College Football Betting Odds: SEC Favorite, Sleeper and Predictions for 2026-27

The college football landscape has changed dramatically in the era of player compensation, conference realignments, and NIL. But, the SEC has maintained a hierarchy in recent years: the Georgia Bulldogs have been top dog.

Georgia is seeking a third consecutive Southeastern Conference title, something no school has accomplished since Alabama a decade ago. But, college football betting sites are offering interesting odds on several SEC schools that could topple the Dawgs this fall and winter.

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SEC Conference Winner Odds

Georgia is a little more than a 2.5-to-1 favorite, with the Texas Longhorns at roughly 3-to-1 odds, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

The best time to hop into Futures Betting is prior to the season or early in the schedule. That is especially true if you are seeking to leverage the odds on a sleeper or longshot.

SEC College Football Betting

Online sports betting apps are in agreement: Georgia and Texas are the teams to beat in the SEC this season. But your betting strategy can include a sleeper or even a longshot if that's in your budget. ESPN has three SEC teams in its preseason top 25, reflecting the depth in the conference.

Why the Favorite is a Good Bet: Georgia

Why can Georgia snatch the SEC crown again? It starts with head coach Kirby Smart, who has led the Bulldogs to at least 11 wins in eight straight seasons. Under Smart, the school has made appearances in four of the last five CFP tournaments.

Next, there's the defense. The Bulldogs return eight starters from their 2025 defensive unit that was 11th in the nation in preventing scoring and 14th-ranked based on yards allowed. The Bulldogs allowed 15 points or fewer in eight of their 14 games last season. Three of Georgia's defenders are ranked in the Top 100 college players for 2026 by 247 Sports. With so many experienced and skilled players in tow, Georgia will be tough to topple.

The talent in Athens is undeniable. Smart has a group of future NFL players at his disposal: in the last five years, the Bulldogs have had 49 players selected in the NFL draft, the most from any college football program. In 2022 alone, the Dawgs had a record-setting 15 players picked.

• PRESEASON ODDS: +260 ($100 winning bet will return $260)

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SEC Sleeper Bet: Oklahoma Sooners

The Sooners settled a lot of scores in 2025. After going 2-6 against conference opponents in its first year in the SEC in 2024, Oklahoma flipped that record to 6-2 and made the CFP. The Sooners celebrated wins over ranked Tennessee, Auburn, Missouri, and Alabama.

Yes, Oklahoma is a force in the SEC. An appearance in the conference title game was only prevented by a fourth quarter collapse (against Ole Miss). This year, head coach Brent Venables will enjoy playing Texas on a neutral site, and hosting Ole Miss and Texas A&M. The only daunting SEC game will be Georgia on the road.

Oklahoma could lose to Georgia in Athens and still go 7-1 in the SEC. That's because the Sooners boast an elite defense. Last season, it ranked 7th in the nation in Expected Points Added on defense, according to Sports Reference. Oklahoma was sixth in college football in points allowed, and third in preventing the run game (77.3 YPG and a stingy 2.4 Yards Per Attempt).

According to SoonersWire, OU's 14 returning starters (eight on defense) is tied with Georgia, Notre Dame, Maryland, Oregon, and Virginia Tech for the second-most among power conference schools. Venables, who handles defensive play-calling, will have many familiar faces on his defensive unit in 2026.

• PRESEASON ODDS: +950 ($100 winning bet will return $950)

Longshot Bet: Missouri Tigers

Many experts felt the 2025 season would be the opportune time for Missouri to make a push for the College Football Playoff (CFP). That's in part because Mizzou didn't have Georgia or Texas on its schedule. Instead, the Tigers fumbled an opportunity to defeat Alabama at home, and then lost road games at Vanderbilt and Texas A&M to slide out of contention.

This year, the Bulldogs and Longhorns are on the schedule for Missouri in back-to-back weeks in November. If Eli Drinkwitz can navigate his team through its first eight games with only one loss (other than Texas A&M and Ole Miss the path is pretty clear), the Tigers could make headlines if they topple one of the big schools in those mid-November matchups.

How can Missouri win the SEC? Run Tiger, run. That's how. According to PFF, the Tigers have the No. 6 offensive line in college football, and the No. 2 rated running back in Ahmad Hardy, who averaged 6.4 yards per carry in his first season in the SEC in 2025 after transferring from the Sun Belt Conference.

To accomplish a miracle and win the SEC, Hardy and QB transfer Austin Simmons (from Ole Miss) will need to chew up yardage in a safe way, avoiding turnovers and three-and-outs. The key for Mizzou will be grinding out low-to-mid scoring games against bigger and faster teams in the SEC. Eight wins should be doable for the Tigers, but it will take nine or maybe even 10 heading into their SEC rivalry game against Oklahoma for Missouri to have a chance to capture a longshot SEC title.

• PRESEASON ODDS: +3300 ($100 winning bet will return $3,300)

Prediction: Bulldogs Three-peat

The days of Alabama dominating college football are over. The playing field has been leveled because any school can grab great talent now if it dangles enough money in front of players from a pool of donor dollars. We live in a world where Indiana can win a college football title.

But just because the Crimson Tide are just another college football program doesn't mean the SEC is wide open. The Bulldogs have the pigskin trinity: best head coach, best offensive line, and best defense.

Alabama hosts Georgia this season. Last year, the road team won that big game. This year, it won't matter where the game is played: Georgia will get revenge and roll to a third straight conference title, likely after beating Oklahoma in the SEC championship.

• PREDICTION: Georgia 7-1 in the SEC to win the conference title.