Game To Watch: #1 Alabama vs #7 Florida: December 19, 2020

Alabama will take on Florida in the SEC Championship this Saturday at 8:00 EST in Atlanta. The Crimson Tide were an undefeated 10 – 0 this year and have been dominating the competition with an average margin of victory over 30 points. The Gators just completed an 8 – 2 regular season with a disappointing loss against LSU. Alabama is likely in the playoff win or lose and Florida needs some help even if they win this game.

Recent History

Alabama has dominated the recent history between these two teams. The Crimson Tide have won six in a row against Florida, though the two teams have not played one another since 2016. Nick Saban’s last loss to Florida came in the 2008 SEC Championship game when Urban Meyer was still coaching the Gators.

Top 25 Players

What To Watch For…

Will Trask and the Gator’s offense keep rolling?

Kyle Trask won the starting job during the 2019 season and has had an incredible 2020 season for Florida. The star quarterback has completed 70.2 percent of his passes for 3,717 yards with 40 touchdowns against just 5 interceptions this season. Even without tight end Kyle Pitts for stretches during the season, Trask has kept the Florida offense going. The Gators have averaged 41.2 points per game this season and have scored 31 points or more in every game this season. Florida has been able to score against everyone they have faced, even in their two losses. Alabama’s defense ranks 11th in the country in scoring defense. They gave up 48 points against Mississippi earlier this year but have played significantly better since. In the seven games since they have allowed over 20 points just once (24 against Georgia) and have held three of their opponents to three points or less. The Alabama defense has figured things out and is playing championship football of late. Florida will need to find a way to score consistently to keep up with the Crimson Tide.

Can Florida slowdown the Alabama offense?

Scoring against Alabama can be a challenge, but even when Mississippi managed to score 48 points they still lost the game by 15. Alabama’s offense is as balanced and explosive as there is in the country. They rank third in the country in scoring offense (49.5 points per game), averaging over five yards a carry on the ground and over 11 yards per pass attempt through the air. Alabama has a powerful offensive line, a physical running back and an explosive set of receivers. If Florida is going to beat the Crimson Tide, they will have to score plenty and the defense will have to get key stops. The Gators have had their share of struggles on defense this year. Florida is allowing over 26 points per game this year and four of their ten opponents have scored 30 points or more this year. This is easily the most talented offense Florida will face this year, so they will need to play their best game of the season defensively to give their offense a chance to win.

Whose star receiver comes up big?

Both teams have one of the best pass catchers in the country at their disposal. Alabama’s Devonta Smith is the number one wide receiver in our rankings and Florida’s Kyle Pitts is the number one tight end in our rankings. Smith has been devastating all year, catching 83 passes for 1,327 yards and 15 touchdowns in his ten games this season. He has gone over 100 yards six times and over 200 yards twice, Smith has also caught multiple touchdowns in five games this year. On a team full of stars, Smith shines the brightest in Tuscaloosa. Pitts has fought through injuries this year but has continued to make big contributions for the Gators. He has caught 36 passes for 641 yards and 11 touchdowns in seven game this season. Pitts has not played in three of the last five games this season but has proven to be a match-up nightmare for defenses when healthy. Big games are won by big time players who make big time plays, Smith and Pitts will both look to steal the show on Saturday night.

Prediction

The Gators know that after last week’s loss they have to win this game to be in the playoff discussion. Florida will come out fast and firing on offense and could throw in some new wrinkles that confuse the Alabama defense. Alabama is used to getting everyone’s best shot and will not be surprised by this. Florida’s defense does not have the personnel to slow down the Alabama offense and their offense won’t score consistently enough to keep up. In the end the Tide will keep rolling. Alabama 52 Florida 28.

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Kyle Trask Image taken by Gamecock Central is licensed under CC BY 2.0.