Sports are strange.
Just when we think we have it all figured out, something completely unexpected happens to throw everything that we thought we knew out the window.
The Florida Gators could be responsible for that unexpected twist on Saturday when they take on undefeated Alabama at the Georgia Dome.
Here are a few samples of score predictions that you’ll likely see for this game:
- Alabama 31, Florida 3
- Alabama 27, Florida 0
- Alabama 98, Florida -5
You get the point. No one is giving the Gators much of a chance in this game, and after seeing both teams play this season, it’s easy to understand why.
Florida played in an SEC East that left plenty to be desired. Or, in other words, the SEC East was terrible.
The Gators beat every East foe aside from Tennessee, and really didn’t have a bad loss the entire season. Losing at Tennessee, at Arkansas, and at Florida State isn’t anything to be upset about.
Perhaps the best thing that Jim McElwain’s team has going for it is that it’s only a few weeks removed from a surprising win in Baton Rouge over LSU.
Just like the upcoming game against the Crimson Tide, pretty much no one gave the Gators a shot of going on the road and getting a victory to clinch the division. They did.
But let’s not forget one important fact: LSU is not Alabama.
The Crimson Tide won 10 of their 12 games this season by 18 points or more. The only single-digit victory came in mid-September in a 48-43 win over Ole Miss, and the other less than 18 point win came in a 10-0 victory over LSU.
Those that continually ignore Nick Saban’s greatness will tell you that Alabama didn’t play anybody and that the “SEC bias” is alive and well.
Another important fact: Those people are completely out of their mind.
Alabama beat every single team on its schedule, and more often than not, did so convincingly.
That’s not getting lucky. That’s not being biased. That’s just called being a great football team.
So, on paper, there’s no reason to believe that Florida will be able to muster enough offense to win this game. The Gators finished 104th in the nation in points per game (24.1), while Lane Kiffin’s offense exploded for 39.4 PPG game this year.
Sure, the Crimson Tide offense isn’t always perfect, but it’s explosive when it needs to be. Advantage: Alabama.
And then there’s that whole thing about the Crimson Tide defense only giving up 11.4 PPG this season. Advantage: Alabama.
You could go through plenty of other statistical categories to see that this game may not be kind to McElwain’s squad. The good news for Florida? Games aren’t played on paper. The bad news for Florida? It likely won’t matter.
If the Gators can score early, they’ll keep this close for a while. Maybe longer than anyone expects them to.
But Alabama has been the best team in the country from day one, and they’ll still be the best team in the country come Sunday.
Prediction: Alabama 98, Florida -5.
Kidding.
Prediction: Alabama 27, Florida 10
Blake Lovell has worked in sports media for over 10 years. He currently covers SEC football and basketball for various publications.