Finally, after weeks of being the No. 1 team in the Bowl Championship Series rankings and hearing how good Florida is, Alabama gets a chance to use the slight as motivation and to see for itself in Saturday afternoon’s Southeastern Conference Championship Game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The Gators, who are No. 4 in the BCS, hope a victory will give them a chance at a second national title in three seasons, but Oklahoma (No. 2) and Texas (No. 3) could wreck those dreams.
GAME 13: ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE vs. FLORIDA GATORS
WHAT: 17th Southeastern Conference Championship Game.
WHO:Florida Gators (11-1, 7-1 SEC East) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (12-0, 8-0 SEC West).
WHERE: Georgia Dome (71,500), Atlanta.
WHEN: Saturday at 4:07 p.m. ET.
WEATHER FORECAST: Plenty of sun. Highs in the low 50s. Chance of rain is 10 percent. But who cares? We’re playing in a dome where there is no wind and the temperature is around 72 degrees.
GATORCOUNTRY.COM: Pre- and post-game reports will be streamed on https://www.gatorcountry.com. Check the website for more information.
TV: CBS Sports (Verne Lundquist, play-by-play; Gary Danielson, color analyst; Tracy Wolfson, sideline reporter.
DELAYED TV: Sun Sports (David Steele, play-by-play; Nat Moore, color analyst; Steve Babik, sideline report) will air the game at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 on “Breakfast with the Gators” and again Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 11 p.m.
RADIO: Gator Radio Network (Mick Hubert, play-by-play; Lee McGriff, color; Steve Babik, sideline; Scot Brantley and Travis McGriff, pre-game). Pre-game show starts at 1 p.m.; post-game show concludes 90 minutes after game. WFXJ-AM 930 (Jacksonville) is flagship station. Affiliates are WWBF-AM 1130 (Bartow); WPHK-FM 102.3 (Blountstown); WWJB-AM 1450 (Brooksville); WBGC-AM 1240 (Chipley); WAFC-FM 99.5 (Clewiston); WXCV-FM 95.3 (Crystal River); WDCF-AM 1350 (Dade City); WMYR-AM 1410 (Fort Myers); WRUF-FM 103.7 (Gainesville); WRUF-AM 850 (Gainesville); WKWF-AM 1600 (Key West); WUCR-FM 107.9 (Lake Butler); WNFB-FM 94.3 (Lake City); WDSR-AM 1340 (Lake City); WONN-AM 1230 (Lakeland); WQHL-AM 1250 (Live Oak); WMEL-AM 1300 (Melbourne); WFTL-AM 850 (Miami); WCNZ-AM 1660 (Naples); WSBB-AM 1230 (New Smyrna Beach); WMOP-AM 900 (Ocala); WMOP-FM 100.1 (Ocala); WFLF-AM 540 (Orlando); WPLK-AM 800 (Palatka); WFLF-FM 94.5 (Panama City); WDIZ-AM 590 (Panama City); WTKE-FM 98.1 (Pensacola); WPSL-AM 1590 (Port St. Lucie); WLSS-AM 930 (Sarasota); WWTK-AM 730 (Sebring); WAOC-AM 1420 (St. Augustine); WSTU-AM 1450 (Stuart); WUTL-FM 106.1 (Tallahassee); WDAE-AM 620 (Tampa); WEFL-AM 760 (West Palm Beach); WZHR-AM 1400 (Zephyrhills).
Game also available on XM Satellite Radio channels 199 (national feed), 200 (Florida feed), 201 (Alabama feed).
Game also available through SEC Radio Network (Dave Neal, play-by-play; Dave Archer, color analyst; Dave Baker, sideline reporter). The Florida affiliates are WLFK-AM 1430 (Lakeland); WQTM-AM 740 (Maitland); WAXY-AM 790 (Miami); WOCA-AM 1370 (Ocala); WELE-AM 1380 (Ormond Beach); WTKE-FM 98.1 (Pace); WYOO-FM 101.1 (Panama City); WHBO-AM 1470 (Tampa).
Game also available around the nation on the Westwood One Radio Network (Kevin Kugler, play-by-play; Terry Bowden, color analyst).
COACHES: Florida, Urban Meyer, fourth season, 42-9 (overall, eighth season, 81-17). Alabama, Nick Saban, second season, 19-6 (overall, 13th season, 110-48-1).
SERIES: Overall, Alabama leads 20-13; Games in Gainesville, Alabama leads 7-2; Games in Birmingham, Florida leads 3-2; Games in Tuscaloosa, Alabama leads 6-5; Games in Jacksonville, Alabama leads 2-0; Games in Montgomery, Ala., Alabama leads 2-1; Games in Atlanta, Florida leads 2-1.(NOTE: Alabama claims a 29-0 victory over Florida in Tuscaloosa in 1904 but Florida did not officially begin football until 1906.)
Numbers in parentheses are the Florida/Alabama rankings prior to the game.
1916: Lost 0-16 in Jacksonville; 1921: Won 9-2 in Tuscaloosa; 1923: Won 16-6 in Birmingham; 1925: Lost 0-34 in Montgomery; 1926: Lost 0-49 in Montgomery; 1927: Won 13-6 in Montgomery; 1930: Lost 0-20 in Gainesville; 1931: Lost 0-41 in Birmingham; 1948: Lost 28-34 in Tuscaloosa; 1949: Lost 13-35 in Gainesville; 1950: Lost 13-41 in Jacksonville (NR/17); 1951: Won 30-21 in Tuscaloosa; 1963: Won 10-6 in Tuscaloosa (NR/3); 1964: Lost 14-17 in Tuscaloosa (9/3); 1970: Lost 15-46 in Tuscaloosa; 1971: Lost 0-38 in Gainesville (NR/8); 1972: Lost 7-24 in Tuscaloosa; 1973: Lost 14-35 in Gainesville (NR/3); 1978: Lost 12-23 in Tuscaloosa (NR/7); 1979: Lost 0-40 in Gainesville (NR/2); 1986: Lost 7-21 in Gainesville (13/4); 1987: Won 23-14 in Birmingham (NR/11); 1990: Won 17-13 in Tuscaloosa; 1991: Won 35-0 in Gainesville (6/16); 1992: Lost 21-28 in Birmingham (12/2); 1993: Won 28-13 in Birmingham (9/16); 1994: Won 24-23 in Atlanta (6/3); 1996: Won 45-30 in Atlanta (4/15); 1998: Won 16-10 in Tuscaloosa (8/NR); 1999: Lost 39-40 in Gainesville (3/21); 1999: Lost 7-34 in Atlanta (5/7); 2005: Lost 3-31 in Tuscaloosa (5/15); 2006: Won 28-13 in Gainesville (5/NR).
FLORIDA SEASON: Aug. 30, beat Hawaii 56-10 in Gainesville; Sept. 6, beat Miami (Fla.) 26-3 in Gainesville; Sept. 20, beat Tennessee 30-6 in Knoxville; Sept. 27, lost to Mississippi 30-31 in Gainesville; Oct. 4, beat Arkansas 38-7 in Fayetteville; Oct. 11, beat No. 4 Louisiana State 51-21 in Gainesville; Oct. 25, beat Kentucky 63-5 in Gainesville; Nov. 1, beat No. 8 Georgia 49-10 in Jacksonville; Nov. 8, beat Vanderbilt 42-14 in Nashville; Nov. 15, beat No. 24 South Carolina 56-6 in Gainesville; Nov. 22 beat The Citadel 70-19 in Gainesville; Nov. 29, beat Florida State 45-15 in Tallahassee.
ALABAMA SEASON: Aug. 30, beat No. 9 Clemson 34-10 in Georgia Dome (Atlanta); Sept. 6, beat Tulane 20-6 in Tuscaloosa; Sept. 13, beat Western Kentucky 41-7 in Tuscaloosa; Sept. 20, beat Arkansas 49-14 in Fayetteville; Sept. 27, beat No. 3 Georgia 41-30 in Athens; Oct. 4, beat Kentucky 17-14 in Tuscaloosa; Oct. 18, beat Mississippi 24-20 in Tuscaloosa; Oct. 25, beat Tennessee 29-9 in Knoxville; Nov. 1, beat Arkansas State 35-0 in Tuscaloosa; Nov. 8, beat No. 15 Louisiana State 27-21 in overtime in Baton Rouge; Nov. 15, beat Mississippi State 32-7 in Tuscaloosa; Nov. 29, beat Auburn 36-0 in Tuscaloosa.
SEC APPEARANCES: Florida (6-2): lost to Alabama 21-28 in 1992 at Legion Field, Birmingham, Ala.; beat Alabama 28-13 in 1993 at Legion Field, Birmingham, Ala.; beat Alabama 24-23 in 1994 at Georgia Dome, Atlanta.; beat Arkansas 34-3 in 1995 at Georgia Dome, Atlanta; beat Alabama 45-30 in 1996 at Georgia Dome, Atlanta; lost to Alabama 7-34 in 1999 at Georgia Dome, Atlanta; beat Auburn 28-6 in 2000 at Georgia Dome, Atlanta; beat Arkansas 38-28 in 2006 at Georgia Dome, Atlanta. Alabama (2-3): Beat Florida 28-21 in 1992 at Legion Field, Birmingham, Ala.; lost to Florida 13-28 in 1993 at Legion Field, Birmingham, Ala.; lost to Florida 23-24 in 1994 at Georgia Dome, Atlanta; lost to Florida 30-45 in 1996 at Georgia Dome, Atlanta; beat Florida 34-7 in 1999 at Georgia Dome, Atlanta.
POLLS: Florida: is No. 2 in the Associated Press media poll, No. 4 in the USA Today coaches’ poll, No. 2 in the Harris Interactive Poll, No. 2 in the Legends Football Coaches Association poll, No. 4 in the Bowl Championship Series rankings. Alabama is No. 1 in the Associated Press media poll, No. 1 in the USA Today coaches’ poll, No. 1 in the Harris Interactive Poll, No. 1 in the Legends Football Coaches Association poll, No. 1 in the Bowl Championship Series rankings.
POLL NOTES: With Alabama ranked No. 1 and Florida ranked No. 2 in this week’s Associated Press media poll, Saturday’s game will be the seventh time in the history of the poll that the No. 1 and No. 2 teams are from the same conference. In the previous six games, the No. 1 team has won four times. This is the first time that the top two teams of the SEC have played each other. The previous six: No. 2 Texas beat No. 1 Oklahoma 28-7 on Oct. 12, 1963; No. 1 Texas beat No. 2 Arkansas 15-14 on Dec. 6, 1969; No. 1 Nebraska beat No. 2 Oklahoma 35-31 on Nov. 25, 1971; No. 1 Iowa beat No. 2 Michigan 12-10 on Oct. 19, 1985; No. 2 Oklahoma beat No. 1 Nebraska 17-7 on Nov. 21, 1987; No. 1 Ohio State beat No. 2 Michigan 42-39 on Nov. 18, 2006. Overall, Saturday’s game will be the 39th matchup of Nos. 1 and 2 since the first AP poll in 1936, and No. 1 has won 24, lost 12 and tied one.
TEAM RANKINGS: NCAA rankings. Florida: Rushing offense, 10th (237.08 yards per game); passing offense, 61st (212.33 ypg); total offense, 17th (449.42 ypg); scoring offense, 3rd (46.33 points per game); rushing defense, 12th (102.75 ypg); passing defense, 17th (172.92 ypg); total defense, 7th (275.67 ypg); scoring defense, 4th (12.25 ppg); net punting, 12th (37.72 yards); punt returns, 7th (14.89 yards per return); kickoff returns, 58th (21.43 yards per return); turnover margin, 1st (1.75 per game); sacks, 23rd (2.58 per game); tackles for loss, 67th (5.50 per game); sacks allowed, T19th (1.25 per game). Alabama: Rushing offense, 22nd (201.50 ypg); passing offense, 97th (169.33 ypg); total offense, 53rd (370.83 ypg); scoring offense, T28th (32.08 points per game); rushing defense, 2nd (73.58 ypg); passing defense, 20th (174.92 ypg); total defense, 3rd (248.50 ypg); scoring defense, 3rd (11.50 points per game); net punting, 70th (34.62 yards); punt returns, 13th (13.22 yards per return); kickoff returns, 106th (19.07 yards per return); turnover margin, 21st (.75 per game); sacks, T57th (1.92 per game); tackles for loss, 40th (6.17 per game); sacks allowed, T21st (1.33 per game).
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS: NCAA rankings. Florida: Passing efficiency, Tim Tebow, 5th (175.45); total offense, Tim Tebow, 39th (233.83 yards per game); receiving yards per game, Percy Harvin, T99th (54.09 yards); interceptions, Ahmad Black, T6th (.50 per game) and Brandon Spikes, T31st (.36 per game); punt returns, Brandon James, 11th (14.67 yards per return); kickoff returns, Brandon James, 52nd (23.58 ypr); field goals, Jonathan Phillips, T71st (.83 per game); scoring, Percy Harvin, T19th (8.73 per game) and Jonathan Phillips, 29th (8.42 per game); all-purpose runners, Percy Harvin, 87th (103.00 ypg) and Brandon James, 98th (99.00); sacks, Carlos Dunlap, T21st (.75 per game); tackles for loss, Carlos Dunlap, T74th (1.00 per game). Alabama: Rushing, Glen Coffee, 22nd (102.92 yards per game) and Mark Ingram, 92nd (56.75 ypg); passing efficiency, John Parker Wilson, 58th (125.77); total offense, John Parker Wilson, 88th (161.00 ypg); receiving yards per game, Julio Jones, T78th (60.25 ypg); interceptions, Rashad Johnson, T21st (.42 per game) and Justin Woodall, T41st (.33 per game); punting, P.J. Fitzgerald, 42nd (41.12 yards); punt returns, Javier Arenas, 12th (14.66 yards); field goals, Leigh Tiffin, T22nd (1.42 per game); scoring, Leigh Tiffin, 43rd (7.75 points per game); all-purpose runners, Glen Coffee, 74th (108.83 ypg); tackles for loss, Rolando McClain, T92nd (.92 per game).
GATOR CHOMPS: During its eight-game winning streak, Florida has outscored the opposition 414-97. … The Gators’ string of scoring 42 or more points in seven straight games is the longest current streak in the nation. … Florida leads the SEC in pass efficiency defense (93.66 rating), pass efficiency (173.06 rating), passes intercepted (23), fewest interceptions throw (3), rushing offense (237.08 yards a game), scoring offense (46.33 points a game), total offense (449.42 yards a game), turnovers produced (32), fewest turnovers (11) and turnover margin (+21). … The reigning Heisman Trophy winner, junior quarterback Tim Tebow, has completed 160 of 246 passes for 2,299 yards and 25 touchdowns with just two interceptions and a passing efficiency of 175.45 that is tops in the SEC and fifth in the nation. … Tebow also has 12 rushing touchdowns (third in SEC) and 507 rushing yards (16th in the SEC).
CRIMSON TIDE-INGS: Alabama’s 13-game winning streak is the longest since the Crimson Tide won 28 straight games from 1991-93. … It’s the longest winning streak among Football Bowl Subdivision teams and is matched by Utah’s 13-victory string. … The Crimson Tide made a 6-game improved, going from 6-6 last season to 12-0 this season. … Alabama has trailed in just three games this season – against Mississippi, Louisiana State and Mississippi State – for a total of 23 minutes and 11 seconds.