Final
Berth in BCS title game on line in SEC
Dec 6, 2008 - 11:15 AM (1) Alabama (12-0) vs. (3) Florida (11-1), 4:00 pm ESTATLANTA (Ticker) -- While the Big 12 Conference is defending itself over its tiebreaking procedures, there is no controversy in the Southeastern Conference.
Things are remarkably clear in the SEC - the winner of Saturday's conference championship game between top-ranked Alabama and No. 3 Florida at the Georgia Dome will almost certainly earn a berth in the BCS title game January 8 in Miami.
The loser of Saturday's contest is likely headed to the Sugar Bowl on January 2 in New Orleans.
Two years ago, Florida's path to the national championship traveled through Atlanta, with the Gators beating Arkansas, 38-28, in the SEC title game.
Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin, who is listed as questionable with a sprained right ankle suffered in last week's 45-15 win over Florida State, was the Most Valuable Player in that contest. He rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown and caught TD receptions of 67 and 37 yards.
"It's great going to that dome," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "That's why we get up, that's why we shave, that's why we brush our teeth, that's why we hug our kids - to go to that dome."
Florida (11-1, 7-1 SEC East) very well may be the best in the country - it certainly is playing as well as anybody. The Gators have scored at least 42 points in seven straight games, the longest current streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
"They are just explosive," Alabama cornerback Javier Arenas said. "That's why they are so good. They have playmakers and great coaches. All around, they are the ideal team."
Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is making a late push to win a second straight Heisman Trophy, throwing 11 touchdown passes in his last four games.
Alabama left tackle Andre Smith and Tebow were recruited together by former Crimson Tide coach Mike Shula.
"We had a great relationship through the recruiting process," Smith said. "He's a great guy and has a great family. We could probably switch families and be fine. I don't blame him for picking Florida. He is right up the road from there."
Alabama's Glen Coffee, the SEC's second-leading rusher with 1,235 yards, could play an important role in the game. The Crimson Tide (12-0, 8-0 West) would like to keep Tebow and company off the field with an effective ground game.
"We want to keep the ball in our hands and keep it away from their offense," Coffeee said. "We want to wear down their defense."
Florida, however, has played like a team on a mission following its inexplicable 31-30 loss to Mississippi on September 27.
"Our whole offseason was based on getting back to Atlanta," Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes said after last week's victory over Florida State. "It was hard not to look forward after we clinched the SEC (East). Now its finally here."
Florida would seem to have a significant edge at quarterback with Tebow going up against the oft-maligned John Parker Wilson - although the senior cut down on his interceptions with only five this season.
Wilson also didn't need to throw as much with the emergence of Coffee. Wilson has attempted just 268 passes this season after throwing 462 a year ago.
Florida and Alabama are meeting in the SEC title game for the sixth time, with the Gators holding a 3-2 edge.
Overall, Florida is 6-2 in the SEC championship. All five of Alabama's appearances have come against the Gators, with the Crimson Tide winning their two titles in 1992 and 1999.
- SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA
NCAAF FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ALABAMA (1) 10 0 10 0 20
FLORIDA (2) 7 10 0 14 31 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: FLORIDA - TD, CARL MOORE 3 YD PASS FROM TIM
TEBOW (JONATHAN PHILLIPS
KICK), 6:43. FLORIDA 7-0
ALABAMA - TD, GLEN COFFEE 18 YD RUN (LEIGH
TIFFIN KICK), 7:37. ALABAM
Dec 6 7:27 PM
TD FLORIDA RILEY COOPER 5 YD PASS FROM TIM TEBOW (JONATHAN PHILLIPS KICK)
Alabama(1) 20, Florida(2) 31 4th - 2:50Dec 6 7:09 PM
TD FLORIDA RILEY COOPER 5 YD PASS FROM TIM TEBOW (JONATHAN PHILLIPS KICK)
Alabama(1) 20, Florida(2) 31 4th - 2:50Dec 6 7:09 PM
TD FLORIDA RILEY COOPER 5 YD PASS FROM TIM TEBOW (JONATHAN PHILLIPS KICK)
Alabama(1) 20, Florida(2) 31 4th - 2:50Dec 6 7:09 PM- SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA
NCAAF SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
TD FLORIDA
RILEY COOPER 5 YD PASS FROM TIM TEBOW
(JONATHAN PHILLIPS KICK)
ALABAMA (1) 20
FLORIDA (2) 31 2:50 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Alabama(1) 20, Florida(2) 31 4th - 2:50Dec 6 7:09 PM - 140
rootsRUWTbot Took away 16 roots (Upset, Ranked Teams)
Alabama(1) 20, Florida(2) 31 4th - 2:50Dec 6 7:09 PM - 156
rootsRUWTbot Added 16 roots (Close Finish, Upset, Ranked Teams)
Alabama(1) 20, Florida(2) 24 4th - 7:27Dec 6 7:00 PM
TD FLORIDA JEFFERY DEMPS 1 YD RUN (JONATHAN PHILLIPS KICK)
Alabama(1) 20, Florida(2) 24 4th - 9:21Dec 6 6:54 PM- SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA
NCAAF SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
TD FLORIDA
JEFFERY DEMPS 1 YD RUN
(JONATHAN PHILLIPS KICK)
ALABAMA (1) 20
FLORIDA (2) 24 9:21 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Alabama(1) 20, Florida(2) 24 4th - 9:21Dec 6 6:54 PM - SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA
NCAAF END, 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ALABAMA (1) 10 0 10 20
FLORIDA (2) 7 10 0 17 END, 3RD QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: FLORIDA - TD, CARL MOORE 3 YD PASS FROM TIM
TEBOW (JONATHAN PHILLIPS
KICK), 6:43. FLORIDA 7-0
ALABAMA - TD, GLEN COFFEE 18 YD RUN (LEIGH
TIFFIN KICK), 7:3
Dec 6 6:41 PM - SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA
NCAAF SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
FG ALABAMA
LEIGH TIFFIN 27 YD
ALABAMA (1) 20
FLORIDA (2) 17 0:08 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Alabama(1) 20, Florida(2) 17 3rd - 0:08Dec 6 6:39 PM
TD ALABAMA MARK INGRAM 2 YD RUN (LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
Alabama(1) 17, Florida(2) 17 3rd - 6:20Dec 6 6:22 PM
TD ALABAMA MARK INGRAM 2 YD RUN (LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
Alabama(1) 17, Florida(2) 17 3rd - 6:20Dec 6 6:22 PM
TD ALABAMA MARK INGRAM 3 YD RUN (LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
Alabama(1) 17, Florida(2) 17 3rd - 6:20Dec 6 6:22 PM
TD ALABAMA MARK INGRAM 3 YD RUN (LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
Alabama(1) 17, Florida(2) 17 3rd - 6:20Dec 6 6:22 PM- SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA
NCAAF SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
TD ALABAMA
MARK INGRAM 3 YD RUN
(LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
ALABAMA (1) 17
FLORIDA (2) 17 6:20 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Alabama(1) 17, Florida(2) 17 3rd - 6:20Dec 6 6:22 PM - SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA
NCAAF HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ALABAMA (1) 10 0 10
FLORIDA (2) 7 10 17 HALFTIME
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: FLORIDA - TD, CARL MOORE 3 YD PASS FROM TIM
TEBOW (JONATHAN PHILLIPS
KICK), 6:43. FLORIDA 7-0
ALABAMA - TD, GLEN COFFEE 18 YD RUN (LEIGH
TIFFIN KICK), 7:37. A
Dec 6 5:37 PM
TD FLORIDA DAVID NELSON 5 YD PASS FROM TIM TEBOW (JONATHAN PHILLIPS KICK)
Alabama(1) 10, Florida(2) 17 2nd - 2:59Dec 6 5:28 PM
TD FLORIDA DAVID NELSON 5 YD PASS FROM TIM TEBOW (JONATHAN PHILLIPS KICK)
Alabama(1) 10, Florida(2) 17 2nd - 2:59Dec 6 5:28 PM
TD FLORIDA DAVID NELSON 5 YD PASS FROM TIM TEBOW (JONATHAN PHILLIPS KICK)
Alabama(1) 10, Florida(2) 17 2nd - 2:59Dec 6 5:28 PM- SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA
NCAAF SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
TD FLORIDA
DAVID NELSON 5 YD PASS FROM TIM TEBOW
(JONATHAN PHILLIPS KICK)
ALABAMA (1) 10
FLORIDA (2) 17 2:59 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Alabama(1) 10, Florida(2) 17 2nd - 2:59Dec 6 5:28 PM - SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA
NCAAF SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
FG FLORIDA
JONATHAN PHILLIPS 19 YD
ALABAMA (1) 10
FLORIDA (2) 10 8:59 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Alabama(1) 10, Florida(2) 10 2nd - 8:59Dec 6 5:13 PM - SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA
NCAAF END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ALABAMA (1) 10 10
FLORIDA (2) 7 7 END, 1ST QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: FLORIDA - TD, CARL MOORE 3 YD PASS FROM TIM
TEBOW (JONATHAN PHILLIPS
KICK), 6:43. FLORIDA 7-0
ALABAMA - TD, GLEN COFFEE 18 YD RUN (LEIGH
TIFFIN KICK), 7:3
Dec 6 4:53 PM - SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA
NCAAF SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
FG ALABAMA
LEIGH TIFFIN 30 YD
ALABAMA (1) 10
FLORIDA (2) 7 3:28 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Alabama(1) 10, Florida(2) 7 1st - 3:28Dec 6 4:44 PM
TD ALABAMA GLEN COFFEE 18 YD RUN (LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
Alabama(1) 7, Florida(2) 7 1st - 7:23Dec 6 4:31 PM
TD ALABAMA GLEN COFFEE 18 YD RUN (LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
Alabama(1) 7, Florida(2) 7 1st - 7:23Dec 6 4:31 PM- SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA
NCAAF SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
TD ALABAMA
GLEN COFFEE 18 YD RUN
(LEIGH TIFFIN KICK)
ALABAMA (1) 7
FLORIDA (2) 7 7:23 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Alabama(1) 7, Florida(2) 7 1st - 7:23Dec 6 4:31 PM
TD FLORIDA CARL MOORE 3 YD PASS FROM TIM TEBOW (JONATHAN PHILLIPS KICK)
Alabama(1) 0, Florida(2) 7 1st - 8:17Dec 6 4:24 PM
TD FLORIDA CARL MOORE 3 YD PASS FROM TIM TEBOW (JONATHAN PHILLIPS KICK)
Alabama(1) 0, Florida(2) 7 1st - 8:17Dec 6 4:24 PM
TD FLORIDA CARL MOORE 3 YD PASS FROM TIM TEBOW (JONATHAN PHILLIPS KICK)
Alabama(1) 0, Florida(2) 7 1st - 8:17Dec 6 4:24 PM- SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
AT ATLANTA
NCAAF SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
TD FLORIDA
CARL MOORE 3 YD PASS FROM TIM TEBOW
(JONATHAN PHILLIPS KICK)
ALABAMA (1) 0
FLORIDA (2) 7 8:17 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Alabama(1) 0, Florida(2) 7 1st - 8:17Dec 6 4:24 PM
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