There’s a lot to go over so let’s get right to NCAAF betting odds for this game.

Florida Gators -5 ½ -110 -230 O 41 ½ -110

Alabama Crimson Tide +5 ½ -110 +190 U 41 ½ -110

Now, let’s check out a few trends regarding this game.

• The Florida Gators are 20 and 6 against the spread versus a team with a winning record.
• The Florida Gators are 1-5-1 against the spread in the last 7 meetings between these two teams.
• The Underdog is 5-1-1 against the spread in the last 7 meetings between these two teams.

Obviously the trends favor Alabama, but this game requires a much deeper look into it than just studying trends. Let’s go through each category and then come up with the right football bet for this game.

Offenses

The edge offensively doesn’t automatically go to Florida because of Tim Tebow. As great as Tebow is, Florida lacks wide receiver depth with only one guy, Riley Cooper, catching more than 40 balls this season. Cooper is good, but he’s not great which is why Aaron Hernandez, Florida’s tight-end has 51 catches this season.

Running Back Jeffrey Demps has turned out to be the real weapon for Tebow and Coach Urban Meyer this season. Demps has started to play like Percy Harvin out there. Demps can turn a game around with his speed and often times gets out in space. Of course, when all else fails, the Gators rely on Tebow to rush the ball.

Alabama’s offense is adept at rushing the ball as well although they rely very heavily on Mark Ingram. When Ingram has trouble, like he did last week against the Auburn Tigers, then ‘Bama’s entire offense becomes stalled.

That could be a huge issue for ‘Bama in this game as Mark Ingram is listed as probable with a hip injury. Ingram has been as big of a reason for Alabama’s success as Tebow has been for Florida’s without him, or with him ailing, the Tide might have trouble moving the ball against Florida’s awesome defense.

Then again, Greg McElroy, ‘Bama’s QB has grown into a terrific leader. Julio Jones, McElroy’s huge target, has come to life lately as well. All in all, ‘Bama’s offense is decent, but not great.

Florida’s offense? With Tebow they’re great.

Defenses

This is where the big debate is. Which defense really can stop the other’s offense? There’s no doubt that Florida’s defense can put the breaks on ‘Bama’s rushing game because…uh, oh…there appears to be an issue with that thinking.

Florida is going to be without two key defensive players. Starting strong side linebacker A.J. Jones won’t be able to play in the SEC Championship game because of a knee injury. His back-up, Brandon Hicks, is pretty darn good, but losing a starter in the LB position is tough considering Alabama’s rushing game is superb.