SEC Championship Game 2015: How Florida can beat Alabama
The Florida Gators have the difficult task of taking on the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC championship game 2015. Can the Gators pull off the unthinkable?
Florida is a 17-point underdog as it enters the SEC championship game against Alabama. Can Florida beat Alabama? Yes, the Gators have a shot at pulling off the upset. In the words of Dumb and Dumber, “So you’re saying there’s a chance?!”
The first thing Florida needs to do to pull of the upset is neutralize the run game. The Gators have the No. 7 rush defense in the nation, allowing 111 yards per game and only nine touchdowns in 12 games. However, Alabama running back Derrick Henry is the Heisman favorite and the heartbeat of the team. If the Gators can find a way to slow Henry down, it would greatly increase Florida’s chances of winning.
Secondly, Treon Harris needs to play much better than he has the past month. Harris has been unable to find his receivers and is becoming a liability for the Gators who have struggled offensively since losing starting quarterback Will Grier to a suspension. For the Gators to have any chance of pulling off the upset, Harris has to have his best game of his career.
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Finally, Florida needs to force Jacob Coker into bad decisions and make him turn the ball over. Coker has thrown at least one interception in the last three games. If the Gators to win, they need to do the first two things and will likely still need to force Coker into multiple turnovers. If Florida can be a plus-three in the turnover department, they stand a chance.
While the Gators have a chance at pulling off the unthinkable in Atlanta, Alabama ultimately is the better team with a roster full of guys with championship experience and the Gators will be unable to pull of the three things I just outlined.
The last time the Gators faced a stud running back was against LSU when Leonard Fournette ran for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Henry has the potential of having that type of game against the Gators and could even get his fifth games with at least 200 yards
Harris has yet to prove he is a capable passer and that is unlikely to change against Alabama. The Crimson Tide have the best front seven in the nation.
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Ultimately, the Gators have the potential to hang around for some of the game but in the end Alabama will pull away and head to the College Football Playoff.