The Alabama Crimson Tide wrestle the Florida Gators in the Georgia Dome for the SEC Championship on Saturday, December 3rd. The final regular season game for both teams is set to get started at 4 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on the CBS Network. As of today, Alabama is a -24 point favorite and the contest’s total is at 40.5 points.
The Crimson Tide head into this match-up undefeated and ranked 1st in the nation. If they win out on Saturday, they will lay claim to their third straight SEC title and will get a chance to defend their national championship from a year ago.
Alabama is led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, who has played beyond his years as a freshman. Also the Crimson Tide are backed by a defense that ranks as the best in the country.
#1 Alabama (12-0):
Quarterback Jalen hurts might very well find himself in New York City at the end of the year for the Heisman Trophy Award ceremony. As a freshman, Hurts has been electric, completing over 200 passes for 2,425 yards with 20 touchdowns and nine picks. Hurts isn’t a pocket passer, also tallying 840 yards via the ground with another 12 rushing scores.
Alabama runs the ball as well as anybody in the country. When quarterback Jalen Hurts isn’t toting the pigskin, three capable running backs carry the load. Altogether, the trio has amassed well over 1,700 yards with 10 more trips to pay-dirt. Bruising back Damien Harris, leads this group with 897 yards and an astounding 7.2 yards per carry average.
Calvin Ridley and ArDarius Stewart are Jalen Hurts favorite targets at the wide out position. Both run crisp routes and find open space to make third down conversions look easy.
Together they have brought in 110 passes for for almost 1,500 yards and 14 scores. Tight end O.J. Howard also gets into the mix. The shifty big-man has another 35 catches for 404 yards and two more end zone grabs.
The numbers don’t lie, Alabama is one tough cookie on the defensive side of the football. The Crimson Tide are 1st in the nation against the run, allowing only 69.1 yards a game. They also are 1st in the nation allowing opponents only 11 points a match. What’s even more impressive, is the defense scores as much as most offenses. They have recorded 13 different scores in 2016.
#15 Florida (8-3):
The Florida defense isn’t backing down, as the Gators have consistently shut down opponents this season. The Gators are trying to pull off an upset in the last SEC Championship game in the Georgia Dome. They will need to perform much better than they did last week against the Seminoles. In that game, Florida couldn’t muster any offense against a mediocre defense and fell in defeat 31-13.
The last thing the Gators want to do is fall behind early, forcing them to pass the ball to catch up to the Crimson Tides. Quarterback Austin Appleby will once again be under-center for the Gators. In the games he’s started, Appleby has tossed for almost 1,000 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Gators live and die by their running game, and they will need to get running back Jordan Scarlett going early and often if they hope to have a chance against Alabama. Last week, Scarlett only carried the ball 14 times for 54 yards and was held out of the carries and has reached pay-dirt six different times.
Three Florida receivers work together to move the chains through the air for the Gators. The trio has combined for 106 catches for almost 1,200 yards and six scores. Wide out Antonio Callaway leads the way, totaling 603 yards with a 14.2 average yard per catch.
Defensively, the Gators will try to limit the run game and stop quarterback Jalen Hurts from picking up first downs with his feet. That is when Jalen Tabor and Quincy Wilson make their mark, creating turnovers with interceptions. Even though the secondary ranks fourth in the nation, the front seven is no slouch either. In 2016, the unit is allowing only 133 rushing yards a game (36th).
Trends and Notes:
The Crimson Tide are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
The Gators are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 conference games.
The Under is 4-1 in the Crimson Tide last 5 games overall.
The Under is 5-0 in Gators last 5 games overall.
The Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings between the two schools.
Game Prediction:
The Alabama Crimson Tide are truly rolling and it doesn’t look like the Florida Gators are going to stop this train. Jalen Hurts has proven he is one of the best quarterbacks in the country and he is equipped with an amazing supporting cast.
The Florida Gators certainly surprised a lot of people in 2016, not only by their 9-3 record but the fact they’re playing in the SEC Championship. The Gator’s defense has carried this club since day one and will need one more giant effort if Florida hopes to hang around with the Tide.
Alabama’s defense maybe one of the best college football defenses ever. Now, they get to pin their ears back and go after Austin Appleby. That spells big trouble for the Florida Gators if they can’t get their run game moving the chains. The Crimson tide are number one in the nation against the run so I don’t expect that.
Alabama will frustrate the Gator defense for four quarters as they are left on the grid-iron entirely to long. That means points for the Crimson Tide. Florida, and their never die attitude, should be good for 10 points.
Take Alabama to score plenty and Florida a little. Either way, it should be enough to cover the 40.5 points. Take the over 40.5 and watch Alabama’s defense outscore the Gators.
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