How to watch: Georgia vs Alabama, other top games during Michigan’s bye week
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Following consecutive losses to Iowa and Minnesota, the Michigan Wolverines’ bye week couldn’t have come at a better time. There is a lot to figure out for Kyle Whittingham and his coaching staff for the Wolverines to have a successful remainder of the season. With the strength of their schedule, there is a path for Michigan to finish 6-6 or worse, with four teams currently ranked in the Top-25 remaining in their final seven games.
While the maize and blue are sidelined this weekend, there is a ton of fascinating matchups in the Big Ten and across the country. There’s a Top-10 SEC battle that stands out as No. 2 Georgia travels to No. 6 Alabama for what should be the best game of the weekend. Here’s everything you need to know heading in:
No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs vs No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide
- Day: Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026
- TV: ABC
- Time: 7:30 PM ET
- Location: Tuscaloosa, AL
- Weather: 72 degrees, raining
- Odds: ALA -1.5, O/U: 55.5
Alabama’s sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell has been one of the best players in the country. He’s completing over 70% of his passes while accumulating 1414 passing yards and 184 rushing yards for 15 touchdowns in just five games this year. That’s why the Crimson Tide are averaging 49.6 points per game this season and have maybe the most potent offense in college football.
While they have faced a series of SEC opponents and Florida State, the Seminoles are the best-ranked defense the Crimson Tide juggernaut has battled this year. That unit is the No. 60 scoring defense in the nation, which has been skewed after holding Central Arkansas and an unranked Virginia team to a combined 14 points over their last two games.
Georgia will be by far and away the best defense Russell has faced in his young career. They’re third best in the country, allowing only 57.4 rushing yards and 16 points per game. Tie that with an expectation of some moisture in the air, and the public is flocking toward the Bulldogs covering at +1.5.
But what a lot of people aren’t seeing is that this Georgia defense is just as unproven as the Alabama offense. They’ve faced four offenses that rank 93rd or worse in the country this season, and an FCS opponent. How do they hold up on the road in a Top-10 matchup against one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the country?
This is really a prove-it game for both teams. Neither has had a tough schedule to this point, and both have their most important contests still ahead of them, starting with this one. The winner will be riding momentum and likely a Top-2 spot in the AP Poll for the remainder of the season (or until their first loss). The loser will likely remain Top-10 because of SEC bias and have some work to do to earn a CFP spot.
What it might really come down to is Gunnar Stockton. Alabama has the 14th-ranked pass defense in the SEC. But Bama’s defense has also been extremely opportunistic with 13 takeaways already this year, and has four pick-sixes. A defensive touchdown is absolutely on the board for either side.
My lean is towards the Crimson Tide at home. I like Russell — his year on the bench helped him progress into a quarterback ready for the moment, and I could see him lighting it up against the Bulldogs with Kalen DeBoer’s offense and leveraging his legs outside of the pocket. Give me Bama -1.5 in this one.
Best Bet: Bama -1.5
Other top games
- Fri, Oct. 10 @ 9 PM ET on FOX: No. 20 Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Washington Huskies
- The Bet: UW -2.5
- Sat, Oct. 11@ NOON ET on FOX: No. 7 Indiana Hoosiers vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
- The Bet: NEB +8
- Sat, Oct. 11 @ 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS: No. 21 UCLA Bruins vs. No. 13 Oregon Ducks
- The Bet: u58.5
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