Since the SEC is considered the top conference in college football on a yearly basis, it would only make sense if this year’s version of the SEC championship game featured two teams that still had a chance to make the College Football Playoff. Well, that is only the case for one team.
The Alabama Crimson Tide are the No. 1 team in college football. There is absolutely no arguing that. Not only are they the defending national champs, but they finished the regular season with a perfect 12-0 record. In the process, they knocked off seven ranked opponents — well, at the time, that is.
While there will likely be plenty of controversy surrounding the College Football Playoff, basically everyone is saying the Crimson Tide are the best team in football — and they are. Next up, Alabama will take on the Florida Gators in the — you guessed it — SEC championship game.
Entering the season, many people thought the Tennessee Volunteers finally had the goods to make the SEC title game. Fast forward to now and head coach Butch Jones’ seat is scorching hot and the Volunteers will not be partaking in the SEC title game, or the playoff.
Florida, once again, surprised a lot of people. As a result, the Gators will be playing in their second straight conference title game. Of course, they got taken down by Alabama last season, and the same thing is expected this year (only worse). Not only are the Crimson Tide the best team in the nation — you may have heard — but the Gators are coming off of a 31-13 loss against the Florida State Seminoles, they have three losses on the year, and they have only beat one ranked opponent (at the time) in 2016. Not to mention, Florida could use some serious help on the offensive side of the ball.
If you are a Florida fan, then you should be extremely proud of your Gators for making the title game, but you also shouldn’t expect any miracles in this SEC showdown. Why? Well, despite the fact that Alabama has looked unstoppable from Day 1 (it knocked off the USC Trojans by the score of 52-6 in its season opener), the tweet below is very telling.
In the SEC championship game, Florida will face an Alabama defense that did this in November. pic.twitter.com/xMADjy2naK
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 27, 2016
Before the festivities begin and the College Football Playoff committee picks its top four teams, make sure to check out these bold predictions for the SEC championship game.
The Gators Reach The Red Zone One Time
In November, Alabama’s defense only allowed two red zone drives. For the record, the Crimson Tide took on the LSU Tigers on the road and the Auburn Tigers in the Iron Bowl in the month of November. Both teams, at the time, were ranked No. 13 .
Not to mention, Florida is only averaging 24.1 points per game (ranked No. 104 in the country in that department). Alabama is allowing just 11.4 points per game , which is the best mark in the sport.
Translation: The Gators’ offense is in trouble.
Jalen Hurts Goes Off For Five Total Touchdowns
Jalen Hurts is more than capable of going off for five touchdowns. That is not the bold part. The bold meter starts to go way up when you take into account how good the Gators’ defense has been in 2016.
Yes, Florida lost its last game by the score of 31-13, but the team is only allowing 14.6 points per game, which is the fifth-best mark in college football.
Alabama Blanks Florida
Now this prediction really has bold written all over it. For starters. Florida has scored in every single game this year — no surprises there. Not to mention, the Gators are probably extremely motivated to play the best team in the country, especially since Florida lost to Alabama in the same setting last season.
Alabama, once again, will take care of business in the SEC championship game, and will walk right into the College Football Playoff after that.
Anything short of a big win for Alabama would be a major shocker, a major shocker that fans aren’t going to witness.
[Featured Image by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images]