SEC Championship Game: Alabama vs. Florida live stream, odds, predictions

The Alabama Crimson Tide take on the Florida Gators in the SEC Championship game in a matchup that could light up the scoreboard.

Well, this matchup had a lot more on the line prior to last Saturday. But one thrown cleat later, and the Florida Gators are looking to just stake a claim as the top team in SEC, without a trip to the College Football Playoff. The Gators suffered a loss to the Texas A&M aggies earlier in the season but with their high scoring offense led by Heisman-hopeful Kyle Trask, it seemed as if they were on a collision course with Alabama with not only with a conference title on the line but also a spot in the College Football Playoffs.

But that is what separates the good teams from the great teams. Great teams are stellar in all aspects of the game, from offense and defense to special teams and discipline. You cannot expect to win national championships when players make unthinkable decisions in critical moments of the game. Nonetheless, the Gators still are talented enough to take down the Crimson Tide and maybe will use last week’s blunder as extra motivation to win the SEC title game.

The Alabama Crimson Tide, on the other hand, have been cruising all season. Yeah, the Georgia Bulldogs had a four-point lead at halftime but Alabama would go on to outscore them 21-0 in the second half. Alabama has been the typical Alabama team we have seen for the last decade or so. Their offense is averaging almost 50 points per game and is led by a dynamic duo behind the line in quarterback Mac Jones and running back Najee Harris. And on defense, the Crimson Tide is allowing just 16.8 points per game and holding their opponent to less than 230 yards passing.

Honestly, I can see this game going one of two ways — Alabama winning in a blowout game that was close at the end of the first half, or these two teams just trading touchdowns on a race to see who can cross the 60-point mark first. Is Alabama too dominant and on a path to another national title? Or are the Gators good enough to take down the Tide?

Here’s how to watch and bet on the Alabama vs. Florida game

• Date: Saturday, Dec. 19
• Start Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
• Location: Atlanta, Georgia
• Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• TV Info: CBS
• Odds: Alabama -17, O/U 74.5
• Live Stream: CBS Sports App

Prediction: Florida’s pass game has just been ridiculous this year and despite how good Alabama’s defense is, it is hard to say that the Gators will be slowed down in this one. I believe that Alabama’s dominant and balanced offensive game plan will be too much for the Gators to overcome but this game will be a shootout that just has the build-up of having a wild finish to it. Kyle Trask and Mac Jones both air it out and leave NFL scouts drooling all game long, but the Tide are just too much for Florida to keep up with as Alabama gets back atop the SEC and back into the College Football Playoff.

Score: Alabama 52, Florida 45. (Yes, you read that right.)

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