College Football Betting – Florida/Alabama Preview & Picks
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Will any online sportsbook event generate more interest this week than Florida/Alabama? I seriously doubt it, especially since this 1-versus-2 matchup is not just the SEC title game but the real national title game in some people’s eyes. These two teams gave us a classic last year, with Florida winning 31-20.
Will history repeat itself in this year’s battle of undefeated teams?
(1) Florida Gators vs (2) Alabama Crimson Tide
Saturday, December 5, 4:00 p.m. ET
Florida Alabama odds favorite: Florida -4.5
There’s just so much to enjoy in Saturday’s matchup. Obviously, we have a berth in the BCS title game at stake, though there’s the tiniest possibility that both these teams could wind up in that game anyway. We’ll also see two Heisman candidates duke it out, as Florida frontrunner Tim Tebow aims for his second trophy and Alabama’s Mark Ingram tries to run his way to glory.
Florida’s offense isn’t absolutely perfect but it certainly does enough to win in Tebow’s capable hands. With a 17:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio plus 796 rushing yards for 13 touchdowns, Tebow is Florida’s offense. The quarterback had 98 more carries than any other Gator. He has decent weapons in the passing game too with Riley Cooper and Aaron Hernandez.
Alabama’s offense is all about Ingram; he was a monster for most of the year, running for 1,429 yards and 12 scores while averaging 6.5 yards per carry. It’s concerning, however, that Ingram got stuffed against Auburn in the Iron Bowl, running for a putrid 30 yards on 16 carries. Quarterback Greg McIlroy picked up the slack, throwing for two scores, but the Crimson Tide need everyone to click on offense to have a shot against the tough Gator defense. Florida ranked first in the nation, never allowing more than 20 points in a game, with linebacker Brandon Spikes leading the way. It’s pretty tough to do anything against a defense that returned every starter from its 2008 national title year.
Then again, Alabama plays phenomenal “D” too, cracking the national top five in both pass defense and run defense and forcing turnovers galore, so Florida has no picnic ahead. Neither do bettors, apparently. These teams match up very evenly, so what can be the deciding factor in our football picks?
Indirectly, it may be McIlroy, because the pressure may fall on him again to keep Alabama in the game. Directly, Florida’s run “D” should decide this matchup, stacking the box against Ingram and forcing ’Bama to air it out. In a passing shootout, the Crimson Tide just don’t have the horses to hang with Tebow and the Gators. Expect a fun day of football but go with Florida in your college football betting.
Pick: Florida -4.5
2 replies on “Gators vs. Crimson Tide: CFB Pick / Preview”
I’m almost looking at this game as the National Championship game. These teams have been the best two in the country since the beginning of the season and have been warming up for this game over the last 13 weeks.
While it is hard to go against Tebow, I think Alabama’s defense will be the difference in this one. “Bama by 3
I agree the winner of Saturdays game will be the National Champions. Sorry, Big 12 dudes, but it’s always been true, Defense win National Championships.
Tebow will rush for close to 100 yards, 2 touchdowns and throw for another 2 or 3.
Tim has lived for this moment. Here’s the most simple explanation: Do you REALLY think Tim Tebow will LET another team take his dream and theirs away?
Noy going to happen, and no disrespect to the Tide, they are a great team. With a good defense, so would Texas be a great team.
Doc Bear