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The 2016 SEC Championship Game is this Saturday as undefeated, top-ranked Alabama from the SEC West faces off with No. 15 Florida from the SEC East in Atlanta.

Alabama is the heavy favorite over the Gators as Florida is getting 24 points against the Tide. Alabama has not just gone undefeated, but aside from the Ole Miss game, every Alabama win has been by 10 points or more. Both teams come in a bit banged up, but Florida has been snakebitten the most by injuries this season, which will make going up against this Alabama squad an even bigger challenge.

Viewing information

Date: Saturday, Dec. 3
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

TV: CBS
Live stream (computer): CBSSports.com (Simulcast and All-22 feed)
Live stream (mobile): Download the CBS Sports App

Storylines

Alabama: The amazing thing about the Tide this season is that, even if they lost this game, they're almost assuredly going to make the College Football Playoff. That's how dominant Alabama has been this season and how far ahead the Tide are of everyone else. This game is going to be a battle of a very good (but banged up) defense and an all-time great defense.

You can guess which one is Alabama. The "soft spot" in Alabama's defense is in the secondary, where they will challenge opponents in single coverage to beat them and there are opportunities to go over the top. Now, by opportunities, I'm talking about a receiver having a step on a corner and the ball having to be placed perfectly over the top. Not many college quarterbacks are able to do that regularly and that's why only Ole Miss and Chad Kelly's rocket arm have put up points on them.

Against a quarterback like Austin Appleby, who does not throw the best deep ball, you can expect the Tide to load the box, sit on short routes and force him to consistently put it in the bucket over the top. This has been their gameplan most of the season and it's quite successful. Alabama is 11th in pass defense, allowing just over 178 yards through the air per game, and are fourth in yards per attempt allowed at 5.7.

As for running it on Alabama, that just doesn't happen. The Tide have allowed two teams to go over 100 yards this season, none over 114, and allow an average of 2.2 yards per carry. Basically, if Alabama's defense shows up and plays how it has all season, it's hard to see where offensive touchdowns come from for the Gators.

Florida: Alright, so you just read all of that and now you're trying to figure out how Florida can move the ball on Alabama. That's a question 12 teams have asked this season and only one has found the right answer (and they still lost). The Gators have to turn Appleby loose if they want to have a chance.

There's an inherent danger to doing that -- the danger being the Tide running up the score by way of pick-sixes -- but we've seen that even a really good defense just can't keep up with Alabama's for 60 minutes (see: LSU). So, Florida has to consistently try to find connections over the top and pop the Tide for a few big plays to have a chance. It won't be efficient, but to be honest, neither would a run-heavy diet.

We've seen teams get big plays over the top against Alabama, but only Ole Miss consistently popped the top on the Tide. As a 24-point underdog, there's no reason to play scared in this game -- Florida is already behind Auburn in the rankings so a close loss likely does nothing for Sugar Bowl hopes -- so the Gators might as well try the one game plan that has had success against this Alabama defense.

Players to watch

O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama: The one thing Florida's defense is still elite at is covering receivers on the edge. Even with all the injuries, the Gators have some of the best cover corners in college football. That's going to make things difficult for Jalen Hurts to find Calvin Ridley and company on the outside, but the Tide are going to need some balance in their offensive attack.

Enter O.J. Howard, the super-talented tight end. Howard has had a good season, but it hasn't been anything spectacular to this point. However, against a Florida team with a banged up linebacking corps and a thin safety rotation, look for Lane Kiffin to dial Howard's number fairly often in the passing game to keep Florida from cheating up too much against the run and to give Hurts some comfortable, low-risk short-to-intermediate passes.

Antonio Callaway, WR, Florida: The most explosive playmaker on Florida has to get lots of touches and lots of targets over the top against Alabama. Callaway is the Gators best deep threat and if he is able to haul in a few big plays over the top, Florida can stay in this game with Alabama.

Matchup to watch

Alabama's defensive line vs. Florida's offensive line: Trying to go over the top on Alabama requires one very important thing: time. To uncork a deep ball on the Alabama secondary, the quarterback has to have time in the pocket to set his feet and drive the ball down the field. Alabama's front four is as good as there is in the nation at getting pressure on the quarterback, especially in passing-down situations like third and long.

Florida's offensive line is among the units that's been hit the hardest by injuries, but whatever group they throw out there will have to find a way to give Appleby time. If not, Jonathan Allen, Tim Williams, Ryan Anderson and company will play "meet me at the quarterback" in the Florida backfield.