Five Reasons Why the Gators Will Beat the Tide: A Response to Mark Schlabach

Mark Schlabach, in his most recent column for ESPN.com's college football section, lays out an argument for why Alabama will beat Florida in the upcoming SEC Championship Game.

Let's walk through some of these rationales, one by one, and dispel them for the myths they are.

"Alabama has the necessary ingredients—a stifling, physical defense and a punishing, ball-control offense—to slow the Gators down."

1) Stifling Defense? Yes.  Alabama has held its opponents to 15 touchdowns this year, allowing an average of only 248.5 yards per game.  That is pretty impressive. 

However, their opponents aren't exactly offensive juggernauts.  In fact, besides Georgia and possibly Ole Miss, the Tide really haven't played anyone who has a legitimate offense all season.

The Gators have a legitimate offense.  Teams that have been suggested as having GREAT SEC defenses (LSU, Georgia, South Carolina, to name a few) have been gashed for 51, 49, and 56 points, and 475, 398, and 519 yards, respectively.  All three of these teams went into their games with the Gators ballyhooed as having great defenses.  All three got smacked in the mouth.

2) Punishing, Ball-Control Offense? Yes.  Alabama has a huge offensive line, two good backs, a competent QB and what seems like only one legitimate threat at wide-out.  With Saban as the coach, it is a no-brainer that they run the ball all the time and very well.  With close to 2500 yards on the ground (2418) and 30 rushing touchdowns, it would be my guess that Saban will pound the rock all night, to keep the Gators offense on the sideline and keep the clock running.  

The Gators have a quietly GREAT defense.  Opponents have averaged 12.25 points per game, to the Gators' six trillion.  Very good offenses have looked VERY mediocre against this crew. If the Tide want to run the ball all night, they will have to outrun one of the fastest linebacking group in the country.  When they find that they are down a couple of scores (which I think will be midway through the 2nd quarter), they will try to throw.  And the Gator secondary will eat JP Wilson alive like he was JP Losman throwing on the Patriots.

3) "With Cody healthy again, Alabama's defense should have more than enough to slow the Gators down."

An interior lineman is going to slow down the Gator running backs?  C'mon, Mark, that just doesn't make any sense.  Sure, we may try and slip a few runs up the gut.  But the most reasonable assumption is bouncing these track stars to the outside.  Or better yet, let Tebow do some play-action to himself, then sidestep Mr. Cody on his way into the secondary.   It would be fun to see Cody try and track down Demps or Rainey.  They would have time to resuscitate the spirit of The Bear on a Ouija Board by the time he caught up with them. 

4) "It's hard to find many coaches who are better than Saban at preparing a game plan."

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