College Football Preview: #1 Alabama vs. #7 Florida
SEC supremacy on the line between these two college football powerhouses.
During an important weekend in college football, the elite conference that is the SEC is squarely on the marquee. What better way to close the 2020 version of College Football Saturday with a juicy contest between two storied programs.
It was business as usual for the #1 Alabama Crimson Tide (10-0, 10-0 SEC) even with head coach Nick Saban missing time due to COVID-19. The only hiccup on the season for the Crimson Tide was a gritty win in week four against #8 Georgia that was close in the first half but saw Alabama pull away late. A win in this edition of the SEC Championship would give the Tide their seventh conference title since 2009 and their ninth SEC championship title overall.
Very few mentioned the #7 Florida Gators (8-2, 8-2 SEC) as the favorites to represent the Eastern division in the SEC title game. But once they knocked off Georgia in their annual rivalry game, they just about locked up first place in the division. The Gators are eager to move on from their bizarre ending to their last contest of the regular season, a 37-34 loss to LSU. The College Football Playoff is in sight for the Gators but this massive hurdle must be cleared first. Time to breakdown the matchup.
Network: CBS
Time: Saturday, December 19th, 8:00 PM EST
Alabama analysis
Heisman talk has been fairly widespread this season. But one name that gets lost in the shuffle is quarterback Mac Jones. Jones is fifth in the country in passing yards per game and leads all quarterbacks in passer rating. Jones has five games this season of four or more touchdown passes and plays alongside arguably the best receiver in college football in Devonta Smith. The 6’1 receiver is second on the all-time list of total receiving yards in Alabama school history and also the school’s all-time leader in receiving touchdowns. In the absence of Jaylen Waddle, sophomore receiver John Metchie has provided plenty of playmaking ability in the passing game with 40 receptions and six touchdowns. The offense for Alabama has been rolling all season long. A unit that is fifth overall and third in points per game.
Things started a bit rocky for the Alabama defense through the first month of the season. But as soon as the new starters and new faces settled in, they became the talented defense that many expected. The star of the group is cornerback Patrick Surtain II. A shutdown corner that is able to eliminate a side of the field on his own. Opposite Surtain, junior corner Josh Jobe has elevated his play as of late and is quietly having a solid season. Defensive lineman Christian Barmore leads the team in sacks and is a key anchor on a run defense that is 18th in the country and 13th in yards per carry allowed.
Florida analysis
Speaking of Heisman candidates, it’s tough to have a conversation about the trophy nowadays without mentioning Florida quarterback Kyle Trask. With 40 touchdown passes on the season, Trask leads all of college football in that category. His efficiency has been very impressive this season and he only has one game below a QB rating of 170. He has an electric weapon on the field with him in receiver Kadarius Toney, who has 977 total scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. The Gators are hopeful that tight end Kyle Pitts is able to take the field after battling injuries as of late. The All-SEC tight end has been elite with 11 touchdown receptions on just 36 total catches on the season. Pitts is a huge component in the Gators offense.
The expectations set by past Florida defenses has set a bar that this particular Gators defense was unable to reach on this season. Simply put, they struggled somewhat and was a mediocre group. Between Brenton Cox Jr., Tedarrell Slaton, and Zachary Carter, the three defensive linemen combined for nine sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss. Collectively, the Gators were fourth in the SEC in total yards allowed per game. That may sound solid to some but throw on the tape and you will see a Florida defense that has plenty of talent but consistency was a considerable issue.
Prediction
This will be the tenth meeting between the two programs in the SEC title game with Alabama currently hold the slight edge in those meetings, 5-4. Both programs sport quarterback play that can very well lead to victory. Both Trask and Jones have been outstanding this season and efficiency is going to be vital between those two passers.
The defenses in this contest had their moments of struggle this season also. However, as of late, it’s Alabama that was ascended as a defense. In three of their past five games, the Tide defense has held teams under 200 total yards.
But as stated, Florida presents a different beast. Trask and Toney are able to flip a game in an instant. Getting a stellar game from receiver Trevon Grimes would help even more. This season, Grimes has been solid if not spectacular with 34 receptions and eight touchdowns.
Not mentioned so far is the X-factor of this entire game. His name is Najee Harris and for the Alabama Crimson Tide, the 230 pound wrecking ball is seventh in the country in rushing yards and has 22 rushing touchdowns to lead all of college football. While many teams are busy worrying about the Alabama aerial attack, Harris and his imposing running style can wear down defenses. This game will hinge largely on the Florida defense playing to their potential and making plays. Tackling and winning on third downs is the name of the game for the Gators defense. While that is the case, the Alabama offense has been too strong this year and I don’t see an inconsistent defense suddenly shutting them down.