Is Kelvin Taylor, defense Florida’s best shot at upsetting Alabama?

It’s a sign another Gators’ business trip is finished. We’ve got the way for you to watch the big game and join along in the excitement!

Combine Alabama’s nine straight wins by an average victory margin of nearly 23 points and its No. 2 College Football Playoff ranking, with Florida’s struggle in the stretch, and the result is the Crimson Tide being installed as an 18-point favorite for today’s 24 annual SEC championship game in the Georgia Dome at 3 p.m. CT.

In the end, there were plenty of “what if’s” for the Gators, but McElwain loved the heart, effort and experience for his team.

Punt return Florida’s 85-yard second punt return for a touchdown was the second against the Crimson Tide. The Gators racked up 83 yards of offense in the first quarter. It won’t be easy, going against a Florida defense that ranks seventh in the nation against the run.

“We’ll get working on this kicking thing, and somebody will get it over the line far enough that maybe somebody doesn’t block it with their armpit”, McElwain said.

Alabama’s defense works harder at practice than it had to in Saturday’s 29-15 SEC Championship game win over Florida.

What was a picture-perfect day in their stadium on the banks of the Brazos in Waco, Texas, was marred for the Bears (9-3, 6-3 Big 12) with their third loss in four games and an early bench-clearing scuffle with Texas (4-7, 4-5).

P.J. Walker threw for 287 yards with a touchdown and interception and Robby Anderson had a season-high 150 yards receiving for the Owls, who are heading to a bowl for the first time since 2011.

“My main focus is on finishing and helping the team win”, Henry said.

“I think when you have anyone on your staff before, who’s been a part of the team, helped you build the program, and Jim was on our staff when we were building a program, did a fantastic job for us”. “If it’s in the fourth quarter, we take pride on winning in the fourth quarter”.

Does No. 18 Florida (10-2, No. 18 CFP) have any chance? Some of their warts have been exposed for all to see.

“They (Alabama) stopped the run game and we have to get better on that”.

“It’s been so much fun seeing the development of the program, of our players, of the people around the program”, said McElwain, who spent four years as Saban’s offensive coordinator.

How long till they are back in Atlanta? It wasn’t the prettiest route to the playoffs for the Tide, but the scenic route isn’t always the best way to get where you’re going, and Alabama is still headed in the right direction. Henry earned Most Valuable Player honors for his performance. Harris ran for two points and the Alabama lead had narrowed to 29-15 with 5:02 on the clock. Things are about to start getting serious and all we want is Alabama standing on the podium at the end of it all. Florida’s special teams having a bit of a nightmare.

Fans rushed the field after the game, making a sea of red surrounding the stage they brought out onto the field to present the championship trophy.

What made this even more brutal was that there were 13 Gators offensive possessions that ended in eight three-and-outs and eight punts.

These short takes are presented as a companion to the SEC championship game column, which can be found here. The Gators, winners of two the last three national championships at the time, dropped from the top.

Because of that, teams make mistakes; the Crimson Tide capitalize and grind out wins. The Gators will need a strong ground game and their defense to continue to step up.