http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2014/09/alabama_odds_florida_2014.html Before the Gators layed an egg Saturday night vs. the Cats I thought this line might be Bama minus 9.5 points. Interesting that their streak of 58 straight games as the favorite goes all the way back to playing UF for the 2009 SEC Title. My feeling is that if I had to bet this game I would lay the points. UF just had too many same ol same ol moments last Sat. night to convince me they can hang with the Tide this Sat.
How did the Gators come out of the game physically, any major injuries? After Sat Night I don't know whether to take or give the points. If you guys had handled Kentucky easily, I'd have taken the 14 points and figured it to be a close game. But at Tuscaloosa and struggling some with Kentucky...I think I'll lay the points on the this one. Of course kp being the conservative 'bama fan that he is probably thinks the Tide should be 3 point favorites.
Dave is predicting an upset? I'll be interested to see how this goes. For a while, there was a legit, seething hatred for Florida in this state as they took over the throne that Alabama views as a birth right. Obviously, Alabama took that back. For a bit there, it appeared there'd be a struggle between Florida and Alabama for the throne in the SEC but now that appears to be a battle to be fought in the West. KP, thoughts? You're hands down the most rational Tide fan I know. I'm interested in your thoughts on this one.
I think we're about to find out if the Tide is for real or not. I don't think UF is all the way back on the offensive side, but I also have questions about Bama's defense and passing game. If I'm Muschamp, I'm going to make Bama beat me over the top. Nothing short or in the run game is getting through. Safties are up and I challenge EVERYTHING within 10 yards of the LOS. On offense, I do take shots downfield, and I try to hurry the pace as much as possible... if for no other reason than to annoy Nick. 8)
I see Alabama as a legitimate two TD favorite. However I think this Gator team is better than the pollsters see them right now. Here is a chance for the Gators to show they cab still play on the field with the big guys.
This one worries me alot. Alabama by 3 because we are at home. Although it may be 45 to 42. I think we will score alot, but I think Florida will score alot also. Of course, turnovers may turn it one way or the other but as far as Alabama goes, our defense has not shown me anything so I am predicting a high scoring, no defense basketball score. :?
For 3/4 of the game we had trouble scoring on Kentucky and couldn't hit anything downfield. That doesn't bode well for this Saturday... :cry: That's essentially is what I was trying to say 3-4 years ago. By beating Alabama consistently in several big games UF had barged in to the Alabama psyche. I also agree that in recent years Florida has faded quite a bit in the consciousness of the Tide Nation
MCG, I hear you and Southern Mississippi got into the red zone at least 4 times and kicked goals against Alabama. I mean come on it's So. Miss. I don't know, I just am worried about stopping anyone. :?
I am much more optimistic about the Gators than MCG. I think that Kentucky team is much better than Kentucky teams in the past. Mike Stoops is doing a good job, recruiting well and coaching well. I also think Bama is much better than kp is saying. I don't think the Gators win but I think we have a chance.
On a humorous note..... there is a headline over on Gatorsports that reads: UF Notebook: Driskel to Fix Accuracy And here is the first fan comment to such a headline: "Oh, great news Jeff. I may fix my bank account and start dating Katy Perry this week as well." :lol:
Another reason for most Bama fans to skip fishing on Saturday and opt for an afternoon in front of the TV set: ...since 1987 Florida owns a 9-7 record vs. Alabama. finally.... something to smile about.
that obviously misses the 'vacated game' Aren't you always wanting to talk about recent history? How's this for recent? Since 1999, Alabama is 6-2 vs Florida. Yes, I'm counted the vacated game in 2005 as a win because it's the SEC and if you ain't cheatin, you ain't trying. What I found interesting in looking this data up isn't the W/L record (no matter how you slice the timeline), but the types of games played. Since 99, it looks like a close games are up in the air but if there's a beat down Alabama wins. 1999: Alabama 40- Florida 39 1999: Alabama 34- Florida 7 2005: Alabama 31- Florida 3 2006: Florida 28- Alabama 13 2008: Florida 31- Alabama 20 2009: Alabama 32- Florida 13 2010: Alabama 31- Florida 6 2011: Alabama 38- Florida 10
Corey that bears out again what I said about UF's best teams taking care of business.... as have Bama's. The 2009 win was arguably Alabama's best win over Florida..... because that was a pretty damned good Florida team there. The '99 team ultimately proved not to be all that good and that SEC Title game loss was one of the two or three worst UF performances of the Spurrier era. In any event you can break it down any way you want and say that UF hasn't beaten Alabama since 2008..... and that's fair enough. There is no question in my mind that Bama has regained that SEC throne you mentioned... except in those years when other SEC West teams borrow it for a year.
Hey.... since it's Bama-Florida week and Corey is bringing up some of Bama's best wins over the Gators I have to recall one of my most favorite UF wins .... and it was the only SECCG I have personally attended. That was the first one in Atlanta.... in 1994. A great 11-0 Bama team went down to Spurrier's trickery that day 24-23. Man that was fun!
No I didn't. I mentioned the most recent wins. I didn't make any mention of the 7 shutouts or the other huge blowouts over the history of the series. I just went with the results since 99, which included 2 Gator wins. Looking at the history of the series, it's so weird that for 2 teams in the same conference, you take long breaks from playing each other. After the 1951 game, you didn't play until 1963. Then, after the 1964 game, you didn't play again until 1970. Then you play for 4 years, and take 4 years off. Next, you play 2 years before taking a 7 year break. This was all before the 'super conference' format. As someone not raised with the SEC way being normal, it's odd for me to see conference members not playing each other annually, or at least regularly. Not saying anything bad, it's just different to me.
I don't think any Alabama win over the pre-1990 history of the series was anything close to a "big" win. Now.... 1992.... for the SEC Championship and ultimately the National Title.... that was a huge win for the Tide. Other significant wins were 1999 for the SEC Title ( probably the most surprising result of all in the series ).... and then of course 2009 for the SEC Title vs. a UF team led by the senior QB Tebow. In fact.... I would put the 2009 victory over Florida as THE signature win for Nick Saban at Alabama.... one which led to his first National Championship with Bama and the one which really launched the current era of Alabama supremacy in the SEC and also on the national scale.
This article sums up this game perfectly: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2200327-with-trip-to-tuscaloosa-calling-florida-searching-to-rekindle-feud-with-bama