It's No. 1 vs. No. 2, with the top-ranked Crimson Tide double-digit dogs. Take Alabama and the points when they meet the Florida Gators in the SEC title game.
The No. 2 team in the country is a double-digit favorite over the top-ranked school. Are the pollsters that far off?
Not when it comes to this SEC championship game between Alabama and Florida. These are two outstanding teams that are near even statistically. Florida has the more explosive offense. But Alabama has the better defense, can run the ball, is road tested and has fewer key injuries.
All of this puts me on the Crimson Tide at this big of a spread. You don't get a class underdog like this every day.
Alabama is averaging 202 yards rushing per game led by Glen Coffee, who is averaging 6.2 yards per run. The Tide allows just 2.7 yards per rush. Alabama has recorded 23 sacks, has 24 takeaways and has allowed only a 25 percent success rate on third-down conversion attempts.
Alabama definitely can control the line of scrimmage and win the battle of the trenches. Florida hasn't quite encountered such a physical, pounding foe. The Crimson Tide owns road victories against Georgia, LSU and Clemson. It's a real insult for Alabama to be such a heavy underdog.
Next to Tim Tebow, Florida's most valuable offensive player is versatile Percy Harvin. He has accounted for more than 1,000 yards rushing and receiving and has scored 16 touchdowns. He couldn't practice this week because of an ankle sprain. The Gators' leading rusher, Chris Rainey, also is banged-up with a groin injury. Rainey should play, while Harvin is questionable and would be less than 100 percent if he did play.
Free Pick: Alabama +10½ (-110)