CFB Betting Brief 10/16/2020: Alabama Vs. Georgia Headline Big Weekend

• The Alabama Crimson Tide are favored at -180 to beat the Georgia Bull Dogs.
• Nick Saban will not be coaching as he has tested positive for COVID-19.
• The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are -800 against the Louisville Cardinals.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – There are several key games this weekend in the NCAA college football arena. The No. 2 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide play the No. 3 ranked Georgia Bulldogs, The Notre Dame Fighting Irish battle it out with the Louisville Cardinals, and the Miami Hurricanes are facing off against the Pittsburgh Panthers.

The Alabama vs. Georgia game, in particular, is interesting, as Alabama will be without legendary head coach Nick Saban due to him testing positive for COVID-19.

The race for the playoffs begins winding down, as sports bettors also begin taking action on who will make the postseason.

Alabama Crimson Tide Vs. Georgia Bulldogs Odds

• Moneyline: Alabama -180, Georgia +160
• Spread: Alabama -4.5
• Totals: Over/Under 57.5

The Alabama vs. Georgia game is the big-ticket at online sportsbooks this weekend. The teams are ranked 3 and 4 respectively, and Alabama will be playing without head coach Nick Saban on the sidelines due to the coronavirus.

This makes this game interesting for college football betting as the underdog odds on Georgia seem that much more appealing since Alabama will be without their leader.

The matchup in particular that most college football enthusiasts will be looking out for is Alabama’s offense against Georgia’s defense.

Many have Crimson Tide quarterback Mac Jones as a sleeper to win the Heisman trophy this year. Jones, through just three games, has already thrown for 1,101 yards, eight touchdowns, and one interception for a total QBR of 95.3.

Georgia’s defense, however, seems to be one of the few in the country that hasn’t missed a beat since the COVID-19 pandemic took away practice time over the offseason. The Bulldogs are ranked second in the nation in terms of total defense, only allowing 236.7 yards per game.

If the Bulldogs can slow down the Mac attack and neutralize his favorite target, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, then they have a great chance to pull off the upset.

Alabama allowed the Ole Miss Rebels to hang 48 points on them last week showing that their defense is suspect to allow for big plays and lots of scoring.

Louisville Cardinals Vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Odds

• Moneyline: Notre Dame -800, Louisville +500
• Spread: Notre Dame -17
• Totals: Over/under 62.5

The Number 4 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish will be hosting the Louisville Cardinals in this match up. Notre Dame is heavily favored to take the win, and rightfully so given the way these teams have played so far this season.

Notre Dame is expected to not only win Saturday but blow out Louisville by at least 17 points. Sports bettors are leaning heavily in Notre Dame’s favor as Louisville is not even ranked in the top 25 currently.

Louisville is also 1-3 on the season compared to Notre Dame’s 3-0 record. Still, Notre Dame has yet to play any real competition. And they give up a lot of points on the defensive end. Just last week they allowed the Florida State Seminoles to score 26 points.

If Louisville’s defense can slow down Notre Dame (easier said than done) then it is entirely possible for them to exploit the defensive weakness of Notre Dame.

But, given the offensive line prowess that Notre Dame is boasting, don’t count on it. Avoid the moneyline on this one but look to the Over if you’re willing to roll the dice.

UM Hurricanes Vs. Pittsburgh Panthers Odds

• Moneyline: UM -500, Pittsburgh +350
• Spread: UM -13
• Totals: Over/Under 47.5

The Miami Hurricanes are heavily favored to beat the Pittsburgh Panthers in this matchup.

Miami has defeated all the teams they faced except for a blowout loss against the No. 1 ranked Clemson Tigers. With that loss, Miami showed lapses in defense.

While UM shines against weak competition, their defense is clearly exploitable and if the Panthers manage to attack their defensive line, specifically on the run, they can lead to a major upset.

Picking the Panthers on the spread might be the best play on this matchup.

CFP Playoff Championship Odds

With several weeks played, sports bettors are taking action at legal sports betting sites as to who will win the national championship. Clemson leads all with the shortest odds, while Alabama has the second shortest odds to take the chip.

Given the fact that two of the top four teams on the odds board are facing each other on Saturday, expect these odds to shift next week. This could be the best opportunity to get the longest odds on either Alabama or Georgia.

This CFB has already brought with it several upsets and major wins for underdog bettors. As the season progresses, expect there to be more winning opportunities at online sportsbooks.

News tags: Alabama Crimson Tide | Clemson Tigers | Georgia Bulldogs | Louisville Cardinals | Miami Hurricanes | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | Pittsburgh Panthers