There’s a fairly substantial game taking place in Atlanta, Georgia tomorrow. I think maybe it’s referred to as the SEC Championship? It could also be called the semi-final game before the national championship. The thinking is, whoever wins the game between Florida and Alabama goes to the BCS Championship to face Oklahoma the winner of the Big 12 Championship game — well, not Missouri, but someone from the Big 12.

There’s this scenario to consider as well: Florida may not jump Texas even if they beat Bama.

So who wins? Alabama’s strength or Florida’s speed? Nick Saban or Urban Meyer? Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin or John Parker Wilson and the Coffee/Ingram express (there’s entirely too much talent on this field to list, so I’ll just stick with these guys for now)? For what it’s worth, pretty much the entire nation think Florida will be the champion, as demonstrated by ESPN’s poll.

By the way, this also includes 33% of the Alabama voters, although, they could’ve been Auburn fans:

The game is being billed as “Smash and Crash” versus “Flash and Dash” and with good reason. The way the teams are constructed gives the potential for a “Hulk versus The Flash” type of match up, to borrow the meme from Roll Bama Roll — I do, however, think The Flash is the more appropriate comparison, especially if Percy Harvin plays.

It takes a Marvel/DC crossover for this to work, but stay with me.

Can Bama stop Florida’s impressively speedy attack? They certainly think so — and what about Florida? How will they react when Bama’s offense smacks their Flash defense (there’s that word again) in the mouth? Will they just run around Bama’s strength or will Bama get their hands on them, ala the Hulk? Here’s what we can look forward to on Saturday, especially on field turf.

VERSUS

Yes, Virginia, there is a Red Hulk…

Place your bets, especially if you think the Gators are going to wipe the floor with the Tide — Florida’s favored by 10 points. For what it’s worth, Saban’s players aren’t the only ones who are impressed with their defense. Bill Belichick thinks they are a great unit that doesn’t give up any points.

Of course, he thinks Florida’s offense is awesome, especially their — wait for it — team speed.

From where I’m sitting, Bama can’t let this game get out of control early because if that happens, they’ll have to shelve their strong running game and put their hopes in John Parker Wilson’s arm and Julio Jones’ hands; an attractive offer to be sure — in relation to Jones — but that’s certainly not the strength of the Crimson Tide. To wit, Wilson has thrown for nine touchdown passes while his counterpart, the quintessential badass, has twenty-five passing and twelve more rushing.

Obviously, the quarterback nod goes to Florida.

So what gives? Blowout city by the Florida Flashes or the smashmouthing (yes, I made that up) of a speed team into the turf from the Bama Red Hulks? There’s a ton of analysis for this game and a lot of it exceeds my expertise. Therefore, I’m going on my gut. I have a feeling all the talk about Florida is going to work for Alabama the way all the Ohio State talk worked for the Gators in Arizona two season ago.

The difference here is Florida is still as fast as it was then, if not more so; and then there is the Tim Tebow factor. Say what you will about the quarterback you’d most want your daughter to marry, but the man knows how to win. With all of that in mind, I think I’m picking the Gators.

31-24.

Tags: Alabama Crimson Tide, BCS Championship, Florida Gators, Glenn Coffee, Mark Ingram, Nick Saban, Percy Harvin, SEC Championship, The Flash, The Hulk, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer

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