Alabama
2025 NFL, CFB Odds: Best Bets for Seahawks-Panthers, Indiana-Alabama
Now that we’re all blissfully overfed and overserved from the holidays, wearing sweatpants around the house all weekend, let’s make some bets.
What a life.
There are five football games I’ve bet, including a College Football Playoff wager, since those games are Wednesday and Thursday.
Remember, this isn’t the place for “locks” or five-team parlays. These are the games I love the most.
Let’s go to work.
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2025 record: (34-47-6, -17.4 units)
Seahawks (-7, O/U 42.5) @ Panthers
The Seahawks hype machine is flying at full speed after last Thursday night’s overtime win over the rival L.A. Rams. Now everybody understands Seattle is good enough to string some playoff victories together. I still don’t think they’re seven points better than Carolina in Charlotte. We’ll see. I love this Bryce Young-Tet McMillan combo and do think the Panthers battle here.
PICK: Panthers (+7) to lose by fewer than 7 points or win outright
Steelers (-3, O/U 34) @ Browns
Wise guys bet Cleveland +4 and +3.5 earlier this week when pessimistic news surfaced about T.J. Watt’s status for Pittsburgh. Watt will officially be sidelined again, and the market is now painted 3 with one of the lowest totals all season. If that’s not a Browns’ script, nothing is. It’s also worth noting that if Baltimore loses Saturday night, this game means nothing for Pittsburgh.
PICK: Browns (+3) to lose by fewer than 3 points or win outright
LSU vs. Houston (-1.5, O/U 42)
First off, this is a glorified home game for Houston at NRG Stadium. The Cougars are very healthy and nearly fully staffed heading into this one, while LSU is down a ton of players and being coached by an interim staff. We get the better quarterback in Connor Weigman and, assuming you don’t mind fading an SEC team in bowl season, this bet should make your slip.
PICK: Houston (-1.5) to win by more than 1.5 points
Vanderbilt (-5, O/U 47) vs. Iowa
Ready to bet against Diego Pavia? The Commodores made people money this year, but Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz is historically profitable in this role. The Hawkeyes were a perfect 4-0 ATS as an underdog this season, and they’ve covered at a near 60% clip when catching points since 2003. I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if Iowa’s style and physicality led to an outright W.
PICK: Iowa (+5) to lose by fewer than 5 points or win outright
Indiana (-6.5, O/U 48.5) vs. Alabama
That is not a typo — Indiana is almost a touchdown favorite against mighty Alabama in a Playoff game. What planet are we on? It’s truly a sign of respect for the Hoosiers, a complete team with Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza leading the charge at quarterback. A Herculean performance from Tide quarterback Ty Simpson is always possible, but I think Indiana is too good. I trust Curt Cignetti to deliver a win and cover.
PICK: Indiana (-6.5) to win by more than 6.5 points
Sam Panayotovich is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and the BetMGM Network. He previously worked for WGN Radio, NBC Sports and VSiN. Watch him on FOX Sports’ Bear Bets and follow him on X @spshoot.
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Governor Kay Ivey:
“God bless our President, First Lady and the men and women in law enforcement. Let us pray for our leaders each and every day.”
Representative Barry Moore:
“They’ve told countless lies about him.
They’ve tried to bankrupt him.
They’ve come after his family.
They’ve tried to put him in prison.
They’ve tried to assasinate him – three times.
And yet, President Trump continues to fight for the American people.
We need to get on our knees and pray for him and our country.”
Senator Tommy Tuberville:
“A lunatic just tried to take out President Trump AGAIN.
The demonization of the President and Republicans needs to end.
Praying for our President and our country.”
Congressman Gary Palmer:
“I’m very thankful for the swift action of the Secret Service and that the President and no one at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was injured.
Considering this is the third attempt on the President’s life, last year’s assassination of Charlie Kirk, and the 2017 Congressional baseball shooting, it’s clear that our nation is in a cultural and political crisis.
We should all be praying for the healing of our nation and for the return of civil discourse.”
Senator Katie Britt:
“Wesley and I are praying for the safety of the President, the First Lady, and all those attending the White House Correspondents dinner. Grateful for the brave men and women in uniform working to keep everyone safe.”
Well that’s a wrap! Despite all of the hand-wringing, Alabama finished with 10 total players drafted, behind only Ohio State (11) for the most in college football. On top of that, the Tide was the only SEC school with multiple first round draft picks. If you missed any of them, here is the recap:
Round 1, pick 12 – OT Kadyn Proctor – Miami Dolphins
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Round 1, pick 13 – QB Ty Simpson – L.A. Rams
Round 2, pick 47 – WR Germie Bernard – Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 4, pick 137 – DL LT Overton – Dallas Cowboys
Round 5, pick 146 – C Parker Brailsford – Cleveland Browns
Round 5, pick 149 – LB Justin Jefferson – Cleveland Browns
Round 5, pick 173 – TE Josh Cuevas – Baltimore Ravens
Round 6, pick 201 – CB Domani Jackson – Green Bay Packers
Round 7, pick 232 – DT Tim Keenan – L.A. Rams
Round 7, pick 245 – RB Jam Miller – New England Patriots
All in all, it was a big day three for Alabama after a slow day two.
With the draft over, the undrafted free agent frenzy begins (seriously, if you think the draft is crazy, some the stories I’ve heard from NFL GMs about what happens right after it trying to convince all of the UDFAs to go places are pure chaos). Thus far, here’s the Alabama players who went out for the draft and didn’t get drafted, but have signed on with NFL squads:
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OL Jaeden Roberts – Philadelphia Eagles
LB Deontae Lawson – Philadelphia Eagles
LB Nikhai Hill-Green – L.A. Rams
OL Kam Dewberry – Atlanta Falcons
DB DaShawn Jones – New Orleans Saints
So far, OL Geno VanDeMark, punter Blake Doud, running back Dre Washington, and tight end Brody Dalton are still looking for teams. I think VanDeMark will likely find his way onto a team, but the other three probably will not.
It was also a decent day for some former Tide players. who transferred elsewhere in their careers:
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S – Caleb Downs (Ohio State) – 1st round, pick 11 – Dallas Cowboys
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WR- Kendrick Law (Kentucky) – 5th round, pick 168 – Detroit Lions
And that’s pretty much it for this year! Hopefully we will see many of these names popping up across the NFL for years to come. Roll Tide to all!
GREEN BAY (WLUK) — Needing to add depth to the cornerback position the Packers drafted South Carolina’s Brandon Cisse in the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday and Saturday they added another player to the position.
In the sixth round Green Bay selected Alabama cornerback Domani Jackson (201st overall).
Jackson (6-0 3/4, 194 pounds) played in all 15 games with 10 starts last season for the Crimson Tide, but was benched for ineffectiveness midway through season before regaining starting job in SEC title game. Last season, Jackson recorded 39 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one pass breakup.
Jackson, who was timed at 4.41 seconds in the 40-yard dash, started is career at USC and played in 18 games over two seasons before transferring to Alabama in 2024. In his first season with the Crimson Tide, Jackson started all 13 games with 52 tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions and seven pass breakups.
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Jackson was the No. 2 cornerback in the 2022 recruiting class behind Travis Hunter, who was the second pick last year by the Browns.
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