SEC Football 2026 Top Teams Schedules, Odds, Tips

SEC Preview and Betting Opportunities

In the South, college football isn’t just a game – it’s a way of life. The Southeastern Conference has been the most dominate until NIL opened up greater opportunities and the transfer portal changed the game. The Big Ten (preview) has won the last three college football national championships to join the SEC heavyweights after the SEC had won five of the previous six with Georgia (2x), Alabama (2x) and LSU leading the way as top teams and national champs. The SEC is perhaps the deepest conference from top to bottom in 2026, and I provide an initial SEC football preview at OSGA. I’ve outlined the top teams below with many of them starting the season in the Top 25 of the college football coaches poll with the AP Poll released Aug. 17.

The SEC football 2026 Media Days concluded July 23 in Tampa, Florida. It’s ‘talking season’, and the media members covering the Southeastern Conference have made their projections, which follows closely to some of the top preseason publications that spend endless hours researching and providing team and player profiles, projections and stats, like Phil Steele and Pick Six Previews.

While the predictions run rampant through the media and handicappers and bettors prepare for the 2026 season, we’ll be making adjustments to what we see on the field to make weekly bets against the odds, and adjust to live/in-game waging opportunities including on futures at leading online sportsbooks.

In 2024, the SEC had four teams ranked in the top-6 of the AP Top 25 poll to start the season, and 9 teams in the top 20. Last season, the SEC had four teams in the top 10 – Texas (1), Georgia (5), Alabama (8), LSU (9). Six more SEC teams started the season in the top 25 – South Carolina (13), Florida (15), Oklahoma (18), Texas A&M (19), Ole Miss (21) and Tennessee (24). In the final 2025 AP Poll following Indiana’s national title game win over Miami, these SEC teams finished the season in the AP Top 25 – Ole Miss (3), Georgia (6), Texas A&M (8), Alabama (9), Texas (12), Oklahoma (13), Vanderbilt (15) with no other SEC teams in the top 30 at season’s end.

Last season, 11 teams that were ranked in the preseason Top 25 of the NCAA football Coaches Poll were not in the final Top 25 at season’s end. In 2024, there were 13 of college football teams that started the season in the AP Poll that finished outside the final Top 25 rankings. The reality is the Associated Press Poll and Coaches Poll are really just another news source and marketing promotion, which assists networks in ratings and revenue, along with the Power 4 conferences, which is more heavily weighted towards the Big Ten and SEC.

Top SEC Teams Projections

The 2026 season features five teams opening in the top 10 of the college football coaches poll – Georgia (3), Texas (4), Texas A&M (8), Oklahoma (9) and Ole Miss (10) with Alabama (11), LSU (13), Tennessee (18) and Missouri (25) giving the SEC 9 teams in the Top 25. I’ve included those top teams in the preview below along with Florida, who has a season win total of 7.5 and is just outside the top 25.

As you tune out the noice and navigate so many parts of the handicapping and betting process in pursuit of profit, being able to interpret information and accuratly apply it in the betting market is of key importance. So as you dig deeper into matchups, stats and coverage from reliable sources or beat writers to assist you in gaining additional information and edges, know that experience, knowledge and useful information will assist you in betting on more winners. Of course, adjusting to teams performances with power ratings and market changes and odds with more accurate assessments will ultimately determine how your season develops and concludes as a handicapper and bettor.

– Georgia: 88 votes (SEC Media)
– Texas (57)
– Mississippi (6)
– Texas A&M (5)
– Alabama (3)
– LSU, Oklahoma (2)
– Kentucky (1)

As you place your bets during the 2026 college football season, understand too that betting at regulated U.S. sportsbooks is not offered in Texas and Florida, two of the most populous states in the U.S. Neither does Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma or South Carolina. Those states are home to eight SEC teams. So millions of sports fans and bettors in the South watch and wager at top online sportsbooks outside the U.S. with reduced juice sportsbooks providing a greater edge to winning.

SEC, Odds, Season Wins And Position/Unit Rankings

College football odds from Bookmaker and other leading online sportsbooks refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting for SEC football 2026 season.

Georgia

Head coach: Kirby Smart (11th year)
Season Wins: O/U 9.5 (Over -210)
Last 3 years: 12-2, 11-3, 13-1
National Title Odds: +865
SEC Title Odds: +277
SEC Unit rankings: QB (1), RB (3), REC (9), OL (3), DL (3), LB (3), DB (1), ST (2), Coach (1)

Notes: Bye Week 8 (Oct. 24). Georgia opens 2026 as slight favorites to win the SEC. The Bulldogs have played in five-straight SEC title games, winning three along with two national titles (2021, 2022). But Georgia has not made it to the last two national title games under the 12-team College Football Playoff format, and lost both their CFP games off a bye. The Bulldogs have not lost three regular season games since Kirby Smart‘s first year in Athens in 2016. This year’s team does not play Texas or Texas A&M, and key early games are vs. Oklahoma Sept. 26 and at Alabama Oct. 10 with a road game at Mississippi in early November the toughest remaining contest. Experience and returning production still carries some weight in the NIL and transfer age, although injuries and disappointing development derailed Clemson last season as the nations top team in returning production. But Georgia ranks top 10 in returning production ahead of the 2026 season, along with Texas and Florida. That includes senior QB Gunnar Stockton, who threw for 24 TDs and rushed for 10 more in his first season as starter in 2025. The championship-caliber dominant defense joins Texas and Oklahoma as the league’s best with eight returners, solid transfers and top-tier depth. Georgia went 0-4 ATS vs. non-conference opponents last season, and now 4-15 ATS the past four years. The Dawgs play just three of the top eight SEC teams which projects as the ‘easiest’ schedule. No future plays.

Texas

Head coach: Steve Sarkisian (6th year)
Season Wins: O/U 9.5 (Under -143)
Last 2 years: 10-3, 13-3
National Title Odds: +750
SEC Title Odds: +322
SEC Unit rankings: QB (1), RB (3), REC (1), OL (4), DL (1), LB (1), DB (7), ST (1), Coach (2)

Notes: Bye Week 5 (Oct. 3). Quarterback Arch Manning (+752) joins Notre Dame QB CJ Carr as a Heisman favorite. The Longhorns are loaded with 16 returning starters, included in a top-5 portal class with ten Power 4 starters added who started at least six FBS games last season. That includes improved production at the skill position with four new players (2 RB, 2 WR), top 3 national rankings at QB, WR and RB, and top-5 rated DL and linebackers. The schedule includes home against Ohio State Sept. 12 and an SEC opener at Tennessee Sept. 26 before a bye to face Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Then it’s Florida and Ole Miss at home and three road games down the stretch at Missouri, LSU and Texas A&M. For many teams, that schedule would be doomsday, and it’s the toughest schedule in the SEC and country, per Phil Steele. But expectations are for the ‘Horns to Hook ’em and be in the College Football Playoff as a national title contender, and they rate among the nations very best in special teams. Redemption rematch at home vs. Florida is circled, and no Georgia on the regular season schedule. No futures plays.

Alabama

Head coach: Kalen Beboer (3rd year)
Season Wins: O/U 8.5 (Over -128)
Last 3 years: 11-4, 9-4, 12-2
National Title Odds: +2925
SEC Title Odds: +885
SEC Unit rankings: QB (9), RB (9), REC (2), OL (12), DL (5), LB (10), DB (2), ST (5), Coach (3)

Notes: Bye Weeks 9 (Oct. 31). The Crimson Tide are Phil Steele’s No. 1 surprise team for 2026, so he expects a solid season for Alabama. That despite Alabama showing strength last sesaon winning four games in four weeks vs. ranked opponents – the first SEC team to pull off the impressive feat. A blowout loss to Indiana 38-3 in the CFP raises questions as the Tide try to return to the very top of the SEC. I’m not buying ‘Bama yet and they will be a home underdog to Georgia, and just the second time as home ‘Dog since 2008. Alabama’s offensive line is rated in the bottom quartile of the SEC this season with all new starters and transfers after rushing for just 104 yards per game last year (No. 125 FBS). The Tide lose their QB to the NFL, and two bros are battling for the starting job to lead the offense. The defense has an elite secondary, but no longer a top 15 defensive line or linebackers. More questions, less strength and stability along the offensive and defensive lines, decade-worst running game and players actually transferring out. Positive outlook is the ‘easier’ SEC schedule avoiding Texas, Oklahoma and Ole Miss. Still, Under season wins preferred with less than 9 wins feeling more likely than more with the trio of Georgia, at Tennessee and Texas A&M in October followed by LSU after a bye.

Oklahoma

Head coach: Brent Venables (5th year)
Season Wins: O/U 7.5 (Over -163)
Last 2 years: 10-3, 6-7
National Title Odds: +3011
SEC Title Odds: +1108
SEC Unit rankings: QB (4), RB (12), REC (5), OL (6), DL (1), LB (3), DB (2), ST (2), Coach (6)

Notes: Bye week 5 (Oct. 3). The Sooners make Phil Steele’s 2026 surprise teams, coming in at No. 3 despite the second-toughest rated schedule in the SEC. Oklahoma does not play Alabama, but still plays at Michigan on Sept. 12 and opens SEC play at Georgia Sept. 26. The Red River Rivalry against Texas in Dallas is Oct. 10 after a bye, and the Sooners finish the season against four preseason top 30 teams – at Florida, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and at Missouri. Oklahoma is just 2-10 ATS as a road favorite in conference games that past five seasons, but a perfect 7-0 ATS as a road underdog vs. ranked opponents. Senior QB John Mateer shot up the Heisman boards early last season before suffering a thumb injury and never recaptured his form following surgery after being rushed back to face Texas. Nine returners on offense should produce well into the 30+ points per game (26.4 ppg & 354 ypg last year) with a more experienced offensive line and Mateer healthy in a system he’s familar under his previous offensive coordinator at WKU. The 118 ypg rushing last season was the worst for Oklahoma since 1999, and much improvement is expected. Last year’s top 5 dominant defense (15.5 ppg, 273 ypg) was the difference in a 10-win season (5 vs ranked teams) and led the country in sacks and tackles for loss per game. The dominant defense again ranks top 5 DL, linebackers and top-10 defensive backs. Oklahoma was slightly outgained in SEC play last season and had four net close wins before losing to Alabama 34-24 in the College Football Playoff despite outgaining the ‘Tide 362-260. Seven defensive starters are back, along with the preseason All-SEC first team kicker and punter. There is much optimism for another run to the CPF and perhaps SEC title game for Oklahoma with good health and a improved and productive offense. Over season wins, but I don’t lay big juice (odds).

Ole Miss

Head coach: Lane Kiffin (6th year)
Season Wins: O/U 7.5 (Over -175)
Last 3 years: 13-2, 10-3, 11-2
National Title Odds: +2453
SEC Title Odds: +927
SEC Unit rankings: QB (1), RB (5), REC (8), OL (4), DL (3), LB (6), DB (6), ST (5), Coach (10)

Notes: Bye Weeks 6 13. Trinidad Chamblish emerged last season and opens 2026 as an All-SEC second team pick and one of the Heisman favorites (+858). I wouldn’t bet on elite-level production again. Off three straight double-digit win seasons, head coach Lane Kiffin left in controversy for LSU, and Rebels defensive coordinator Pete Golding takes over as Mississippi head coach. The Rebels exceeded expectations last year (7.5 O/U season wins) and finished as the highest-ranked team in the SEC (No. 3) in the final AP Poll. Yet Ole Miss has still never played in the SEC title game, which started in 1992. The QB, RB, OL, DL, DB and special teams are all rated higher than last season. Still, from 13 wins last season to an over/under of 7.5, and Mississippi is a ‘Stock Down’ rating by Phil Steele as the No. 1 team. Over the last 20 years, those top 15 teams each year have seen a decrease in victories or same wins 88% of the time, including 92% the past three seasons. Despite being 34-3 SU at home since 2021, Ole Miss is just 4-11 ATS as a home favorite vs. SEC teams the past four seasons. No futures plays.

Texas A&M

Head coach: Mike Elko (3rd year)
Season Wins: O/U 8.5 (Under -120)
Last 3 years: 11-2, 8-5, 7-6
National Title Odds: +1858
SEC Title Odds: +865
SEC Unit rankings: QB (4), RB (9), REC (2), OL (4), DL (8), LB (7), DB (2), ST (8), Coach (3)

Notes: Bye week 9 (Oct. 31). Head coach Mike Elko makes the biggest jump in ratings after leading the Aggies to 11-wins before losing 10-3 to Miami in the final minutes of the College Football Playoff. Still, despite 19 wins in two seasons under Elko, the Aggies are just 8-18 ATS and A&M has lost 9 of their last 10 ATS vs. non-conference opponents. Dual bro QB Marcel Reed returns with higher expectations, but 12 INT’s last season doesn’t cut it even with 3100+ passing yards, 600 rushing and a late TD Drive to beat Notre Dame, 41-40. A week later, the letdown happened despite winning 16-10 over Auburn. Sitting at 11-0 and on the cusp of an SEC title game appearance after playing seven of the bottom nine SEC teams, the Aggies offense had their worst two offensive outputs vs. higher-rated defenses to close the season in losses to Texas and Miami in the College Football Playoff. That’s the concern for Reed as he tries to lead A&M to road wins at LSU and Alabama before Halloween. The tough finish includes road games at South Carolina and Oklahoma and home vs. Tennessee and Texas in the season finale. South Carolina will have the A&M game circled in red, as you recall last season A&M trailed SC 30-3 at halftime, but rallied to win, 31-30. Teams were 0-286 when trailing by 27+ points in an SEC game. A solid secondary rates highly in the SEC, but A&M’s DL and linebackers rate middle of the conference and I project solid regressionand Under season win total.

LSU

Head coach: Lane Kiffin (1st year)
Season Wins: O/U 8.5 (Over -114)
Last 3 years: 7-6, 9-4, 10-3
National Title Odds: +1500
SEC Title Odds: +612
SEC Unit rankings: QB (7), RB (5), REC (5), OL (6), DL (5), LB (1), DB (5), ST (12), Coach (3)

Notes: Bye Week 9 (Oct. 31). Plenty to read about coach Kiffin this offseason as he takes over at Louisiana State trying to bring the Bayou Bengals back to the top of the SEC. He’s started strong in recruiting with an overall transfer class featuring 17 4-5* players including 11 starters from Power 4 programs with a top-rated quarterback, offensive tackle and edge rusher. We’ll find out quickly if the chemistry and cohesion is ready to tackle a Power 4 team with a top Week 1 home game aginst Clemson. The SEC schedule opens at Ole Miss followed by Texas A&M, so three competively-lined contests in the opening month and LSU may be the most talked about team in the country win or lose. November features a trio of games vs. Alabama and Texas and an on the road at Tennessee. Kiffin’s Ole Miss teams were productive, up-tempo high-scoring teams in all six years he coached with minimum 33 points and 460 yards offense each season to rank top 20 in Pick Six Previews opponent-adjusted metic and one of just four teams to do so in all six seasons. With the top transfer QB Sam Leavitt operating the offense under Kiffin and OC Charlie Weis, the Tigers should take off with a strong supporting cast and skill players. The defense has a top-tier linebacking group and solid back seven. The game at Ole Miss is perhaps the Game of the Year in the SEC and you can bet College Game Day will be in Oxford with massive media coverage overall. The letdown should be real the following week vs. A&M, but LSU has the talent and experienced, proven personnel to overcome some tough spots and SEC scheduling. Nine wins won’t be easy to achieve, but Over season wins puts them in the crowded Playoff tier and it’s attainable for this new-look, talented team.

Tennessee

Head coach: Josh Heupel (6th year)
Season Wins: O/U 7.5 (Over -129)
Last 3 years: 8-5, 10-3, 9-4
National Title Odds: +6559
SEC Title Odds: +1884
SEC Unit rankings: QB (12), RB (5), REC (2), OL (1), DL (13), LB (3), DB (8), ST (5), Coach (3)

Notes: Bye week 9 (Oct. 31). Big upgrade along the offensive line for the Volunteers, who are No. 11 in Phil Steele’s top 12 ‘surprise teams for 2026. Seven returning starters on both sides of the ball, but breaking in a new quarterback with a pair of freshman competing for the starting job. The Vols won’t reach the 40 points and 466 yards per game production of 2025, but coach Josh Heupel has had 4-of-5 seasons of 35 ppg offense and at least 445 yards per game each season. But the defense fell way down last season allowing 29 ppg and 397 ypg, so Heupel brought in Jim Knowles, who was the recent DC at Penn State and Ohio State and also fielded a top unit at Oklahoma State in 2021. A complex 4-3-5 scheme may take time for players to become their best, but Tennessee has top-tier linebackers and Power 4 starters joining the Vols. A soft early schedule and 3-0 start before tackling Texas at home to open SEC play in Week 4. Alabama and LSU at home are most challenging with only one road game against the top teams of the SEC at Texas A&M Nov. 14. Heupel may be the most underrated coach in the SEC as he’s delivered year-after-year while going 45-20 including 24-16 in SEC play. I won’t bet against him achieving more in Knoxville, and Over season win total preferred.

Missouri

Head coach: Eliah Drinkwitz (6th year)
Season Wins: O/U 7.5 (under -185)
Last 3 years: 8-5,10-3, 11-2
National Title Odds: +7568
SEC Title Odds: +3360
SEC Unit rankings: QB (10), RB (1), REC (14), OL (1), DL (13), LB (13), DB (11), ST (12), Coach (6)

Notes: Bye weeks 8 (Oct. 24). Austin Simmons comes over from Ole Miss to play quarterback, and the Tigers have upgrades at RB and OL. But the defense ranks poorly as one of the weakest in the Top 25 poll after losing a huge chunk of production and more than 10 top tacklers. Coach Drinkwitz elevated the recruiting programs floor while building the Tigers program into big winner the past three seasons after going 17-19 his first three years in Columbia. But Mizzou has lost eight consecutive games to ranked opponents, and the Tigers 3-game stretches in Oct. versus Florida, Texas A&M and at Ole Miss plus 3-of-4 in Nov. versus Texas, at Georgia and Oklahoma in the season finale makes it the second-most difficult schedule in the conference. Missouri is 0-16 under Drinkwitz vs. SEC teams with winning records, and Under the season win total is far more likely than not and a third straight season of decline following 11-wins in 2023. The Tigers are also a top-3 ‘Stock Down’ team, and will be out of the Top 25 by early October.

Florida

Head coach: Jon Sumrall (1st year)
Season Wins: O/U 7.5 (Under -167)
Last 3 years: 4-8, 8-5, 5-7
National Title Odds: +5522
SEC Title Odds: +2037
SEC Unit rankings: QB (12), RB (3), REC (2), OL (9), DL (9), LB (7), DB (11), ST (2), Coach (10)

Notes: Bye week 8 (Oct. 24). Big dropoffs in OL and DL rankings for the Gators, who bring in a new head coach with championship pedigree at Tulane and Troy. A new, young QB is still to be determined, but the Gators RB’s and WR’s rate strong in the SEC. Florida should be improved following a disastrous 4-win season. Top team challenges include Ole Miss and Oklahoma at home, neutral vs. Georgia with road games at Texas, Missouri and ACC Florida State to finish the regular season. Florida does rate last in the SEC in 2-year transfer average, and the play along the OL and DL will likely keep them from reaching a bowl game. But the Gators start the season on the cusp of the Top 25 despite just four wins last season, and they’ll likely need road wins at Auburn, Missouri and Kentucky to reach bowl elgibility, and I’m not betting on it yet.

Most Watched and Wagered SEC Games

The SEC features many key games among the top-rated teams, and some of the most watched and wagered are below along with preseason GOY betting lines.

– Sept. 19: LSU at Ole Miss (-1.5)
– Sept. 26: Oklahoma at Georgia (-10)
– Sept. 26 Texas A&M at LSU (-3)
– Oct. 10: Georgia (-2.5 / 3) at Alabama
– Oct. 10: Oklahoma vs. Texas (-6) in Dallas
– Oct. 17: Alabama (-1.5) at Tennessee
– Oct. 24: Ole Miss at Texas (9.5)
– Oct. 31: Florida vs. Georgia (-10) in Atlanta
– Nov. 7: Georgia (-5.5) at Ole Miss
– Nov. 7: Alabama at LSU (-3.5 / 4)
– Nov. 27: Texas (-2.5) at Texas A&M

The SEC Championship Game is Sat., Dec. 5 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and the SEC is shooting to place 3-4 teams in the 12-team College Football Playoff. The 2027 College Football Playoff National Championship Game is on Monday, January 25, 2027, at Allegiant Stadium in the Las Vegas. See you there.

You can bet on it.