NFL odds will take a backseat for a change this weekend as Florida and Alabama clash for the SEC title in what many people feel is the biggest football game so far this season. Time to choose a winner; hopefully our previous football picks prepared us for this one.
(1) Florida Gators vs (2) Alabama Crimson Tide
Saturday, December 5, 4:00 p.m. ET
Florida Alabama line: Florida -5-5
Is the pressure on Alabama this Saturday? Arguably, no; the Crimson Tide are clear underdogs. Then again, they’re trying to reach the BCS title game and avenge last year’s heartbreaking 31-20 loss to these same Florida Gators.
For Alabama to have a chance, it has to run the football effectively. In theory, it has the horse to do that in Heisman Trophy hopeful Mark Ingram. He’s been a beast this season, amassing 1,429 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 6.5 yards per carry. If the Ingram that showed up last week against Auburn returns, however, The Crimson Tide are in trouble; Ingram ran 16 times for just 30 yards. The Florida Gators hope to bottle up Ingram and force the ball into quarterback Greg McIlroy’s hands. McIlroy isn’t bad but he’s not an elite field general either. Against the Gators’ top-ranked defense, he could struggle. With linebacker Brandon Spikes leading the way, the Gators will probably stack the box to stop Ingram and make McIlroy beat them.
Even if Alabama manages to score on a defense that didn’t allow more than 20 points in a game this season, Florida’s offense represents a tough test too. Tim Tebow is a dominant dual threat; he threw 17 touchdown passes versus four interceptions and ran for 796 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Alabama has an excellent defense too – cracking the top five against the pass and the run – but Tebow challenges every defense because he makes plays in so many different ways.
The Crimson Tide obviously won’t go quietly but the Gators are so tough on “D” and have more solid offensive contributors – guys like Riley Cooper and Aaron Hernandez. Expect history to repeat itself this Saturday.
Online sportsbook pick: Florida -5.5
