I'm an avid SEC fan, but rarely post my picks on the board. Since this is the SEC Championship, I'm giving my 2 cents. Take this with a grain of salt...
The game sounds all too familiar. There's a really big game this weekend and nearly everyone believes Alabama won't be able to stay on the field against a more talented team. This week it's within good reason. Not only has Florida beaten nearly everyone they have played this season, they've destroyed them. They've lost one game all year against an Ole Miss team and it took a missed extra point and great defense late in the game for it to happen. Did Florida get exposed or did it serve as a wake up call? A little bit of both.
Florida has shown no mercy since then, blowing teams off the field. But the argument this year is that neither one of these teams have played anyone so far. So from the schedule aspect of this matchup...
You can't really compare similar opponents in this matchup. They've both played similar schedules and, while there is no Oklahoma, USC, or Texas on the card, they have played some pretty solid teams. Not only do the teams play different styles, but there were different circumstances as well. Alabama played a healthy UK team and also played a LSU team giving its final last battle to save their season. Many teams pressed against Florida because they felt like they were overmatched, they made silly mistakes, and Florida crushed them for it. If anyone thinks Florida is invincible after the Ole Miss game, remember this: Georgia could have easily been leading at halftime of their game. Florida was having problems against Georgia in the first half and it was because of mistakes and misexecution by the Dawgs that they were down at halftime. When they got the ball in the 2nd half, Georgia drove the ball down the field looking to make it a 4 point game only before a questionable int made it 21-3 and then Georgia quit. That's by no means a knock on the mighty Gators, but I don't believe Alabama is going to make the same mistakes the Gators have been thriving off of all year.
So here's what it all comes down to, talent. Alabama will have the best defense, running attack, and special teams Florida has faced so far this season while Florida will have the best everything the Tide have faced all year. Don't underestimate the loss of Percy Harvin to the Gator offense. Yes, there are other fast players, but this guy is a playmaker. Alabama has their fair share of fast guys too, but they don't have a playmaker like Harvin. Their leading rusher, Rainey has been banged up as well. Historically, the teams that have given Tebow and the Gators the most trouble are teams that can get pressure with their front 4. If there is no Harvin and especially if Rainey can't handle the load, a huge threat will be gone and the Tide can come after Tebow.
Bottom Line: Sabin will come up with a gameplan and this team will come out with a fire similar to when they were underdogs ala Clemson & UGA. The Gators may win, but I don't think it'll be by double digits.
Alabama +10
The game sounds all too familiar. There's a really big game this weekend and nearly everyone believes Alabama won't be able to stay on the field against a more talented team. This week it's within good reason. Not only has Florida beaten nearly everyone they have played this season, they've destroyed them. They've lost one game all year against an Ole Miss team and it took a missed extra point and great defense late in the game for it to happen. Did Florida get exposed or did it serve as a wake up call? A little bit of both.
Florida has shown no mercy since then, blowing teams off the field. But the argument this year is that neither one of these teams have played anyone so far. So from the schedule aspect of this matchup...
You can't really compare similar opponents in this matchup. They've both played similar schedules and, while there is no Oklahoma, USC, or Texas on the card, they have played some pretty solid teams. Not only do the teams play different styles, but there were different circumstances as well. Alabama played a healthy UK team and also played a LSU team giving its final last battle to save their season. Many teams pressed against Florida because they felt like they were overmatched, they made silly mistakes, and Florida crushed them for it. If anyone thinks Florida is invincible after the Ole Miss game, remember this: Georgia could have easily been leading at halftime of their game. Florida was having problems against Georgia in the first half and it was because of mistakes and misexecution by the Dawgs that they were down at halftime. When they got the ball in the 2nd half, Georgia drove the ball down the field looking to make it a 4 point game only before a questionable int made it 21-3 and then Georgia quit. That's by no means a knock on the mighty Gators, but I don't believe Alabama is going to make the same mistakes the Gators have been thriving off of all year.
So here's what it all comes down to, talent. Alabama will have the best defense, running attack, and special teams Florida has faced so far this season while Florida will have the best everything the Tide have faced all year. Don't underestimate the loss of Percy Harvin to the Gator offense. Yes, there are other fast players, but this guy is a playmaker. Alabama has their fair share of fast guys too, but they don't have a playmaker like Harvin. Their leading rusher, Rainey has been banged up as well. Historically, the teams that have given Tebow and the Gators the most trouble are teams that can get pressure with their front 4. If there is no Harvin and especially if Rainey can't handle the load, a huge threat will be gone and the Tide can come after Tebow.
Bottom Line: Sabin will come up with a gameplan and this team will come out with a fire similar to when they were underdogs ala Clemson & UGA. The Gators may win, but I don't think it'll be by double digits.
Alabama +10
One mans opinion let your friends know!