College Football Rankings: How Alabama-Florida Could Shake Up the Polls

The game between No. 3 Alabama and No. 12 Florida this week in Gainesville on Saturday will shake up the polls next week.

With a convincing victory, the Crimson Tide may be able to jump over Oklahoma and LSU into the No. 1 spot in the poll. Alabama is only 58 points behind No. 1 LSU in the Associated Press Poll. A convincing win over the Gators could make up those points. 

If Florida beat Alabama, they would move into the top 10 of the poll. The Gators are 4-0 including a 2-0 mark in the SEC. A win over Alabama would announce to the nation that the Will Muschamp-led Gators are an elite program again.

The Gators already have impressive wins over a solid Tennessee squad and a Kentucky team that is struggling on offense.

Alabama took apart No. 18 Arkansas 38-14 in Tuscaloosa. The Tide features a very strong defense and a powerful running game led by Trent Richardson. Alabama's defense has been suffocating. The Tide has only allowed 184 total yards and eight points per game. The Tide is allowing a minuscule 1.8 yards per rush. 

Trent Richardson is averaging 110.2 rushing yards per game with eight touchdowns on a robust 6.6 yards per carry.

The Gators will test the Alabama rush defense with an offense that is averaging 259 yards per game rushing. The Gators are averaging six yards per carry while the Gator defense only gives up 2.1 yards per carry.

Chris Rainey leads the Gators with 102.8 rushing yards per game and 6.5 yards per carry. Jeff Demps complements Rainey to the tune of 80 yards per game and 9.4 yards per carry.

The Alabama-Florida game will help clear up the national title picture. Whoever wins the game will have a leg up on their SEC brethren and bragging rights at least until December when the two teams may meet again in the SEC title game.