No. 1 Alabama's underdog status is unprecedented


Undefeated and No. 1-ranked Alabama has trailed in games for only 23 minutes this season, yet is a massive 9 1/2-point underdog in Saturday's SEC championship game against No. 2 Florida.

In the history of point spreads, this appears to be unprecedented. Experts on odds tell the Birmingham News they never before have seen a No. 1 team enter a game getting so many points in Vegas.

Ken White, CEO for Las Vegas Sports Consultants and an oddsmaker for 25 years, tells the newspaper that, "We're in uncharted waters . . . Florida is the better team, but I never expected it to be this high."

USA TODAY sport analyst Danny Sheridan also says he can't recall a No. 1 team being this big of an underdog, and points out the Gators also are a 3-to-1 favorite to win outright. He says Alabama also would be an underdog if it were playing Oklahoma, Texas, or Southern California.

Sheridan reminds everybody that the spread isn't a prediction on who will win, but rather is set in hopes of making bettors split wagers 50-50 overall.

For your office-pool amusement only, we'll add these parting facts: Florida is 10-1 against the spread this season, and Vegas didn't have the fortitude to post a line on the Gators' 70-19 chomping of the Citadel. 'Bama is 9-3 against the spread.
Posted by Tom Weir at 09:31 AM/ET, December 04, 2008 in College football |

http://blogs.usatoday.com...mas-u.html

I hope Florida creams the Crimson Tide.

Albeit, it was nice to know Alabama beat Auburn as I dislike Auburn even more

Imago said:

What?!

NO, Florida is the better team but I want to see a good game. Family in B'ham and throughout central Alabama. I'll root for Bama but keep it close . . . .
Bama's defense will be the game.

SUPRMAN said:

I grew up in Birmingham (Hoover), and my mom currently lives in Alabaster.
I was there during the Bama vs. Auburn game.

It got boring fast. It was like watching a cat play with a mouse before it finally decides to kill it.

The Florida vs. Bama game will be more evenly matched.



I hope Florida PWNS the Tide.




FL FL FL

Imago said:

I went to Huffman for the first half of my junior and senior year.
Living in B'ham is when I fell in love with SEC football.
I have to go with Bama.
I will root for Florida over anyone but Oklahoma in a national title game.
I like Bradford, he's my choice for Heisman

SUPRMAN said:

I went to Shades Valley


Do you actually like Birmingham though?
I find it completely depressing every time I go there.

Imago said:

No I do not like B'ham despite having lived in the better part of town (A.G. Gaston Villa - housing community out near Tarrant City. north of the airport)

Having lived elsewhere it is a sad town that's always wanted to be a city.
B'ham's problem is Atlanta. Atlanta siphons off anyone with a college degree, business and everything regional.
B'ham will never grow, it will just remain frustrated.
My family wants me to move South but I can't see it. Even Atlanta. Maybe Raleigh/Durham
[Edited 12/4/08 10:41am]
[Edited 12/4/08 10:41am]

SUPRMAN said:

Birmingham has had a serious of corrupt, ineffective mayors too.
The problem with Birmingham is that it acts like a production economy still, when it should attempt to be a service economy. It's constantly trying to recruit companies like Mercedes for manufacturing. Aside from being an eyesore to an otherwise beautiful landscape, these sectors of the industry can completely gut a city when they collapse (see Detroit).

Birmingham has first rate golf courses, shopping, and beautiful neighborhoods.
What it lacks is adequate cultural centers, an urban renewal plan that works, and adequate public transportation.
And generations after the Church bombings, it's appalling non-diverse and integrated not integrated. There are 2 black families in my mom's neighborhood. People still refer to them as the "black neighbors".


.
[Edited 12/4/08 11:00am]

Also , shining examples of cities taking more diverse routes in their economy is the smaller, but much more successful Huntsville, Alabama up north. Industries include aerospace, service, and science. Though I admit Birminham's UAB medical facilities are top rate.



OK, back to football.

I'm kinda hoping that the Georgia Dome implodes during the game, since I can't stand either one of those teams....

might also have something to do with the fact that I'm an LSU fan and am suffering from PTSD after the way my boys went down this season, so don't mind me....

Seriously, whoever wins this one WILL win the National Championship...which will make 3 in a row for the mighty SEC...

we will be back!!!

Whoever win will certainly be favored in the National Championship Game.

LSU, 7-4 and lost to every good team they played it seems.

TENN was another major disappointment in the SEC.
Vanderbilt was merely Vanderbilt.

SUPRMAN said:

actually, they were 7-5...

...and if not for a historic comeback against Troy (down 31-3 in the 3rd QTR @ Tiger Stadium to boot...) my defending national champs would've been 6-6...

...