Alabama is set to be a home underdog for the first time in 17 years Saturday against Georgia

The marquee game of the college football slate this week is the meeting between SEC rivals Alabama and Georgia. The game will likely go a long way in determining the final end-of-season playoff rankings and may even end up as a preview of the SEC championship game.

However, while both teams are undefeated at 3-0 and No. 2 Georgia is only a couple spots ahead of No. 4 Alabama in the AP rankings, oddsmakers think the Bulldogs are good enough to be favored on the road in Tuscaloosa. And that doesn’t happen often.

In fact, Alabama isn’t usually an underdog anywhere. The Crimson Tide haven’t been underdogs in a regular season game in 10 years, according to ESPN Bet, and it’s been 17 years since they’ve been underdogs at home. Those streaks are at risk of ending with Georgia favored by 1.5 points as of Monday morning.

For the first time in 17 years, Alabama is a home underdog

The Crimson Tide haven't been underdogs in any regular-season game since 2015 against Georgia. pic.twitter.com/Sc824abVDQ

— ESPN BET (@ESPNBET) September 23, 2024

It’s hard to separate this new territory for Alabama from first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer, as the last time the Tide were underdogs at home was also under a new coach: Nick Saban. According to Sportsbook Reviews archive, Alabama was a home dog in 2007 when it beat Tennessee 41-17. After that, Saban was never doubted in Tuscaloosa again.

Alabama also won its last game as a road underdog, beating none other than Georgia by a score of 38-10 on its way to the 2015 national championship.