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No game this weekend is likely to have more betting activity that the Florida Gators vs. Alabama Crimson Tide. Despite being ranked number one in the nation, the Crimson Tide are a huge +10 underdog at Sportsinteraction.com heading into Thursday afternoon. That's not a typo.
Alabama is undefeated for the season heading into this game. Florida, however, has only lost one game.
When we look closely at this series a couple of things stand out. One, 8 of the last 10 games dating back to 1991 were won at home (advantage Alabama). 3 of the last 4 games dating back to 1999 were won by the Crimson Tide (advantage Alabama). 6 of the last 10 games in this series were won by the Gators (advantage Florida). 4 of those 6 games were won by more than the current spread.
Ivan Maisel of ESPN.com writes:
With an almost certain berth in the BCS National Championship Game there for the taking, No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Florida have more on their minds than winning the Southeastern Conference. When the Crimson Tide and the Gators play Saturday at the Georgia Dome, the league championship is the silver medal -- at most.
If you like your thrillers rife with intrigue, if you like your subplots filled with subplots, then settle into your comfiest chair. There's more at stake in this game than even the crystal football.
The SEC championship game is a renewed clash of generational powers. It is a soap opera. And it will serve as a referendum on the most dominant style of play in a league that has provided three of the past five BCS national champions.
Alabama was the dominant force in the league from the time it began in 1933 until 1990.
Maisel point out, that's when Spurrier returned to his alma mater as head coach. Since then, the Gators have won seven SEC championships and, of course, national championships in 1996 and 2006. Alabama's resurgence this fall from nearly a decade of mediocrity has fired up its dormant fan base.
"You know," senior center Antoine Caldwell said Monday, according to a news conference transcript, "we haven't played for this in a long time."
Alabama is playing for its first SEC championship since 1999 and Gambling911.com loves the Crimson Tide in this position as a +10 underdog.
Tyrone Black, Gambling911.com
