The Florida Gators barely survived the Kentucky Wildcats at home. How are they going to find a way to be competitive with the Alabama Crimson Tide on the road.
Florida Gators @ Alabama Crimson Tide
Saturday, September 20th – 3:30 PM ET
Odds: Alabama -14.5
Why The Gators Will Cover
They have a defense that knows how to make plays and keep a team in a ballgame. Florida’s defense was not the problem this past week for the Gators, as they barely got past the Kentucky Wildcats in triple overtime. Florida played to a 20-20 tie over the course of four quarters. The Gators had one bad quarter, the third, in which they allowed two touchdown drives to the Wildcats, both culminating in long touchdown passes. However, the Gators held Kentucky to just six points in the other three quarters of regulation time. Florida picked off Kentucky quarterback Patrick Towles three separate times, which should have been more than enough to lead the Gators past the Wildcats. The defense is well schooled by head coach Will Muschamp and defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin. It’s the cornerstone of the team and the reason Florida can’t be counted out in this game.
The other part of the puzzle for Florida is that while its defense is solid, there are still questions about Alabama’s offense. The Crimson Tide moved the ball well against a mediocre West Virginia defense in week one of the season. The past two weeks, Alabama has played a very soft schedule. This offense really hasn’t gone up against a good defense this season. If quarterback Blake Sims is caught off guard by Florida’s defensive speed, the Gators might get a chance to win outright, not just cover the number.
Why The Crimson Tide Will Cover
They are facing a Florida offense that just doesn’t seem to be ready to keep this game close. There’s been so much talk in the offseason and in early September about the difference new Florida offensive coordinator Kurt Roper was going to make for this team and for quarterback Jeff Driskel. Yet, through the first few weeks of the season, it seems that little has changed. Florida scored just 20 points in regulation time at home against Kentucky, a poor number for a team and a quarterback that expected so much more. Driskel still looks shaky in the pocket. He threw for almost 300 yards against Kentucky, but some of those yards were collected in overtime, and those yards were traded for a low completion percentage. Driskel hit just 25 of his 43 passes, which is not terrible, but not impressive at the level he and Roper might have expected at the beginning of the season. Driskel must now face Alabama’s defense, which has had a few weeks to adjust following a bad showing against West Virginia in the season opener. Driskel has to stand in the pocket and take hits on the road against a charged-up opponent. That’s not a good formula for Florida.
Outlook
If Driskel somehow plays well, Florida will cover, but that’s just not something you want to bet on. Alabama will pull away due to the Gators’ lack of consistency at quarterback.
Pick: Alabama -14.5
