Within minutes of Alabama winning the SEC Championship over Georgia and clinching a spot in this year’s BCS Championship against Notre Dame, the sportsbooks have made the Crimson Tide an overwhelming favorite.
The Wynn in Las Vegas opened Alabama as a 10-point favorite (-110), while one of the major offshore outfits 5Dimes.com listed Alabama as a 10 ½-point favorite (EVEN). The early money has already knocked the number down to 9 at the Wynn and other major casinos in Las Vegas.
The Las Vegas Hotel and Casino (LVH) was one of the few outfits in the desert to give any respect to the Irish, opening Alabama as a 7 ½-point favorite.
5Dimes.com was the first to post a money-line price on the game, listing ‘Bama as a minus-400 favorite (Ex. Bet $100 to win $25, Bet $400 to win $100). Bettors believing Notre Dame can complete its season at 13-0 can grab the Fighting Irish at plus-325 odds (Ex. Bet $100 to win $325). The Irish have attracted early action here as well, with the money-line dropping to -360/+300.
The SEC as a conference has won six consecutive national championships, with ‘Bama looking to extend that streak to seven on Jan. 7, 2013 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Fl.
Jan, 9, 2012 - Alabama 21 LSU 0
Jan. 10, 2011 - Auburn 22 Oregon 19
Jan. 7, 2010 - Alabama 37 Texas 21
Jan. 8, 2009 - Florida 24 Oklahoma 14
Jan. 7, 2008 - LSU 38 Ohio State 24
Jan. 8, 2007 - Florida 41 Ohio State 14
Notre Dame has earned three trips to BCS bowl games and is 0-3, losing all three by double digits.
2001 Fiesta Bowl - Oregon State 41 Notre Dame 9
2006 Fiesta Bowl - Ohio State 34 Notre Dame 20
2007 Sugar Bowl - LSU 41 Notre Dame 41
Alabama owns a 2-2 record in BCS bowl games, both wins coming in the BCS Championship.
2000 Orange Bowl – Michigan 35 Alabama 34
2008 Sugar Bowl – Utah 31 Alabama 17
2009 BCS Championship – Alabama 37 Texas 21
2011 BCS Championship – Alabama 21 LSU 0
