All season long these two teams have been watching each other - Florida and Alabama...at some point in the season they have shared the top spot...this game was destined to happen...Last December 6th, these same two teams played for the same stakes -- the SEC title and a berth in the BCS title game...Alabama came into the game #1 while Florida was #2...Alabama went into the 4th quarter with a 20-17 lead...then Tim Tebow took over and willed his team to the 31-20 victory...
Florida goes into this game as a five point favorite...however, not often does a team get a second chance...this time the Tide rolls - Alabama 23-21
Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun writes about the big match-up... "Florida has played in four NC games, so the best argument one can make is that it's the fifth-biggest game in Florida football history. Bigger than 1996 Florida State? Both teams were unbeaten and ranked Nos. 1 and 2. But there was no conference championship on the line, so I would say yes." ...
Ivan Maisel of ESPN.com talked with 4 SEC coaches who stated that Tebow is the difference-maker... "They have one other thing in common, that is, with the fans and the media: They didn't stop talking about Gators senior quarterback Tim Tebow. But on that topic, the coaches' mileage did vary. There was the conventional stance of Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin, who said, "If it wasn't for Tebow, it's easy. Alabama wins the game." ...
Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald expects the game to be decided in the fourth quarter... "Florida trailed Alabama 20-17 after the third quarter but the Gators dominated when it mattered most. Quarterback Tim Tebow made good on his promise and the Gators' defense bullied and embarrassed coach Nick Saban and his Crimson Tide in the fourth quarter." ...
Chase Goodbread of the Tuscaloosa News writes how the Alabama defense must prepare to face Tebow... "So when the University of Alabama linebacker endorses the popular sentiment that Tebow carried the Gators to victory in last year's Southeastern Conference Championship Game, take it from him." ...
Ray Melick of the Birmingham News writes about the differences of each team... "So now we know: If Alabama wins Saturday, it will be because of better coaching; if Florida wins, it will be because of better players." ...
Chase Goodbread writes about the differences from last year's teams... "Offensively, the experience edge clearly falls to the Gators. UF lost its top skill-position threat to the National Football League in Percy Harvin, but that won’t be any different for Alabama, which didn’t see Harvin last year due to an injury." ...
George Diaz of the Orlando Sentinel writes how 1 player is the difference... "Here's the only question that needs to be answered regarding Saturday night's SEC Championship Game in Atlanta. Tim Tebow or Greg McElroy?" ...
Andrea Adelson of the Orlando Sentinel writes about Mark Ingram's chances to be Alabama's first Heisman winner... "In all the storied years of Alabama football, not once has a player won the Heisman Trophy. No one has finished second, either. Its latest hope comes in the form of a 5-foot-10 bowling ball of a running back, a player who has put aside the hardship of an imprisoned father to post one of the best rushing seasons in school history." ...
Note - the Tim Tebow photo was courtesy of Brennen Klingensmith who attended the Florda-South Carolina game this year
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