Alabama and Florida will square off Saturday afternoon in Atlanta for the SEC Championship and more likely than not, book their Jan. 8th date in Miami.

But looking at the makeup of the two teams, one could compare them to the past two NC games where a "speedy" SEC team (obviously  Florida) meets  a more traditional style offense with a run first attitude and a physical defense (process of elimination proves this one is 'Bama.)

Much was the case when Ohio State met Florida then LSU in consecutive years.  In both cases, the throwback style of the Sweater Vest was given little to no chance against the burners from the South.

Only now, the Championship game is the SEC Championship and the Big Ten like opponennt is Alabama.

They were written off minutes after clinching their division by pundits claiming Florida was too strong, and the case was complimented by statement win after statement win for the Gators (like their man-handling of Georgia or their 502 total yards against FSU.)

Much has been made of the Alabama schedule, which the Sagarin rankings had at #73 strength of schedule on Nov 29.

The issue is that Alabama has not played enough quality teams or have they been impressive enough against teams they are favored highly against.

The argument for 'Bama fans: "We beat who we are supposed to beat" and that is what good teams do, get the getables.

Alabama has played all the "tough" games on the road from the opener in a neutral site against a conference favorite, to the preseason number on the road, to the defending national champions. 

However, the victories were devalued in each case since the Alabama victories (LSU lost on the road to Florida before hand and Georgia at home, two teams preseason top 5, they were not supposed to win those games, and their subsequent losses to Ole Miss and Arkansas came after the deflating defeats by the Gators, Bulldogs, and Tide.)

Florida on the other hand, has looked as impressive as a team can dating back to October 4 against Arkansas.

They have burned out scoreboard bulbs to the tune of 556 points all year (356 against SEC defenses) while allowing teams to crack the 20 point barrier only twice, surrendering 31 in a loss to Ole Miss and 21 to a then undefeated LSU.

The top three rushing leaders not named Tim Tebow average 8 or more yards per carry, with the fifth running option Emmanuel Moody (who would start virtually anywhere but Florida or USC apparently) gaining 7.4 per carry.

Their speed is said to be too much for the Tide, much like the Buckeyes were pronounced dead before kickoff.

Their Buckeyes came into last year against a solid rushing team in LSU (uch like Alabama this year vs Florida) with great defensive numbers against the run: 2007 Ohio St. 77.1 yards per game and two rushing touchdowns all year. 

The year before that still a very respectable 6 touchdowns given up on the ground with 93.5 yards per game.

They allowed 152 yards and a score on the ground to LSU (Flynn threw for 4 scores) and 156 and 3 visits to the end zone by Florida ball carriers.

Bottom line, people were right when they said Ohio State was too slow for their counterparts (sorry Buckeye fans.)

So why are Alabama fans so d.a.m.n.e.d excited and confiedent?

Alabama fans never expect to lose. 

Realisticly, Mike Shula did an above average job when you consider the circumstances: two year bowl probation before he arrived, limited scholarships, recruitment restrictions, basicly his every move was under an NCAA microscope.

His combined win total against LSU and Auburn, 0.

So even after an improbable run to a Cotton Bowl victory and one year removed from a 10 win season and extension, he was fired opening the door for you know who.

This is why 'Bama fans are so confident, their Savior who emphasizes defense just like the old days.

The defensive gameplans are much improved, stifling the much heralded (Preseason anyway) attack of Clemson, the dual running and passing threat of Georgia (sans 13 points in the last 3:08 of the game), the dreaded Wild Rebel offense of Ole Miss (the #22 ranked AP team did beat Florida with it), they also held Tennessee's second career rushing leader to 21 yards on 6 carries.

They are not just a run stopping team, they currently rank 20th against the pass and are ranked 3rd in total defense.

Florida has seen this all before, South Carolina's tough defense was supposed to give them fits, but five rushing touchdowns later Florida's rampage through all challengers could not be halted.

Florida has been a steady team defensively on the ground and will face arguably their biggest challenge (and O-line) yet when they meet Antoine Caldwell and Co.

On the surface, the resemblance is obvious to the Big Ten like style Alabama has employed this season, hard nosed running and physical defense.

However, they've seen spread offenses this year, and have gone against fast offensive forces like Dester McCluster, Knowshon Moreno, C.J. Spiller, Michael Smith, Trindon Holliday and others.

Florida is one of if not the hottest team in college football, but Coach Urban Meyer is not taking 'Bama lightly nor should he be.

And Alabama should realize just getting to Atlanta is not enough, they must perform at their highest level to take on their toughest oponent of the year.

Their championship clash set for Saturday in the Georgia Dome is shaping up to be something special.

Someone please tell Saban and Meyer to leave their sweater vests in the closet.

Saturday in Baton Rouge was the biggest game yet for University of Alabama record holding quarterback John Parker-Wilson.

Statistically, he didn't blow you away despite facing the 11th ranked passing defense in the SEC coming into the showdown.  What he did do, was defeat a team that have given him problems in his previous two starts against them, on the road no less.  This achievement gives hope to Alabama fans that he can exact revenge against three other teams he is winless against: Mississippi State, Auburn, and Florida (opponent in the conference championship.)

Ironicly, Alabama is most effective letting their all-time passing yards and passing touchdowns leader hand-off to workhorses like Glen Coffee, Roy Upchurch, and Mark Ingram who dash through gaping alleys created by a stellar offensive line.  Coffee  surpassed the 1,000 yard mark Saturday on the season while rushing 26 times for 126 yards.  Freshman standout Mark Ingram runs like a bull for 5.4 per carry with 8 touchdowns on 99 carries.  And Junior Roy Upchurch has stepped up when called upon averaging 6 yards per carry.

Their emergence has brought the need for Wilson to produce down to reasonable expectations; thus 'Bama is 10-0 with Wilson throwing for first downs in his Senior year rather than trying to force the ball downfield in years 1 and 2 winning 6 and 7 games in consecutive years.

Traditionally a running school from Wallace Wade to Frank Thomas to The Bear and Gene Stallings, they all enjoyed unleashing fierce and ruthless offensive lines on their opponents.  Alabama has seen the likes of Harry Gilmer, Bart Starr, Joe Namath, Kenny Stabler and Jay Barker don the Crimson helmets.  Also Mike Shula, Andrew Zow, and Brodie Croyle have had success in the air but Wilson now sits atop nearly every statistical category.  However, unlike all the aforementioned, he is in the same boat with Croyle in terms of stockpiling up yards but failing to defeat rival Auburn.  (Gilmer did most of his damage on the ground and during his tenure the Alabama/Auburn series was on hiatis.)  Although Wilson is tops in these phases, he is far behind in terms of Alabama adoration since he has yet to win in the rivalry.

Bart Starr chose Alabama over Auburn despite his high school girlfriend becoming a Tiger, and during his time (he did not start as a senior) went 2-1 against his sweethearts alum.  Joe "Willie" Namath also posted a 2-1 mark against the Tigers and won a national championship in 1964.  Kenny "Snake" Stabler was next in the line of great UA quarterbacks.  In 1965 Stabler and Steve Sloan split time (albiet more for Sloan) at QB and repeated as national champs.  Stabler would never lose to Auburn.  In 1966, "Snake" was the starter and guided his team to an 11-0 record but finished the season third despite being the nation's only undefeated and untied team in the end.  In 67 trailing 3-0 in Birmingham, Stabler would produce what is known as the "Run in the Mud," a 47-yard touchdown run to secure the 7-3 win over Auburn.  Mike Shula engineered a last minute drive in 1985 to set up Van Tiffin's kick heard round the world.  Jay Barker will forever be enshrined as one of the best in Tide history.  His 35-2 mark is best ever by a Tide quarterback.  He won 'Bama's last national title in the 92/93 season and took home the Johhny Unitas Golden Arm award; was a finalist for the Heisman too.  Andrew Zow led the Tide to their last SEC championship in 1999, and was the last quarterback to defeat Auburn (back in 2001.)  Zow is also significant in the fact that no other Alabama quarterback has ever won at Auburn!  The series has been in Birmingham, Montgomery, Auburn, and Tuscaloosa. 

Wilson will however have the chance to continue to make history.  While his accolades to this point have not gone un-noticed, it should be noted that he is 2-1 against Tennessee.  His victory in Athens and in Atlanta (vs. Clemson) have shown that he wants his Legacy to be more than numbers.  His legacy can be written if he can keep the Tide rolling.  By winning against Mississippi State, Auburn, the Conference championship against Florida and the NC game (I know one game at a time, but this is speaking hypothetically) Wilson would have led the Tide to their only ever 14-0 season, won the Orange Bowl for the first time since 1966 when Ken "The Snake" Stabler beat Notre Dame, and he would also be the first Alabama quarterback to ever win the Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa.  The Tide are currently 0-6 in Tuscaloosa.  The fact of the matter is, as much as this quarterback has done he has to overcome something he hasn't each step of the way from here on out.  And that starts with beating Sylvester Croom's Bulldogs that have beaten John Parker-Wilson in both of the previous contests.  Only after that can he begin to worry about shaking the #### that is the Auburn curse not only off his back, but half of the state of Alabama. 

By defeating LSU, he crossed one team off his list.  For a player with 7,278 yards and 617 completions, he still has a long way to go; but a win Saturday will cross another hurdle and bring him another step closer and keep Alabama's aspirations alive.

Perhaps I should just change this to "RIP OFF of Cygnus's Blog" but here is to hoping it comes out a bit differently (thats what she said.) 

The BCS rankings were released and to nobody's suprise Texas sits atop but has a daunting schedule ahead.  Are they capable of beating these teams, yes.  However the order in which they play them does no favors for the Longhorns.  Each team has placed a bullseye on their back and the physical toll of playing power after power may lead to someone down the road picking up an unexpected victory over Mack Brown's squad.  Having played 5 weeks in a row already then hosting #6 OK State this weekend and travelling to #8 Texas Tech next weekend, the Longhorns' schedule is their biggest factor in the title hopes.  Had this gauntlet of teams been separated with a bye or even a cupcake then things would not appear as challenging.  Nonetheless a win can never be taken for granted.  Playing so many big games in a row may or may not prove fatal to their title hopes.  Only time will tell.

Alabama landed in the number two spot in the BCS intial rankings.  Not always a promising sign as the intial number two team can remain its runnerup position.  An obvious concern is the 365 lb hole the defense is left with after Cody went down vs. Ole Miss.  To effectively run a 3-4 the nosetackle has to be a space-eater in the middle.  Cody filled that role better than he fills out his XXXXL crimson uniform in leading the Tide to one of the nation's top run defenses.  Depth is a major concern on defense as evidence to the second half letdowns.  The offense needs to improve ball controll in the second half of games to keep the defense from becoming winded and giving up second half points.  The passing game is another concern.  The Jekyll and Hyde play from John Parker Wilson has fans in love but screaming expletives in almost a practice pefrected scream.  His "flea-flicker" to Mike McCoy was as pretty as a pass could be, as was his fade route to Maze.  But 67 yards in the second half brought out the Greg McElroy fans in many of the Bryant Denny spectators Saturday.  Long story short, for a number two team, 'Bama has plenty to work on.

Penn State is in a position that would have been welcomed before the season began but has fans kicking themselves now.  Coming into the season, with the uncertainty of the JoePa legacy they were ranked 22nd.  While some believed they had a shot at 8-0, most did not expect the great start.  They should have.  Penn State has looked impressive in each and every win.  The only problem is, they may not controll their own destiny.  Their concern is that running the table (knock on wood Lions fans not trying to jinx you) may earn them same honor the 2004/05 Auburn Tigers award of ruthlessly debating their case.  Even if #1 or #2 falls, their are candidates behind Penn State that could jump them in the end: undefeated OK State or Texas Tech, even Florida running the table beating an undefeated SEC West team (knock on wood Tide fans, not trying to jinx you...) may jump Penn State if the win is convincing enough.  If Penn State can take care of business this weekend vs. Ohio State then college football fans will be clamoring for a playoff, or at least a plus one scenario.  But as unpredictable as college football has been lately, Penn State should just worry about the next game each week.  If they hold an unblemished record at year's end then it would be extremely difficult to keep a program like that out of a NCG, no matter what you say about the conference.

Oklahoma  is the fourth ranked team with their only loss suffered against rival Texas.  Their demolition of TCU boasts their resume after TCU handcuffed BYU to 7 points.  Unless Texas somehow falls victim to the tough schedule (losing not once but twice) Oklahoma is hard pressed to repeat as conference champ.  Without that extra championship game to prove they deserve to play for the title (think UGA last season, they should have beat Tennessee than all would have been well for them) it looks bleak for the Sooners.  Not all hope is lost, but if Texas does fall twice in the regular season, Oklahoma still must beat Texas Tech, OK State, and either Kansas (again) or Missouri or possibly Nebraska in a championship game.  A BCS birth is possible, but barring a huge Longhorn collapse a title birth not likely.  Too bad because despite the loss, Oklahoma is a great team and (not advocating this but) given a chance in a playoff would be as dangerous as anyone.

USC holds down the fifth spot.  Like Oklahoma they do not hold their own fate in their hands.  While they believe it is likely that two of the top three will fall, they must continue to pound opponents and have Oregon State win some games to make that loss appear more respected.  Again, USC is a team that given a chance in a playoff #1, 2 or 3 would not want to see in any round.  Some may see the UCLA game as a joke, but the Bruins love nothing more than to spoil Trojans title hopes. 

Texas Tech and OK State are lumped together because they share concerns.  These concerns are: "Are they for real?"  Since when does starting 7-0 beg that question?  Answer, when you start 7-0 in NCAA football.  The offenses score more points than the 13 year old on the dance-dance-revolution machine at your local movie theatre on Friday nights.  However their defenses raise questions.  Ok State has given up 23 or more points in 4 of the 7 wins.  Why is this a big deal, because they play Texas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma still.  Like Oklahoma, a loss to any of these teams puts them in a bad situation.  Texas Tech has given up 24 or more in 4 games as well with OK State, Oklahoma, and Texas still on the schedule.  While these teams are very solid, they are unlucky to be not only in the same conference as Texas and OU, but the same division.  Running the table would give either one a path straight to Miami, but those possibilities do not look as good as their offenses do week in and week out with the upcoming games looming.

Ohio State, Georgia, and Florida are lumper together as one loss teams that could really turn some heads.  Ohio State has a chance this weekend to take down #3 Penn State gain their credibility back from the voters who wrote them off after the USC fiasco.  Beanie Wells looks good but Penn State will be the toughest D he has faced all year.  Plus, they would need USC to go down again somewhere to enter in the title talk because they own the head to head victory.  They were the beneficiaries of other teams faltering last season.  This season they will need more of the same.  Georgia and Florida have played better after their defeats, but have big games remaining to keep their hopes alive.  Only problem is that the one thing that will help them, wins over high ranked teams, is the one thing that may prove to be their downfall.  If one or the other win out then they would have to be in the discussion barring a loss to Texas or Penn State.  Their collision in Jacksonville will be pivotal of course but as they have both proved, winning in the SEC each week is no given.

Utah and Boise State are threats of going undefeated, but both have been down that road before and each time won their BCS game.  Only problem is that the BCS game was not the title game.  Utah will have to face a strong TCU team that could knock them off their perch atop the conference.  They also have to tangle with a BYU team that will not give up despite their loss last Thursday.  Even if they remain undefeated it is unlikely they will play for a title, same goes for Boise State.  The voters seem to respect a one loss Big 12, SEC, or  Big Ten school before they do a school not in those conferences.  Unless your name is Notre Dame.

LSU has a very outside shot after being throttled by Florida, but if they can beat Alabama and win the rest they will be SEC west champions.  A win in a rematch over Florida will put them in contention but possibly not over the top.  Their QB play has been moderate with flashes of hope, but the prime time defeat they suffered hurt them badly.

(Sorry to completely rip you off Cygnus.)

  You've heard it, I've heard it, we've all heard it time and again "DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS."  Which is why despite a 17-14 victory over SEC foe Kentucky, Alabama fans will proudly tell you who the AP ranks number two.

Not to get ahead of ourselves but looking back at the past NCAA Champions the validity of the statement cannot be argued.  LSU's defense of last season was malleable in many situations (Kentucky, Arkansas, even allowed 34 to 'Bama) but impressed when it mattered most.  After Beanie Wells run of 65 yards to give the Buckeyes and early edge the defense held down the Ohio State run game after that to the tune of 75 yards on 28 carries (Wells also had one carry for five yards before busting the long TD run.)

Florida's vaunted defense held their opponent to just 82 total yards of offense and rendered Heisman trophy winner Troy Smith useless.  Even in arguably the greatest National Championship game ever played (at least easily the greatest in recent BCS memory) the Texas-USC game that featured 1,130 of total yards combined from the two teams was decided by a colossal fourth down stand by the Longhorns when they denied the USC offense yard number 575.

The Alabama faithful can remain calm despite the Jekyll-Hyde type passing game thanks to a defense that limited their opponent to 1.8 yards per rush, forced two turnovers, and scored on a fumble return.  The unit leads the nation in yards per game on the ground at 22.5 thanks to Junior-College transfer and avid food enthusiast Terrence Cody.  The stingy defense gives up 13.5 points per game, and would be considerably less had Georgia not put up 14 points late in the fourth quarter.

The defense has two interception returns for touchdowns, one fumble return for a touchdown, and a middle linebacker that mothers shield the eyes of their children from in Rolando McClain.

The defense coupled with the emergence of a running game bares resemblance to the game plans of yesteryears'.  This brand of smash mouth football has been lost to the intricacies of the spread and the dream to amass 400 yard passing games at the peril of the running game.  However, with Oklahoma, Texas, and LSU playing solid defense they join Alabama in the top 5 in the AP and Coaches polls. 

Alabama fans can sleep well knowing their defense led them to their last New Year's Day bowl win (actually Jan 2.)  Outsiders can sleep on Alabama and say 17-14 against Kentucky does not warrant a No. 2 ranking.  In the end we've all heard it and will hear it again, "DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS!"

"CAN YOU BE PERFECT?"  Coach Gaines, better known as Billy Bob Thornton, asked of his football team in Friday Night Lights.  Now, it seems that every fan from the SEC, PAC10, BIG Ten, Big 12, and any city that hosts college football demands that of their squad.  September loses are not the end of the world (Saban can make a case that a November loss to UL-Monroe is as close as you can get though.)  The past two seasons mind you had Champions sporting a loss (two for last year's Tigers.) 

In fact, three out of the last five years it was not an undefeated team wearing the crown when all is said and done.  Does this change the fact that we all hate to lose, no!  Do not however write your team off for one game of underperforming.  Let's take a closer look at the weekend's losers and see how close they came to staying put in the rankings.

USC:  A slow start, attributed more to Oregon State's intensity rather a lack of desire by USC, put the Trojans down 14-0 before they could buckle their chin-straps back up from the initial pop.  But amid their struggles and urge to hit the reset button (like many PS3 champions would prefer) they had an opportunity slip through their hands, literally.  DB Kevin Thomas could have put a halt to the Beaver momentum but his ill-fated drop of a Lyle Moevao pass that coincidently dropped into James Rodgers' awaiting hands pushed the lead to 21 and USC found themselves in unfamiliar territory.  Take it from me OSU fans, I'd rather be lucky than good (and knock on wood, but so far Bama has been lucky.)  Being down only by 14 would have changed the game immensely.  But credit the Beavers for controlling the ball, converting on third downs, and keeping the Trojans in catch up mode.  USC won a shared portion of the title in '03 with a loss so they are not out of the picture.

Florida:  Florida, whether they would or would not admit it, did care about the USC loss, because the number one spot was not up for grabs.  However, they ran into Houston "upset" Nutt and a nothing to lose Ole Miss team.  Unlike USC, Florida did not find themselves in an early hole, but rather let a team hang around and it proved costly.  Ole Miss fields more playmakers than people give credit for and now Florida can attest.  However, if everything goes to plan on a routine extra point attempt, the Gators are in OT.  Even still, they have the ball with a chance to win late, but failed to convert.  It would have been a long field goal had the Gators opted to kick (49 yards) but one yard stood between a first down and a loss.  Florida can still win the East if they take care of business because Ole Miss is a western division team, ditto for Georgia's loss to western division Bama.

Georgia:  Who would have thought when Richt said Saturday would be a blackout, that is exactly what the team did in the first half?  (Sorry, Im a bit of a homer.)  But this first half rout was almost halted if not for a questionable personal foul on Alabama's first drive.  John Parker-Wilson completed a screen pass to RB Glen Coffee who took the pass inside the 10 yard line, where he was met with a perfect example of tackling (head across the body, on the ball) forcing Coffee to fumble and Georgia recovering ending early bama momentum.  However a roughing the passer call (ticky tacky, yes but as I said I'd rather be lucky than good) gave the ball back to Alabama and the Tide cashed it in.  Take those points off the board, and the turnover would have been another shot of adrenaline to a rowdy crowd and the game could have changed dramatically.  However, if Georgia plays the rest of the season like they did the second half (30-10) they just may make it 4 out of 6 years.

Wisconsin:  Who would have thought the 19-7 lead against a sputtering Michigan offense would be in jeopardy?  Despite letting the Wolverines take a late lead, the Badgers put together a strong drive late in the game to be a two point conversion away from OT and new life.  And they converted the try, only to have it called back because of a formation error.  Wisconsin had won the time of possession and turnover battles, but could not keep from shooting themselves in the foot after tying the game. 

While the big boys of the Big 12 and two from the SEC are still undefeated, (Vandy and Kentucky are also without a loss but only Vandy is in the top 25, Kentucky has a strong defense but is not getting any respect for playing a few easy games and Louisville) and have plenty of reason to be excited, so should the other teams in the top 25 around the nation.  There is no guarantee that two teams will run the table this season (Texas Tech, Texas, Oklahoma are all in the same division, Missouri resides in the Big 12 North, Penn State will face some stiff challanges, and LSU and Alabama still play one another and other conference foes that put a bulls-eye on their backs.

"WE WILL BE PERFECT IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE GAME" are the words of Coach Herman Boone (better known as Denzel Washington) are inspiring, but unlikely for anyone in the NCAA this season.