Here are my picks and predictions for the 2009 SEC Championship game between (1) Florida and (2) Alabama. It’s the East (Alabama) vs. the West (Florida) when the 2009 SEC Title game takes place in Atlanta, Georgia on December 5th at 4pm CST. The 2009 SEC Championship game will be carried nationally by CBS.
So who will win between Florida and Alabama when the two collide in the 2009 SEC Championship Game?
Alabama just survived a scare against Auburn but managed to keep the title hopes alive for coach Nick Saban. Florida has been on cruise control since early in the season yet hasn’t had a whole lot of competition in the process. The Gators sport Tim Tebow, one of the college football’s best ever quarterbacks. Tebow has been equally as impressive passing for the Gators as he has running. His total touchdowns for his career are mind boggling. Tebow has added 11 TD’s on the ground and 14 through the air entering the Florida State game this season.
Alabama sports a tough defense that was certainly put to the test against state rival Auburn. The 26-21 win over Auburn was tight. In fact, the Tide didn’t Roll at all until the 4th quarter with an impressive game winning touchdown drive. The wins for Alabama certainly have been a lot closer this season than the victories for Florida.
Alabama nipped Tennessee 12-10 on a blocked field goal late and held off LSU 24-15.
If there is a weakness for the Tide it has certainly been the passing game. Alabama has just 14 touchdown passes through it’s 12 games and 23 rushing touchdowns. The Alabama offense isn’t setting any offensive records by any means but the defense has given up just 109 points which is good for just 9.9 ppg. Will the Alabama offense be able to score enough to get past a Florida offense in the 2009 SEC Title Game? The burning question is perhaps can the Alabama defense somehow maintain a Florida offense that runs on high octane even on bad days? Who will win the 2009 SEC Championship game between Florida and Alabama? My picks and predictions have Florida holding up the trophy and winning the 2009 SEC Championship game and here’s why.
The Tide doesn’t have as much room for errors. A few Tim Tebow touchdown strikes and the Tide will be forced to go to a often questionable passing attack. Alabama doesn’t want to get in a track meet much like they faced with Auburn. I predict if Alabama gives up 3 touchdowns early to the Gators then it might be over in the 2009 SEC Championship game. It’s like the immovable object against the irresistible force. The Gators are the force and the Tide have certainly been the immovable object. The Florida offense though has seemingly figured out ways to move the object every single game Tim Tebow has played in during his college career. Sure the Gators might seem to be content after winning the 2008 National Championship from an outsider looking in. But there are new kids on the Florida team who want it just as badly.
The defense for Florida has stepped it up a notch or two this season and that could provide the difference in this contest. We know that Florida is very well capable on offense and the Gators will be next to impossible to hold under 20 points. The question Alabama faces is can it score 20 or more points to win against a Florida defense that is very improved over last season?
Alabama has done it’s damage in the second quarter this season with a 114-33 outscoring of opponents. Could that be the single biggest quarter in the 2009 SEC Championship game? Greg McElroy has certainly shown improvement at quarterback and has 14 TD’s to just 5 interceptions. My 2009 SEC Championship game picks and prediction for McElroy? Only 146 yards passing and 2 interceptions. Mark Ingram has over 1400 yards rushing and that provides the bullk of the offense. My picks and predictions for the SEC Championship game have Ingram with 87 yards and 1 touchdown against a stingy Florida defense.
Florida had a close win against Arkansas 23-20 and their win over LSU was equally as close, winning by a 13-3 margin. That 13 point effort was the only time the Gators were held to under 20 points for the first 11 games of the 2009 season. The Gators are certainly more balanced than Alabama posting very similar numbers when comparing the rushing game to the passing attack. Tim Tebow is certainly the X factor in this situation because of his ability to create first downs on third down when he opts to run. Much like Alabama, the Gators have only allowed 108 points this season on defense for 9.8 points per game. The defenses are very similar in the fact that neither has allowed teams to score much let alone make it to the red zone that often.
Okay, I know you’ve seen some stats and you are wondering who will win the 2009 SEC Championship game?
My final picks and predictions on the 2009 SEC Title game between Florida and Alabama are just simple and boring. Florida wins 27-17. The Gators will be slowed a bit in the first half by a stubborn Alabama defense. The Tide will also figure out ways to score on special teams to add to their total. Other than that, it’s Florida putting on quite a show in the 2009 SEC Title game. My picks and predictions for Tebow in the 2009 SEC Championship game? Tim Tebow will pass for one touchdown and run for another in a not so spectacular but poised performance. Tebow passes for 197 yards and rushes for 79 yards in a dog fight. The Gators defense will come up with 2 interceptions and Florida will once again head to the National Title game with no losses. I’ll have to admit. BORING.
Can Alabama figure out a way to slow down Florida and upset the top ranked Gators? I wouldn’t rule it out if the Gators come out flat. My gut feeling is that is way more likely after a month off waiting to play in a BCS game.
Certainly momentum can play a huge factor in the early going of a game of this magnitude. A telling point with Alabama is how they have dominated the second quarter or football games. That generally puts the Tide in a strong position to open up the second half where they can rely on their defense to win football games instead of their offense. If Alabama is trailing at the half, and I think they will be, then the Tide will be in a lot of trouble. If Florida gets Alabama into a passing situation then I predict the Tide won’t be rolling in the 2009 SEC Championship game. That’s kind of the scenario I see happening in the 2009 SEC Title game.
That’s it for my picks and predictions for the 2009 SEC Championship game. We’ll have more picks and predictions for the college football bowl games as the schedule is announced.
