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The Big Question To Be Answered Today In Atlanta

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By MICK ELLIOTT

melliott@tampatrib.com

Published: December 6, 2008

Updated: 12/06/2008 12:22 am

ATLANTA - So many questions.

One answer.

Who will be the Southeastern Conference champion and most likely earn a shot at the BCS Championship Game? No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Florida have come to the Georgia Dome for today's SEC title game to decide the conference's first matchup between the top two teams in the Associated Press rankings.

The surrounding spectacle is a testament to the fascination and passion of the meeting. The 71,000-seat Georgia Dome is a hard sellout, with bids on eBay for 20-yard-line tickets reaching $1,000 for a pair. The SEC reports the largest media turnout in the championship game's 17-year history.

So many questions.

Florida's high-flying offense, with speedy playmakers and the guiding hand of Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow, scores more than 46 points a game. Averaging 449 yards - 237 rushing - the 11-1 Gators have earned all of their wins by 23 points or more.

Alabama's anchored-deep defense, with size, agility and discipline, allows just 11.5 points per game, and opponents are averaging 73.6 yards. The Crimson Tide defense has allowed just two teams to rush for more than 100 yards, and six have been held to fewer than 60. Combined with a ball-control, grind-it-out offense, Alabama's success is straight out of the old days.

"This is the most intriguing matchup I've ever done," former NFL quarterback and CBS analyst Gary Danielson said. "Basically, it's because of the styles. I equate it as basically Frazier vs. Ali. This is ugly vs. pretty. This is new vs. old. Spread out vs. tight."

There is little secret about what each team wants to do.

The 12-0 Crimson Tide have won three games this season by less than a touchdown. They want to control the game with an efficient offense and a punishing defense.

Florida would like to get its quicksilver freshman running back tandem of Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey through a seam and into the open field. It wants Tebow to manage the game, find receivers downfield and make the scoreboard light up. The Gators love to strike fast and own the tempo.

"The contrasting styles are because both teams know who they are and play the way they need to for success," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "They have a unique guy playing quarterback. You want to talk about a throwback offense; they're running the single wing. The last time I was involved with the single wing I was 10 years old. So I don't know who has the throwback offense. Now, they do spread it out, but their quarterback, who is a good passer as well as a good runner, allows them to play a style that is difficult to match."

Alabama's simple solution would be to keep Florida's playmakers standing on the sideline.

The Crimson Tide's offensive trademark has been the ability to control the line of scrimmage and, consequently, control the clock. Alabama (32:33) leads the SEC and ranks eighth nationally in time of possession.

"We're not an explosive team," Saban said. "We don't score 28 points in three or four minutes.

"We play good defense and try to be sound on special teams."

Florida's quick-start ability is well-known. The Gators have outscored opponents 160-10 this season in the first quarter and 304-41 by halftime.

By contrast, Alabama has trailed for a total of 23:11 this season, and the Tide scored first in 11 of 12 games.

"This will be one of the more intriguing games," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "The first two or three series, you get to find out how a team plays you. We'll do a lot of formations early, like we always do. Here's what we see, then we have a package to go to after that.

"So the first few series should really be intriguing, as far as our offense vs. their defense."

The answer, please.

Reporter Mick Elliott can be reached at (813) 281-2534.

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