Georgia Bulldogs AT Alabama Crimson Tide
Mar 5, 2011 at 1:30 PM EST
Opening Line: Alabama -5
Current Line: Alabama -4.5
Opening Total: 126
Current Total: 125
Opening Moneyline: Ala -200 / Geo +170
Current Moneyline: Ala -200 / Geo +170
Tonight’s game brings together two SEC rivals in Georgia (20-9) and Alabama (19-10). Georgia is 9-6 in SEC play and Alabama is 11-4 in SEC play.
Alabama is coming off back to back losses to #14 Florida and Mississippi. The Florida game was not close; Alabama lost by 27.
Georgia has won three of their last 4 games, with victories over Tennessee, South Carolina, and LSU, and the lone loss to the Florida Gators.
Some betting trends:
Georgia is 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 on the road and they are 7-3 SU in their last 10 on the road. Georgia is 1-4 SU in their last 5 road games against Alabama.
Alabama is 14-4 SU in their last 18 games and 5-0 SU in their last 5 home games. They are 0-5 ATS In their last 5 games against Georgia and they are 2-5 ATS in their lsat 7 home games against Georgia. Alabama is 4-1 SU in their last 5 home games against Georgia.
Georgia is led by 6’10” junior forward Trey Thompkins. Thompkins averages 15.8 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game and 1.8 blocks per game. Despite his solid stats, he has only had 4 double doubles all year, and Georgia has lost three of those games, as it was anyway. Last game against LSU he only played 22 minutes, scoring 8 points and getting 5 rebounds. He has been somewhat inconsistent, but has had a number of pretty big games. When he scores 20 or more Georgia is 7-1 this year so if Thompkins can get cookin and score a lot, Georgia will be in good position to win this one.
Alabama is led by the duo of JaMychal Green and Tony Mitchell. The tandem combine for 31.4 points per game which accounts for 46% of Alabama’s total scoring. Green, a 6’8″ junior forward, averages 15.9 points per game, a team best, as well as a team leading 7.5 rebounds per game. He is also a good shot blocker, swatting away 2.2 shots a game. He’ll give Thompkins some pressure inside and will look to control him on the boards. Mitchell is a 6’6″ sophomore forward who also averages 15.6 a game and is second on the team in rebounding too with 7.1 rebounds per game. He’s had three double doubles this year and Alabama has won all three games.
The Crimson Tide are favored because they have the interior defense to slow down Thompkins. Moreover, they are at home, which will give them an added boost. If Green and Mitchell can manage to get going, then the Bulldogs could be in serious trouble. The duo is so important to the success of the Tide and when they get going the team is at its best.
