SEC Championship Preview – Can Tebow Take Gators All The Way?
Tim Tebow is by far one of the most recognizable figures in sports, and in Florida he is considered a god. The Gators have never been lower than first in the BCS and AP rankings this season, and a 12-0 SU record has done a lot to bolster that.
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But as I said in the preseason, the one team they had to be most concerned about was Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide. For Tim Tebow, this will be his chance to join the elite few that have won three college championships, but you’d be daft to think that Nick Saban doesn’t want a crack at the trophy too.
The Gators have not been the betting stalwart that their backers would have hoped for. Just 5-5-1 ATS the spread this season, they’re also 1-4 ATS when playing Alabama. Bama has been marginally better going 7-5 ATS this season and have benefited in this series by having massive points spreads.
In 2008, Florida received ten points on the betting line, and 15.5 in 2007. Yet there is more at stake in this game than just a shot at the BCS Championships and a online betting line to cover.
Tim Tebow is ranked fourth in my Heisman poll, based mostly on a career that has been nothing short of incredible. But Mark Ingram, the tailback for Alabama, has a reasonable shot as well. Ingram has 1,429 rushing yards on the ground with 12 touchdowns and is bested by quarterback Tim Tebow who has 796 yards and 13 touchdowns with rushing being his secondary weapon. The Heisman will be up for grabs for either of these two, and the fate of your betting dollars is at stake as well. 
Florida Gators (12-0) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (12-0)
Saturday, December 5 th — Georgia Dome, Atlanta — 4:00pm EST
NCAAF Betting Line: Florida -5 (41)
It would be another storybook chapter in the incredible career or Tim Tebow, who matches both McElroy and Ingram on the stat chart. While he beats Ingram in touchdowns, he has also played just as effectively as his quarterback counterpart in Alabama.
McElroy has 2,211 yards and 16 touchdowns while Tebow has 2,166 yards and 17 touchdowns. Both have four interceptions. It’s kind of crazy that Tebow could match the entire production of the Tide’s offensive studs, isn’t it?
I am caught between Tebow writing another legendary chapter, and Alabama stealing the torch from Florida. Despite the spread victories by ‘ Bama, Florida has two victories in the past two games, including last year’s SEC Championship. The Tide is certainly much more mature, but Tebow and the Gators are actually peaking after stalling mid-way through the season.
For the TOTAL, I’d keep in mind that both teams have a nasty habit of keeping games low scoring when the stakes are high. Florida beat the Gamecocks just 24-14 and outlasted LSU 13-3 in their two biggest games this season. For their part Alabama has scores of 24-15 over LSU and 26-21 over a riley Auburn team. They also have a 12-10 game against the Volunteers in the books. The UNDER is a safe bet.
Ultimately, I think that Florida wins this game with Tebow living up to the hype as one of the most prolific and memorable college players of all time. That doesn’t mean I’m taking them with a 5-point spread though. Alabama’s defense is stern, ranking 2 nd in the nation behind Florida with just 10.8 points allowed. Tebow gets the Heisman votes over Ingram and earn the big win in a score that I see ending up with Florida on top 16-13.
Free Pick: Alabama -5 (UNDER)
