Bama-Florida: Waiting to rematch

By JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — The much-anticipated rematch is set:
Alabama against Florida for the Southeastern Conference
championship and possibly a berth in the national title game on
the line.

The game itself, however, isn’t for another month and the Tide
and Gators have plenty of important work to do before they meet
at the Georgia Dome on Dec. 5.

The third-ranked Crimson Tide joined the top-ranked Gators in
the SEC championship game after outlasting No. 9 LSU 24-15 on
Saturday, erasing any season-ending drama in the league except
whether its two powerhouses can remain perfect.

Florida (9-0, 7-0 Southeastern Conference) had already secured
its invitation before Saturday’s 27-3 victory over Vanderbilt,
the Gators’ 19th consecutive win.

Florida and Alabama (9-0, 6-0) have seemed on a collision course
for a rematch since the Gators’ SEC championship game win over
the Tide last season.

Hardly anybody had expected the Tide to be in that position
entering the 2008 season. Winning the SEC West was expected for
this Alabama team.

Florida knows that feeling in the East.

“I think this team had a totally different challenge from last
year’s team,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "I’m proud of the
way they managed and handled it. They have to be good because
they want to be good.

“Last year’s team had a different motive. They wanted to
improve. I think there’s a huge difference in that. These guys
showed a maturity and consistency in getting to where they are
now.”

The teams haven’t quite steamrolled through the SEC, especially
offensively. LSU (7-2, 4-2) took a 15-10 lead into the fourth
quarter against ’Bama before Julio Jones caught a 73-yard
touchdown pass from Greg McElroy, Trent Richardson ran in the
2-point attempt and Leigh Tiffin booted field goals of 20 and 40
yards.

Before that was a 12-10 win over Tennessee when Terrence Cody
blocked two field goals in the fourth quarter. That made the
South Carolina game seem like a breeze. But even then, Alabama
scored a late touchdown to remove the drama in a 20-6 win.

Florida’s offense has moved in fits and starts most of the
season, and it was more of the same against the Commodores. Tim
Tebow was sacked four times, and two of the offense’s three
touchdowns followed Vandy miscues deep in its own territory.

Mackenzi Adams threw an interception that led to Jeff Demps’
25-yard TD run on a fourth-and-1 play, and punter Brett Upson
mistakenly touched his knee to the ground fielding a low snap
that set up Tebow’s lone TD pass – an 8-yarder to David Nelson
on third-and-4 that slipped through Riley Cooper’s fingers.

Florida finished with 375 yards, 124 of them came in the fourth
quarter.

The defense picked up the slack by not allowing a touchdown for
the fifth time this season, even without suspended linebacker
Brandon Spikes.

But post-game questions centered around the team’s offensive
struggles. The Gators have scored 30 points in just two of seven
SEC games.

“We just didn’t have the big-play production,” Gators coach
Urban Meyer said. “We had four sacks and we didn’t have any home
run shots. It’s always a concern. You’re probably concerned with
something every game you play. We have to get some production
out of the offense, a little more production. We’re working at
it.”

No rush. You’ve got a few weeks, coach. Only the struggling
Gamecocks, Florida International and Florida State stand in the
way of Florida’s perfect regular season.

The Tide needs wins over Mississippi State, Chattanooga and
Auburn – all of whom figure to be sizable underdogs – to
complete a second straight perfect regular season.

That would almost certainly leave Alabama with a national title
shot in Pasadena, Calif., if Saban’s team can manage to beat the
Gators this time.

“That was a goal we had,” tailback Mark Ingram said of winning
the West. “Hopefully we’ll get to Pasadena as well.”

Saban wasn’t particularly inclined to savor the SEC West title
quite yet with a team that has bigger ambitions, citing his
24-hour rule for celebrating wins.

“We really have a lot of games to play,” Saban said.

The way the Alabama and Florida defenses are playing, a repeat
of last year’s 31-20 Florida win seems unlikely. Both are among
the top four in the nation.

The kickers have been busier than either team would like, too.
Alabama’s Leigh Tiffin leads the nation in field goals per game
(2.56) while Florida’s Caleb Sturgis is fifth at 1.89.

“A few times in the red zone we left with three points,” Gators
receiver David Nelson said. “That’s just devastating to the
offense. You have a good drive going down the field, get in the
red zone and leave with a field goal. We will take three points
any time we can get them, but at the same time, we feel like we
should score touchdowns on each drive.”

Nevertheless, both teams have a shot at moving to 10-0.

“That’s the best thing about 9-0,” Meyer said.