Last 10 Things: Florida Gators vs. Alabama Crimson Tide

10 final things about Florida’s matchup with Alabama.

1. A quarterback will have to make a play. Whether it is John Brantley or A.J. McCarron, one of the two QBs will have to make an important play in this one. The run games of both teams will be the focus, but won’t do it all. One of these average passers will need to use their arm to make an important throw at a critical moment.

2. How many rushing yards will these teams total? 400? 500? 600 or more?!? The Gators and Tide can both run. Their starters are good and their backups actually average more yards per carry. Both teams will try to establish the run early. Speed may be the difference. Not only running speed, but defensive speed.

3. This could be the week a Gators’ wide receiver finally steps up. To be fair, the WRs haven’t been thrown to as much as we expected when Charlie Weis was announced as the Florida offensive coordinator. To be fairer, he hasn’t needed to use them extensively yet. They need to be thrown to, but they need to take a leap forward as well.

4. Offensive line consistency could be the most important part of the Gators’ offense. Two flawless plays followed up by a breakdown on the third can’t continue. It’s okay against lesser opponents, it won’t be against Alabama.

5. The Tide defense is that good. But the Gators’ defense has shown it can handle a lot as well (albeit against lesser opponents). This game could come down to which defense can slow which running game. The edge would seem to go to Bama in this one, but Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps have unmatched speed. Of course, Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy are off to a hot start as well. Both defenses will be focused on stopping the run. The one that does so the most effectively may come out on top.

6. Florida’s front four has to provide pressure on its own. Will Muschamp will surely dial up some creative blitzes throughout the game, but to respect the Bama run game, the front four will need to do a lot on its own in terms of pressuring McCarron and getting into the backfield to disrupt the run game.

7. Sure tackling, sure tackling, sure tackling. Richardson and Lacy can be homerun threats, but also like to make would-be tacklers look plain silly. The Gators need to take them down at the first contact. If the Bama backs are able to consistently break tackles and get extra yards, it will be a very long night for Florida.

8. McCarron is a near clone of Brantley in terms of numbers and how he’s been used so far this season. The young Florida secondary can’t make him look like an All-American. They can’t even make him look like an All-SEC quarterback. The defensive backs need to remain tight in coverage and cause turnovers. The Bama run game is as explosive as the Florida run game, but the Tide won’t run on every play.

9. A legendary coach facing off against a newbie. Muschamp coached under Nick Saban, but that’s doesn’t matter now. All you’ll hear is Saban’s head coaching resume compared to Muschamp’s. This will be Muschamp’s fifth game as a head coach. Okay, we understand that. Let’s see how it plays out before we give it to the guy with more experience.

10. There’s something special about The Swamp. In 2010, the Gators won their first three at home before going 1-3 in their final four. Florida has started the 2011 the same way with three home wins. It’s time to bring that aura back and continue a new streak.