Betting odds swing to Georgia football after Alabama's Nick Saban positive for COVID-19
Erik Hall
If you ever wondered how much impact Alabama football head coach Nick Saban has on his football team's success, we got an answer Wednesday afternoon.
According to sportsbooks, it's about two points.
The betting line on nearly every sportsbook swung toward the Georgia Bulldogs after Wednesday afternoon's news that Saban and Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne both tested positive for COVID-19.
BetMGM actually took the step of removing the game from its sportsbook.
The No. 2-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide are scheduled to face the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday.
Before BetMGM removed the game, it moved the line from Alabama as a six-point favorite to being a 4.5-point favorite. And the odds of Alabama winning outright went from -220 to -185.
Caesars/Harrah's line had a bigger move, according to VegasInsider. It went from Alabama as a six-point favorite entering the day to Alabama as a five-point favorite at 4:53 p.m. CT shortly after the news of Saban's positive test. Eight minutes later, the line moved to Alabama as a four-point favorite.
Read more Alabama football news:
- 2020 Heisman Trophy Candidates:What are the odds for Alabama football players to win?
- Alabama, UGA football:How to watch ESPN College GameDay this week from Tuscaloosa on TV, live stream
- College GameDay:Where will ESPN College GameDay be this week? Tuscaloosa for Alabama, Georgia football
- Nick Saban:Alabama football coach Nick Saban tests positive for COVID-19: What we know, what it means
Saban is in his 14th season as the Alabama football head coach.
Erik Hall is the lead digital producer for sports with the USA Today Network. You can find him on Twitter @HallErik.
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