SEC Championship Pick: Will Alabama cover big number vs. Florida?

Editor’s Note: BH Expert David Wasson and BH Contributor Kevin Brooks made a decision to take their PTI-like arguments on instant messaging to the next level for public consumption. A team that’s won 24 consecutive games and beaten 16 straight SEC opponents doesn’t go into any game accepting losing.

But one question into Monday’s press conference, ahead of Saturday’s SEC Championship game, that run of perfection ended. It’s a ring game.

Smart: Hired in December 2015 from Alabama, where he was Saban’s defensive coordinator; first Georgia team was 7-5, 4-4 in SEC play; became first Georgia coach to lose to Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Florida and Georgia Tech in a season; offense ranked 89th nationally.

KEVIN BROOKS: Playoff or no playoff, the SEC Championship Game means something to Nick Saban and Alabama fans. The Gators offense is averaging 24.1 points and 352.7 yards per game and they have turned the ball over 17 times. He wants to leave no doubt when the selection committee picks the top four on Sunday.

Speculation has it that even if Alabama does not beat Florida to win the SEC Championship, the Crimson Tide could still earn a spot in the third annual College Football Playoff. The uproar over that birthed the four-team playoff.

Notable games; 1992 – Alabama and Florida faced off in the first ever SEC championship game. But I do envision the Gators being able to hang around for a bit due to their own defense.

Butch Jones, Tennessee: Hired in December 2012 from Cincinnati; is 29-24, 14-22 in SEC play; team was picked to win the SEC East but finished 4-4 in league play with losses to SC and Vanderbilt; defense ranked 110th among FBS schools. But it was just the second game in 2016 he finished a game with more than five touches from scrimmage – the other time was the season opener.

About Florida (8-3, 6-2): The Gators rank fifth in scoring defense (14.6) and sixth in total defense (291.9) but will be without six starters, including standouts such as senior linebacker Jarrad Davis (ankle), junior linebacker Alex Anzalone (arm), junior defensive end Jordan Sherit (knee) and senior safety Marcus Maye (arm).

“Alabama’s defense is No. 1 in the country for a reason”.

I’ll have more on what that makes me think later today. As a team, Florida ranks eighth in the SEC in pass offense at 211.1 yards per game. Every Tide game these days has that feel, though. The Crimson Tide won the honor last season. Florida was incredible even against bookmakers’ odds in 2008, going 11-2 against the spread – this, despite nine double-digit lines, and seven of at least 23 points. So Jim McElwain and Co. have absolutely nothing to lose here. Or maybe 1 in 100. But the word dog holds a completely different meaning in this instance. It’s an opportunity to win the SEC championship, which – to me – is a very significant accomplishment. For the university, it is another prestigious title for their trophy museum. Alabama’s numbers in all three categories are significantly better than last season’s national championship team. “It was great meeting Coach (Billy) Napier, (Jeremy) Pruitt and (Tosh) Lupoi, and of course Coach (Nick) Saban”. I bet he can taste it like a Little Debbie oatmeal pie!

McElwain says “I know everybody will try to do everything they can to play in this game”. If Alabama had of lost to Florida in the SEC championship game it would have cost Alabama a shot at a national title and Roy Kramer would have taken a lot of heat for creating a game that eliminated an SEC national championship contender.