Alabama Crimson Tide vs Florida Gators Prediction, Odds and Preview - 09/18/2021

Game Time: 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, September 18, 2021

Venue:  Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL

Where to Watch:  CBS

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Crimson Tide -14, Gators +14; Over/Under:  59.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Crimson Tide -14.5, Gators +14.5; Over/Under:  59.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Crimson Tide -15, Gators +15; Over/Under:  59.5 points

 

Alabama Crimson Tide:  2-0 (3rd place, SEC West)

Florida Gators:  2-0 (2nd place, SEC East)

 

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Alabama Crimson Tide:  won 2

Florida Gators:  won 2

 

 

 

Last season the Alabama Crimson Tide averaged a 76.2% completion percentage, 358.2 passing yards, and 3.2 touchdowns per game through the air. They also averaged 183.6 rushing yards and 2.8 touchdowns per game on the ground. The Florida Gators were averaging a 61.7% completion percentage, 228 passing yards, and 2 touchdowns per game through the air. They also averaged 100.5 rushing yards and 1.5 touchdowns per game on the ground.

 

 

Last season the Alabama Crimson Tide were allowing teams a 58.1% completion percentage, 239.2 passing yards, and 1.2 touchdowns per game through the air. They also allowed 113.1 rushing yards and 1.2 touchdowns per game on the ground. The Florida Gators were allowing teams a 57.1% completion percentage, 224.5 passing yards, and 0.5 touchdowns per game through the air. They also allowed 100.5 rushing yards and 1.5 touchdowns per game on the ground.

 

The ALA Crimson Tide are coming into this matchup with a 2-0 record overall after 2 non-conference games, this will be the first of their conference games on the schedule. They won their first game of the college football season against the Miami Hurricanes 44-13 and then followed that win up with another in their previous game 48-14 against the Mercer Bears. Bryce Young had a nice day as he completed 19/27 passes for 227 yards and 3 touchdowns. Brian Robinson Jr. led the team in rushing with 70 yards and 1 touchdown on 10 carries. JoJo Earle led the team in receiving with 85 yards on 7 receptions while John Metchie was not far behind with 70 receiving yards on 5 receptions. Christian Harris led Alabama's defense with 4 solo tackles and 4 assisted ones. No one on the defense recorded a sack in that game but Marcus Banks and Kool-Aid McKinstry both came away with 1 interception each. Alabama has scored 92 points in their first 2 games, scoring at least 44 in each, and have allowed their opponents to score 27 points against them, allowing no more than 14 in a single game. Their offense is averaging 462.5 YPG while their defense is allowing 241 YPG.

The FLA Gators are coming into this college football game with a 2-0 record overall and will be playing their first conference game here at home. They won their first game of the regular season 35-14 against the Florida Atlantic Owls and went on to win their last game as well against the South Florida Bulls 42-20. Emory Jones struggled a bit in that game completing 14/22 passes for 151 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. Anthony Richardson played even better at the quarterback position though as he completed 3/3 passes for 152 yards and 1 TD. Richardson also led the team in rushing with 115 yards and 1 touchdown on 4 carries. Jones also had 81 rushing yards and 1 touchdown on 13 carries. Jacob Copeland had a massive day for the receiving corps as he led the team with 175 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns on 5 receptions. Xzavier Henderson also had 68 receiving yards and 1 touchdown on 4 receptions. Ty'Ron Hopper led Florida's defense with 5 solo tackles and 1 assisted one. Jeremiah Moon had the only sack in the game for them while Kaiir Elam came away with the only interception for them in that game. The Gators have scored 77 points in their 2 games this season and have allowed their opponents to score 34 points against them. Their offense is averaging 609.5 YPG while their defense is allowing 325 YPG.

The current odds in this game have Alabama as a 15 point favorite. This is a rematch of the SEC Championship game last year. This is a very important conference matchup for both sides as it could decide who misses out on the college football playoffs this year. Both of these teams have been very good on offense so far and also play a good defensive game as well. The spread is quite large, especially for two conference teams who are top 12 teams in the country. A bet on the Gators to cover the spread would be a solid wager in this game.

 

Crimson Tide Gators Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, Sep 18, 2021 (3:30 pm ET start time) is Crimson Tide 35 Gators 28.

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Alabama Crimson Tide: 8-2 ATS when the total is between 56.5 and 63. 17-11 ATS as a favorite.

Florida Gators: 7-3 ATS in home games. 11-7 ATS against conference opponents.

 

 

Alabama Crimson Tide:  J. Jobe (DB) Ques Sat - Undisclosed injury. C. Wheaton (RB) Ques Sat - Undisclosed injury. W. Anderson Jr. (LB) Ques Sat - Knee injury.

Florida Gators:   A. Richardson (QB) Prob Sat - Hamstring injury. J. Hill (CB) out for season - Knee injury.

 

 

Alabama Crimson Tide: Jameson Williams is one player to watch in this game. He leads his team in receiving yards and touchdowns and will need to make a big impact in this game to prevent any upsets here. Look for him to get this offense going with some big catches down the field.

 

Florida Gators: Anthony Richardson is one player to watch in this game. He leads the team in rushing yards and has also looked good in the passing game, throwing the ball even better than Emory Jones. Those 2 run the offense so look for them to make some big plays here as they try to pull off a massive upset in this game.

 

"The scoreboard affects us. Who we're playing affects us. The heat affects us. The media and what you guys write every day affects us. So, to me, we have to prove we can play and maintain intensity ... and do things the way we're supposed to do it." - Nick Saban before their Mercer game about maintaining intensity no matter who they are playing.

 

 

“I’m doing the same thing y’all (are) doing, just trying to see what exciting thing he’s going to do.” - Starting quarterback Emory Jones on his backup QB Anthony Richardson.

 

 

 

WR Metchie III, John 

WR Williams, Jameson 

WR Bolden, Slade 

TE Latu, Cameron 

QB Young, Bryce 

RB Robinson Jr., Brian 

 

WR Copeland, Jacob 

WR Shorter, Justin 

WR Whittemore, Trent 

TE Gamble, Kemore 

QB Jones, Emory 

RB Pierce, Dameon 

 

Passing: B. Young (571)

Rushing: B. Robinson Jr. (130)

Receiving: J. Williams (157)

Touchdowns: J. Williams (2)

Sacks: C. Harris (1)

Tackles: C. Harris (6)

 

Passing: E. Jones (264)

Rushing: A. Richardson (275)

Receiving: Receiving: J. Copeland (190)

Touchdowns: D. Pierce (3)

Sacks: Z. Carter (3)

Tackles: T. Hopper (6)

 

Coaches:

Alabama Crimson Tide: Coach Nick Saban (15th season)

Florida Gators: Coach Dan Mullen (4th season)

 

82 degrees F scattered thunderstorms, 83% humidity, 60% chance of rain, up to 5 mph wind speeds SW.