georgia ran for 227 in the first meeting.
The Dawgs have been more run-heavy in recent weeks. If that continues — Alabama’s defense is definitely stronger against the throw game than the run game — Georgia’s top back should have a decent day.
Via Dabble
Georgia QB Gunner Stockton: Lower than 27.5 pass attempts
Gunner Stockton threw 20 times for 130 yards and a score in the first meeting with Alabama. Over the Dawgs’ last 2 games, he hasn’t gone over 21 pass attempts. And, the last time out, he threw for just 70 yards against what had been a slumping Georgia Tech defense.
Alabama’s defense has faced just 26.6 pass attempts a game this season, and it gives up only 15.5 completions a game. The Tide have more interceptions than touchdowns allowed through the air. I just don’t think the way to attack this defense is to turn Stockton into a heavy drop-back guy.
Via Underdog
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
