LSU may have the better ranking, but Alabama is apparently still the favorite among the bettors.
The second-ranked Crimson Tide opened as 6.5-point favorites over the No. 1 Tigers at Westgate Las Vegas Superbook on Sunday.
The SEC foes will face off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET in Tuscaloosa, Ala., in a game with far more than regular-season rankings on the line.
The offenses are led by perhaps the two leading Heisman Trophy favorites in Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and LSU quarterback Joe Burrow. The winner of the game will take sole possession of first place in the SEC West and have the inside track on a spot in the SEC championship game. And if the winner were to run the table through the regular season, they may qualify for the College Football Playoff regardless of whether they win the SEC title game.
The big question heading into the game is the health of Tagovailoa. The junior sustained a sprained ankle against Tennessee on Oct. 19, underwent surgery the next day and has not played since. Citing conversations with oddsmakers, ESPN reported that the line is set assuming Tagovailoa will play.
Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban has called Tagovailoa’s availability against LSU a game-time decision.
According to ESPN, oddsmakers believe the line could swing enough to make the Tigers the favorite should Tagovailoa not play and sophomore Mac Jones make his second straight start. Jones was 18 of 22 for 235 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in a 48-7 win over Arkansas on Oct. 26.
Both Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC) and LSU (8-0, 4-0) had a bye this past weekend.
Despite the Tide’s win over Arkansas in Week 9, LSU leapfrogged Alabama from No. 2 to the top spot in the AP Top 25 after their 23-20 win over then-No. 9 Auburn on Oct. 26.
The Westgate Las Vegas Superbook opened the over/under at 65.
