Florida is overlooking Alabama.

[Overtime]

well it seems to me that a lot of Florida fans (and journalists as well http://www.sportsline.com/collegefoo...story/11140947 http://www.sportsline.com/collegefoo...story/11140975) are already dismissing Alabama as a credible threat to ruin their NC Game hopes, and have begun talking smalk, and making plans for a trip to the National Championship Game in Miami. (I've seen an incredible amount of Florida fans trash talking on Alabama over on cbs.sportsline.com on the message boards).

There's just 1 obstacle that lies in the way...Florida has to get past Alabama first. The media has Florida hyped up so much, and with all of the coverage it's getting, but Alabama is still there in the background quietly waiting, keeping it's mouth shut, not giving Florida any fuel to add to it's fire.

I will give credit to Florida, they are putting up staggering #'s, and scoring incredible points, only problem is, it has been against nobody. They haven't played one "good" team with a legitimate offense or defense. Vanderbilt, Citadel, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, LSU.

Additionally, I seem to remember the year 1992, when an undefeated Alabama team reached out and smacked a #12 Florida team right in it's collective mouth, and then went on to punish Miami in the Championship Game.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama_Crimson_Tide_Football

* 1992 — The 1992 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, coached by Gene Stallings, completed the regular season 11–0–0. They then defeated #12–ranked Florida in the inaugural SEC Championship Game, defeating the Gators 28–21; the win gave Alabama its 20th SEC title and a record of 12–0–0. Alabama was then invited to play #1–ranked Miami in the January 1, 1993 Sugar Bowl. Coach Stallings' team defeated the Hurricanes 34–13 to finish the season 13–0–0. The outstanding player of the game was Derrick Lassic.[59] The 1992 Alabama football team was selected national champions by the AP and Coaches Polls.[60]

Nick Saban has won a national championship before. He knows how to coach, he knows how to motivate his players. In all honesty, his 2003 LSU Tigers led by QB Matt Mauck, really weren't all that impressive, same as his Alabama Crimson Tide this year, but that's how Saban does what he does...very quietly and nonchalantly. Don't count Alabama out before the SEC Championship Game is even played.

I'm picking Alabama to win this game 30 - 27 and to play Oklahoma in the National Championship Game.

[RealBronco]

We'll take on Florida... I don't care. We'll take on Alabama...

bring either one of them on!


oh wait. effing Ohio State thinks they deserve a game...

[Max Power]

Florida fans (and journalists

Those are the operative words in your post: fans and journalists. I guarantee you the Florida players and coaches are not overlooking Bama.

florida - 41
bama - 24

Around the bowl
And down the hole
Roll Tide Roll

[Max Power]

As for Florida not playing anybody - you couldn't be more off. South Carolina, Georgia, LSU, and FSU were all ranked when Florida demolished them. Their SOS is more impressive than that of, say, Oklahoma.

[Nomad Broncofan]

Fans and journalists don't play on the field either. Tebow and co will be as determined this game as any, to demolish Alabama like they have all the other teams since the Ole Miss mishap!

I have no dog in the fight but I'm sure Florida will be as focused in this game as they were Florida St. And I'm sure Nick Saban will have Alabama ready to play.

I say Florida wins by 3 scores, 2 tds and a fg!!

[Overtime]

As for Florida not playing anybody - you couldn't be more off. South Carolina, Georgia, LSU, and FSU were all ranked when Florida demolished them. Their SOS is more impressive than that of, say, Oklahoma.

LSU 7-5
South Carolina 7-5
Georgia 9-3
Fl. State 8-4

Florida hasn't played a team like Alabama yet. Don't you know Defense wins championships?

Alabama won't beat you with ritzy glamorous big plays like Florida runs, Alabama will just keep coming at you, and whittling away and force you to make stupid mistakes, and then they take advantage of those mistakes.

Have you watched any of Alabama's games?

Alabama's defense will confuse Tebow and force him to make mistakes all game long.

It's gonna be classic Nick Saban bend but don't break defense, while capitalizing on all of Florida's mistakes.

[Max Power]

Alabama hasn't played a team like Florida yet.

They haven't faced on offense as explosive as Florida's. Even with Harvin banged up, Florida still has a plethora of guys who can take it to the house on any given touch - on offense, defense, and special teams. Brandon James, Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey, Deonte Thompson, they're called the fastest team in the nation for a reason.

I have watched several Alabama games this season, and aside from their wins over Georgia and Clemson, they haven't impressed me (and the win against Clemson is diminished because they turned out to be just another ACC fraud).

Florida leads the NCAA in turnover margin I believe, so if Alabama is forced to rely on the inconsistent arm of JPW, they will be in trouble. They have only one legitimate threat in the passing game: Julio Jones, and he can be managed easily be a double team of Joe Haden with Major Wright over the top.

I hope you don't think Florida is soft. They will pound you too, just ask any team they've played. Tebow is still one of the best players in college football, and can single-handedly will his team to victory if need be.

Defense does win championships, and Florida has one of the best in the country. Haven't you watched them play this season?

[Overtime]

Alabama hasn't played a team like Florida yet.

They haven't faced on offense as explosive as Florida's. Even with Harvin banged up, Florida still has a plethora of guys who can take it to the house on any given touch - on offense, defense, and special teams. Brandon James, Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey, Deonte Thompson, they're called the fastest team in the nation for a reason.

I have watched several Alabama games this season, and aside from their wins over Georgia and Clemson, they haven't impressed me (and the win against Clemson is diminished because they turned out to be just another ACC fraud).

Florida leads the NCAA in turnover margin I believe, so if Alabama is forced to rely on the inconsistent arm of JPW, they will be in trouble. They have only one legitimate threat in the passing game: Julio Jones, and he can be managed easily be a double team of Joe Haden with Major Wright over the top.

I hope you don't think Florida is soft. They will pound you too, just ask any team they've played. Tebow is still one of the best players in college football, and can single-handedly will his team to victory if need be.

Defense does win championships, and Florida has one of the best in the country. Haven't you watched them play this season?

I don't think Florida is soft, but this season is eerily similar to the 2003 Season, when OU lost to K-State in the Big 12 Championship game, yet still went on to play LSU in the Title Game. LSU was very quiet that year, they flew under the radar all season long, nobody gave them any credit, no one thought they would win, everyone was picking USC or Oklahoma, and LSU was coached by Nick Saban.

I got a strange feeling that Alabama's defense is going to rise to the occassion and throw Florida out of their rhythm and set the tempo of this game. Alabama will come to play Saturday.

Crimson Tide in an upset.

[rockrules40]

I hope they both lose...

[GatorChomp]

Alright, I'm probably the biggest Florida Gator fan you will ever meet, and have watched every play of every game this season. I will admit that we are all getting pretty confident, but journalists are blowing it way out of proportion. Urban Meyer is too good of a coach to allow his team to overlook anybody, ESPECIALLY the #1 team in the country. The players know they have to take it one game at a time. What's the point at looking ahead to a nat'l championship game when they will have a month to plan for it after the 'bama game. If they didn't look past a #23 ranked team there is NO WAY they will look past the #1 team. That's just silly.

And if we start slow and play like we didn't prepare right, well we'll just let superman take control!

[garzjoe]

I think Bama is very good but maybe over rated and not the real #1 team (even though they are #1 in both BCS and AP Polls). I actually expect Florida to destroy them and I also think that Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, and even USC are all better teams than Bama. Maybe I'm wrong...but before anyone jumps all over me please know I have no vested interest in either Florida or Bama...however I have seen both play a few times and it's my unbiased opinion that Florida is the better team.

Thx,
Joe

[Overtime]

I will point out that no one thought the Giants would beat the Patriots last year, and then look what happened?

I know this isn't exactly the same, but the media, the fans, and Vegas all have Florida pretty much winning this game as it stands right now and it hasn't even been played. Vegas has Florida listed as a 8.5 pt favorite.

No one is giving Alabama any respect whatsoever.

[y2cragie]

As a Bama fan, I can't wait to see the reaction of the Florida fans here when they soon see what their offense can do against a real defense. This game will not be a shootout or a high scoring event. This is going to be a good old fashioned fight that'll finish with at most 21 points. Both teams are going to look at controling the clock, simple as. If Florida trys to go to the air and play a shoot-out they'll lose, the Bama defense is just to good for that. Same as if Bama trys to go away from the running game they are very likely to lose.

[BroncofannBama]

I'm a Florida fan in Alabama and have been able to see both teams play. Take the best team both played this year. Georgia. Bama comes out and smashes an overconfident Bulldog team for the whole first half. Florida plays a little better than the Dogs but still is the better team in the first half. Second half is a different story for Bama and the Gators. Georgia comes out and attacks Bama from every angle with there speed and aggression. Bama is shut down completely and doesn't know what hit them. They pull it together in time to hold Georgia off for the win. Florida keeps its focus and blows Georgia off the field. Alabama seems to play one real good half of football and a so so half. Either the first or second halves. They've done that all year against these same no contest teams that Florida played. The game will be tight. Just depends on who loses focus to look up at the scoreboard to admire their work.

[GatorChomp]

I'm a Florida fan in Alabama and have been able to see both teams play. Take the best team both played this year. Georgia. Bama comes out and smashes an overconfident Bulldog team for the whole first half. Florida plays a little better than the Dogs but still is the better team in the first half. Second half is a different story for Bama and the Gators. Georgia comes out and attacks Bama from every angle with there speed and aggression. Bama is shut down completely and doesn't know what hit them. They pull it together in time to hold Georgia off for the win. Florida keeps its focus and blows Georgia off the field. Alabama seems to play one real good half of football and a so so half. Either the first or second halves. They've done that all year against these same no contest teams that Florida played. The game will be tight. Just depends on who loses focus to look up at the scoreboard to admire their work.

Couldn't have said it better myself...but i would have added the fact that we have Tim Tebow. Go ahead and talk bad about him, but deep down we all know that he is going to own this game.