Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Florida Gators Complete Game Preview

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The preseason is over, and it’s time for the real football to begin. Or something like that.

With a tip of the cap to West Virginia, which is looking better and better every week, Alabama’s three-game, warm-up stretch of the Mountaineers, Florida Atlantic and Southern Miss is over, and SEC play gets ramped up into full gear this week. The Florida Gators are coming to Tuscaloosa and will test the Crimson Tide with the most talent they’ve seen so far on defense and a much more physical offense.

Plenty of newcomers will be tested on both sides of the ball, as the pressure of SEC play ramps up the level of competition across the board.

Florida is coming off of a triple overtime win over Kentucky. It’s hard to get a good read on the Gators, since their season opener against Idaho was cancelled due to weather and their only other game was against cellar-dweller Eastern Michigan.

We’ll probably know a lot more about both teams after the weekend.

Here’s everything you need to know:

Date: Saturday, Sept. 20

Time: 2:30 p.m. CT

Place: Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

TV: CBS

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network, Gator IMG Sports Network

Spread: Alabama by 14.5-15, according to OddsShark.com.

Alabama Keys to Victory

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Win the one-on-one matchups

The biggest of these will be wide receiver Amari Cooper going up against cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III on the perimeter. Defenses have largely played off of Cooper thus far, taking away the deep ball, but Florida has the talent to match up with Cooper one-on-one.

But that won’t be the only matchup to watch. The Gators have plenty of pass-rushers for Alabama’s offensive line to contain, and the Crimson Tide defense will face its first downhill running game this year.

Explosive plays on offense

Florida’s defense doesn’t give much, and it certainly gives less than Alabama has seen before. The Crimson Tide’s playmakers will need to take advantage of every opportunity they get to make a big play in the run or pass game, and especially on defense.

Florida Keys to Victory

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Throw the ball down the field

Alabama’s secondary has been suspect so far, and it will be without its starting free safety for the first half. Clint Trickett, the only quarterback Alabama has faced so far that has posed a significant threat, threw the ball well to the tune of 365 yards. If Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel plays well, he can take advantage of that secondary too.

Get in Blake Sims’ head

Alabama’s quarterback will be starting his first SEC game, and will surely deal with some level of nerves coming in. Florida can rattle the confidence he’s shown through three games with a steady pass rush and tight coverage down the field.

Alabama Players to Watch

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Blake Sims

Sims is the starting quarterback, like it or not. He’s played well for Alabama through three games and is the best man on the roster to run the offense at this moment. He hasn’t, however, really had to handle a situation where the game has been in doubt. That changes on Saturday.

Trey DePriest

Alabama’s top middle linebacker has played two games since missing much of fall camp with a knee injury and the opener with a suspension. He’s working his way back in terms of conditioning and speed. His knowledge of the game is critical to the heart of the Crimson Tide defense, and he’ll be needed at full speed for Saturday’s game.

Florida Players to Watch

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Jeff Driskel

Driskel has had his ups and downs as Florida’s quarterback, but on Saturday he has a chance to make a statement on a huge stage. Alabama always seems to give up one big, unexpected quarterback performance per year—Oklahoma’s Trevor Knight, Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel and South Carolina’s Stephen Garcia come to mind. Could Driskel be next on that list?

Vernon Hargreaves III

Hargreaves will have the unfortunate task of matching up with arguably the best wide receiver in college football: Alabama’s Amari Cooper. It may be the biggest matchup of the game and play a big role in how effective Alabama’s offense will be.

What They're Saying

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Alabama

Alabama coach Nick Saban, on Hargreaves:

"He was a really, really good player in high school. He's very instinctive, he's fast, quick. But I think probably his greatest asset besides having great ability is he's a very instinctive player. A very good cover guy. He's tough, physical. I don't know that any of the things that qualify you to be a really good DB—he has good ball skills, he can play man to man and he's a good tackler. He does all those things extremely well."

Cooper, on playing top cornerbacks:

“Yeah, when you go against one of the top guys in the country, you feel good about catching passes on them because that’s basically what you work for in practice.”

Florida

Florida coach Will Muschamp on his defense against Kentucky, via Robbie Andreu of The Gainesville Sun:

"

We had good coverage at times, but at times we can't just cut a guy loose in the secondary for a touchdown,” Muschamp said. “The big plays, we've got to stay away from. We gave up six passes for 173 yards. You just can't do that and win in our league consistently.

Never in the run game did we feel threatened very much. The big plays in the passing game, we've got to get corrected.

"

Hargreaves, on the matchup with Amari Cooper, via Nick de la Torre of Gator Country:

"

I guess you could say that. But you know Coop he’s a great player, we talked a little bit, we both knew this was coming,” he said. “He’s excited, I’m excited, we both know the magnitude of the game, and it’s going to be a great matchup on Saturday.

"

Prediction

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Alabama 24, Florida 7

This game won’t be the high-scoring affair that has come to mark top SEC showdowns as of late. Alabama’s reluctance to open up the passing game for Blake Sims, combined with Florida’s offensive deficiencies, will keep this one from lighting up the scoreboard too much. The Gators will have their moments, but Alabama will control much of the tempo and control of the game and get its first SEC win of the season.

Marc Torrence is the Alabama lead writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats come from CFBStats. All recruiting information comes from 247Sports.

Follow on Twitter @marctorrence.