SEC Championship Game 2009
Alabama Crimson Tide and Florida Gators Meet to Determine SEC Title
For the second consecutive year Alabama and Florida will meet in the SEC Championship game. In the 2008 game, the undefeated Crimson Tide was ranked Number 1 and the one loss Gators were ranked Number 2 in the BCS. This year, unless either team suffers a loss in their final game of the season, both teams will enter the championship game undefeated with Florida ranked Number 1 and Alabama ranked Number 2 in the BCS.
Alabama-Florida Previous Meetings
Alabama and Florida have met in the SEC Championship game six times previously, with the Gators leading the series 4 – 2. In the 2008 game, the Florida Gators won 31 – 20 as a result of a fourth quarter domination of the Crimson Tide.
During the 2008 championship game the statistics for both teams were relatively equal. The Tide rushed 33 times for 136 yards and completed 12 of 25 passing attempts with one interception for 187 yards. The Gators rushed 42 times for 142 yards and completed 14 of 22 passing attempts for 216 yards.
The key to the game was Florida’s domination of Bama in fourth quarter. The Gators 11:55 time of possession in the quarter kept the Alabama’s offense off the field, along with scoring two touchdowns in the quarter to seal their come from behind victory.
Preview of the Crimson Tide
The Crimson Tide has shown good balance in their offensive numbers, averaging 216.9 rushing yards (13th nationally) and 200.7 yards passing (83rd nationally) per game. This ranks Bama 29th nationally in total offense with 417 yards per game.
On the ground, Alabama is rushing the ball an average of 40.6 times per game for 5.30 yards per rush. The passing game is averaging 26.8 pass attempts per game for an average of 7.49 yards per attempt. Bama is has averaging 30.9 points per game in 2009 and is ranked 31st nationally.
Alabama’s defense is ranked 1st nationally in 2009 and has developed a reputation for its toughness, talent and pure speed, a reputation verified on the stat sheet. Bama’s defense only seems to be strengthening down the stretch of the 2009 season. The Crimson Tide ranks second in scoring defense (9.9 points), rushing defense (73 yards per game), pass efficiency defense (88 yards per game), and is third in total defense with 239 yards per game.
Alabama has only surrendered just six defensive touchdowns in seven Southeastern Conferences games this season and held five of those teams to single-digit points. They have also won six of their seven SEC games by two or more scores. Over the past five games those numbers get even better, allowing just three touchdowns and not allowing an opposing team to score more than 15 points in that stretch.
Preview of the Gators
The Gator defense has turned up the pressure in the second half of games, particularly the fourth quarter. Of the team’s 18 interceptions, 12 have come in the second half, including eight in the fourth quarter. Additionally, 20 of Florida’s 29 sacks have come in the second half.
The Florida Gators offense is ranked 16th in the nation. Florida leads the SEC in rushing offense with 229.9 yards per game and is Number 2 in the conference in total offense with442.8 yards per game. The Gators average 36 points per game in scoring offense.
The Florida Gator offense is one of two teams in the nation with 2,500 rushing and 2,300 passing yards in the 2009 football season. The other team with this is record is Texas Christian University (TCU).
Florida’s defense has only surrendered 10 touchdowns this season, which is the fewest in the nation. Their scoring defense averages 10 points per game, which is Number 1 in the nation. The Gators are ranked 1st nationally with 139.3 average yards per game in passing defense and ranks 2nd nationally in allowing only 229.8 yards per game in total defense.
An Evenly Matched Game
Both the Crimson Tide and Florida Gators are relatively evenly matched for this SEC showdown on December 5th. Each team has a stifling defense and highly rated offense. The keys to the game will be Alabama’s ability to control Tebow and Florida’s ability to slow Ingram’s running.
Both teams have Heisman Trophy contenders with Alabama’s Running Back Mark Ingram and Florida’s Quarterback Tim Tebow. Although Mark Ingram is currently the favorite to win, this SEC Championship game should prove to be the deciding factor.
One important special team player that may give Bama an edge over the Gators is the field goal kicker Leigh Tiffin, who is 27 – 31 this season and has kicked a 50 yard field goal. One weak point in Alabama’s game which may give Florida an edge is kickoff returns, which is the Tide’s only glaring weak point.
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