Winning the SEC would be an excellent way for first-year coach Brian Kelly to kick off his tenure at LSU. Anything can happen, of course, but the chances for the Tigers are pretty long based on the odds released recently by Louisiana sports betting apps.
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With only three returning starters on each side of the ball, Kelly will have his work cut out for him. That, of course, does not mean the Tigers can’t win the SEC in 2022, but it is going to be a challenge.
SEC Championship Odds 2022
Alabama is favored to repeat as SEC Champions, followed closely by last year’s runner-up, Georgia.
Texas A&M has the third-best odds, but odds tend to vary from book to book when you get beyond the Aggies. For example, while LSU has +4000 odds at Caesars, +7000 odds at BetRivers, and +10000 odds at FanDuel.
| SEC Champion 2022 | BetRivers | Caesars | FanDuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | -177 | -140 | -115 |
| Georgia | +155 | +120 | +150 |
| Texas A&M | +1600 | +1600 | +1200 |
| Tennessee | +5000 | +5000 | +5000 |
| Florida | +6600 | +5000 | +6000 |
| Arkansas | +6000 | +5000 | +5000 |
| Kentucky | +6600 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Ole Miss | +6600 | +3000 | +4000 |
| LSU | +7000 | +4000 | +10000 |
| Auburn | +15000 | +10000 | +15000 |
| Mississippi State | +15000 | +10000 | +12000 |
| South Carolina | +15000 | +10000 | +15000 |
| Missouri | +40000 | +50000 | +25000 |
| Vanderbilt | +100000 | +100000 | +50000 |
Tigers get the nod over Seminoles: LSU football favored over Florida State in 2022 season opener
It is not shocking to see Alabama favored to win. The Crimson Tide have won the last two and six of the last eight SEC titles. The last time they were not in the mix for the SEC title was back in 2010. Alabama started that season ranked No. 1 in the country but lost an early game to South Carolina and another a few weeks later to LSU.
That was also the year Cam Newton led Auburn to a national championship.
Alabama lost a lot of players to the NFL off last year’s team, but the Crimson Tide have 13 returning starters and arguably the best quarterback in the county in Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young. With how coach Nick Saban and his staff recruit, Alabama will likely have little-to-no difficulty filling any holes in the roster.
As is often the case, Georgia is expected to win the East Division (-750 at FanDuel Louisiana) and challenge Alabama in the SEC title game. Tennessee could pose a threat to the Bulldogs in the East (+2000), but Florida (+1200) and Kentucky (+1600) have shorter division odds.
Alabama’s biggest challenge may come from its own division, not from LSU but from Texas A&M. The Aggies lost their defensive coordinator and several starters from last year’s squad, but with a recruiting class stacked with 5-star and 4-star talent and a couple of players from the transfer portal, the Aggies could be the team to watch this year.
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It Will Be A Tough Road For LSU In 2022
LSU can’t say the same thing. Yes, Kelly is a solid head coach and a good hire for the program, but he’s inheriting a team that needs a lot of work. If he strikes gold with his first recruiting class and a few players outperform expectations, they could give Alabama a run for its money. Expecting an SEC Championship this year may be asking a bit much, though.
Winning their division will be enough of a challenge. Not only do the Tigers have to contend with Alabama, but Arkansas is a team on the rise, and Texas A&M is always dangerous. Ole Miss lost some key players to the NFL. However, the Rebels should still have a solid team this year.
FanDuel has posted odds for the SEC West and East division winners. It is not shocking that Alabama is listed as the favorite in the West at -400. Texas A&M has the second-best odds in the West at +600, followed by Ole Miss (+1600), Arkansas (+1600), LSU (+4000), Mississippi State (+6000), and Auburn (+10000).
AP Photo/Michael Wyke
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