Alabama Football: Predictions, keys to victory in SEC title game vs Florida

Florida quarterback Kyle Trask, left, and Alabama quarterback Mac Jones are the top candidates for the Heisman Trophy.Kyle Trask Mac Jones
Florida quarterback Kyle Trask, left, and Alabama quarterback Mac Jones are the top candidates for the Heisman Trophy.Kyle Trask Mac Jones /
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Alabama football with Mac Jones and company finally meet Kyle Trask and the Florida Gators for the 2020 SEC championship in Atlanta

Expect a ton of offense as Alabama football and Florida meet in the SEC Championship once again for the tenth time in history.

Admittedly, some of the shine of this game has been taken off after LSU’s 37-34 upset of Florida last week.

As you know, Florida might have literally thrown their playoff hopes away following one of the most boneheaded penalties you will ever see when Marco Wilson threw his opponent’s cleat downfield after a third down stop late in the fourth quarter which kept the game-winning drive alive for LSU. However, more than just that play, Florida did not do enough to win despite having star tight end Kyle Pitts sidelined.

While Kyle Trask threw for 474 yards and two touchdowns, he forced a couple of throws that resulted in interceptions including one pick-six. In addition, the Gators were held to a modest 135 yards on the ground.

Florida’s defense was also the subject of debate this week as defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has felt the heat from critics. Grantham has been previously faulted for defensive breakdowns, and notably, he got burned on a couple of corner blitzes in this game including on one wide-open touchdown pass.

Despite this, Florida is at No. 7 in the latest playoff rankings which gives the Gators at least an argument for making the top four if enough results go their way this weekend.

Meanwhile, Alabama almost certainly locked their spot in the playoffs following a 52-3 victory over Arkansas last week. The Tide put the game away early to finish the regular season at 10-0.

Honestly, Alabama’s main concern coming into this game was avoiding injuries, and unfortunately, linebacker Christian Harris was hurt and had to leave the game. He appears to be a game-time decision on Saturday.

As an added layer of intrigue, this game will likely decide who will win the Heisman as the current top three favorites for the award are Mac Jones, Devonta Smith, and Kyle Trask.

Based on statistics alone, Trask has the edge over his counterpart as he leads the country with 3,717 yards passing and 40 touchdowns while Jones has 3,321 yards and 27 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Devonta Smith has made a late charge among oddsmakers following a four-game stretch in which he scored 11 touchdowns before last Saturday. His speed, route running, and overall skill have many now believing that he might be the best player in college football.

Whatever the case, expect a possible shootout with the player(s) from the winning team having the inside track to the award come January. Here’s some key info about the matchup, followed by keys to victory and a prediction.

Date: Saturday, December 19
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
TV: CBS
Live Stream: CBS All Access

Betting Odds
Courtesy of Fan Duel

Spread: Alabama -17.5
Over/Under: 74.5