College Football Preview – Florida Gators vs. Alabama Crimson Tide

The Alabama Crimson Tide will look to keep the longest winning streak in the country alive this Saturday when they head into The Swamp to take on the Florida Gators. Nick Saban has reloaded last year’s national champions with new talent, and Alabama looks just as good as ever. However, Florida’s offense is not the same with the loss of Kyle Trask and Kyle Pitts, so the Gators are more than a two-touchdown underdog at home.

Florida’s biggest home game of the season will see the Gators host the Alabama Crimson Tide at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida on Saturday, September 18, 2021, at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

College Football Betting Odds

Alabama -14.5

Florida +14.5

Total 60

Florida has taken care of business against its first two opponents. The Gators cruised to wins over in-state programs Florida Atlantic and South Florida, but they failed to cover the spread in either game after taking their foot off the gas pedal in the second half.

The Crimson Tide routed Miami in their season opener before beating Mercer by 34 points last week. Alabama ran vanilla packages in its win over Mercer, so both the offense and defense will look much different against Florida on Saturday.

When Florida Has the Ball

Emory Jones has not looked good under center for Florida. Kyle Trask’s replacement has thrown two interceptions in each of his first two games as the starting quarterback, and he is averaging just 5.4 YPA. Dan Mullen certainly wants to use highly touted Anthony Richardson more in this game, but Richardson’s status is uncertain after pulling his hamstring last week. He has been practicing, yet he likely won’t be at 100%.

This ground game has done an excellent job running the ball. Florida’s best three running backs are all averaging at least 6.0 YPC, but Jones and Richardson are the leading rushers in Mullen’s RPO heavy offense. It won’t be easy for Florida to run on Alabama this Sunday though.

The Crimson Tide have some fantastic players along the defensive line. Phidarian Mathis and D.J. Dale will both be playing on Sundays next year in all likelihood, but there are some concerning injuries in the linebacking corps. Christopher Allen is out for the season after fracturing his foot, and Will Anderson is questionable to play with a knee injury.

When Alabama Has the Ball

Bryce Young appears to be the next great Alabama quarterback. Young had the best debut of any signal caller in Crimson Tide history against Miami, and he is completing 70.8% of his passes for 571 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions through two games. John Metchie III has been his favorite target, while Jameson Williams is a big play threat.

The ground game is just as solid as ever with Brian Robinson Jr. leading the way. Robinson has run for 130 yards and is averaging 5.9 YPC through the first two games. If Alabama can have close to that success on Saturday, the Crimson Tide won’t have a problem with the Gators.

Florida has a good defense, but the Gators aren’t elite on this side of the ball with the 23^rd ranked defense by SP+. Some of that has to do with defensive coordinator Todd Grantham who can be way too overaggressive if things aren’t going his way. Grantham’s blitzes can be beat over the top by good quarterbacks, and Young will likely throw at least one long touchdown pass.

Prediction

Although The Swamp will be electric on Saturday afternoon, Alabama will be too much for the hosts to overcome. The Crimson Tide will steamroll the Gators in a convincing win that shows the size of the gap between the two programs.

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