Betting lines for Saturday’s heavyweight college football matchup between Alabama and Georgia are shifting as an incoming hurricane threatens to bring strong winds to Tuscaloosa.
- Hurricane Isaias could bring 30 mph winds and 60 mph gusts.
- Most of the betting action at Caesars is on Georgia and the under.
- President Trump is scheduled to attend, although his appearance could be affected by the storm.
SEC officials are moving forward under the impression that the 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff will take place as scheduled Saturday.
Before stars Keelon Russell and Gunner Stockton have a chance to influence the matchup, Hurricane Isaias could leave its mark. The storm was upgraded to Category 4 on Thursday and is expected to make landfall along the northern U.S. Gulf Coast, specifically between Mississippi and west Florida late Friday night or early Saturday morning.
Although the storm should stay clear of Tuscaloosa, which is nearly 200 miles inland, it could still affect conditions around the stadium.
“While the weather looks like it’s going to improve in the evening Saturday, there will be quite a bit of rain, some power outages, and the potential for tornadoes,” said Chad Merrill, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, per The Athletic.
Current projections suggest winds at Bryant-Denny Stadium could reach around 30 mph, with gusts twice that strong.
The greatest concern would be if the storm slows down, although Merrill said there isn't much chance of that happening.
“It looks like if anything it would be a hair faster,” Merrill said.
Odds, weather, and Trump
Line movement is common ahead of major sports events, but the weather has driven notable movement across the major Alabama-Georgia markets.
| Time | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Georgia -1.5 | Over/Under 55 points |
| Current | Alabama -1.5 | Over/Under 51.5 points |
The line was as high as Alabama -2 on Monday afternoon following early support for the home team.
“There are a lot of questions around the weather in this one,” said Caesars Sportsbook head of football trading Joey Feazel. “Our total already dropped from 55 to 51.5, specifically around the weather. Right now, they’re betting Georgia and the under, with the hurricane driving that action on the under.
“Both teams are able to put up points and cover. I expect it to be a little more two-way by kickoff, with two powerhouse teams. But so far, one-way traffic on the under is really the big story.”
Both squads are a perfect 5-0 straight up and 4-1 against the spread, and both have improved as the season progressed. Georgia won each of its last three games against Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt by at least 24 points, while Alabama just dominated South Carolina (49-18) and No. 16 Mississippi State (56-23).
Alabama is looking for its second straight home win over Georgia after losing to the Bulldogs twice last year, with one of those defeats coming in the conference championship game.
Moving the game venue or start time is possible if the weather takes a turn for the worse. However, the weather isn't the only uncertainty surrounding Saturday's game.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend the game just two weeks after watching Texas beat Tennessee in Knoxville. His attendance will require extra security at the 100,000-seat stadium and could lead to temporary radio blackouts for both teams whenever he enters, exits or moves around the stadium, according to Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian.
"Anytime he enters the stadium or leaves the stadium or changes locations within the stadium, they cut all communication..." A really interesting note from Steve Sarkisian on President Trump attending the Tennessee-Texas game on Saturday. #HookEm https://t.co/axs5zXODxi
— Bob Ballou (@BobBallouSports) September 24, 2026
“If there's an emergency or if there's a hurricane, I don't want to do anything to take the focus off all of the great people that work on those things,” Trump said. “They have some tremendously great people. I don't want to take the focus off. So we'll have to see.”
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National championship preview?
Only Ohio State (+425) is ahead of Georgia (+500) in Caesars' national championship odds. Notre Dame (+575), Texas (+600), and Miami (+700) are the closest contenders.
Alabama is tied with defending champion Indiana (+1,000) at sixth in championship odds. Georgia is -900 to make the College Football Playoff and -400 to win the SEC, while Alabama is +145 and +350, respectively.
