Bourbon Boys Pick The SEC Week XV

El Gran Mono
I feel like its 1992 again or perhaps 1994. Let’s go with 1994, because that’s the year the Gators took down the undefeated Crimson Tide rather than getting juked by some drug smuggling cornerback in the final minutes. I’m sure the SEC offices (packed full of the Tide faithful) are loving the “traditional” modern era matchup. Hopefully, they didn’t plant a bunch of deutchbag refs in the game. Who knows? Sometimes with the terrible officiating in the SEC, its hard to tell if they are plants or just Gamma factory workers.

Cuz Bailey has officially wrapped up the picks. Too bad he didn’t actually bet his picks. Unfortunately, that would have resulted in much second guessing and queries to hacks, like yours truly, that would have decimated the beauty of his near 60% studliness. If you do see CB around town, wait a couple more weeks to buy him a brew. He’s stressing about exams en route to becoming the final piece in Bourbon Boys Attack Dog Attorneys LLC. On to the final game, although some bowl picks might make their way to the website this holiday season, so keep your eye on the website for sage picks, SON!

Cuzzin Bailey
What a horrible dilemma I am faced with: This week starts the awfulness of law school finals, and yet, it should be a week of celebration and reflection of another outstanding Gator season and trip to the SEC Championship Game. Life is all about balance. At least that’s what I got from Karate Kid. Balancing the game, with life. When I get too stressed about school, I think of the game, and when THAT starts stressing me out, I go back to studying. If I’m not careful I’m gonna get an ulcer like the Bourbon Boys’ good buddy, the Drunk Mick in NYC. If that kid isn’t a prime candidate for ulcer’s I don’t know who is. Anyways, I hope everyone had a safe Thanksgiving, and I hope I do well on the tests…

Alabama v. Florida ( -9.5), 4
EGM
I ripped UF’s offense earlier this season but they have come around 180. They have turned into a power running team with a variety of sets. The multiple formations keep other teams guessing and often times overplaying the perimeter of the field in an attempt to keep Rainey, Demps and Harvin inside. That’s a terrible idea because all three guys are excellent vertical runners with cutback ability. Tebow has mastered the zone read and is making excellent choices on when to run himself. The passing game is also clicking on all cylinders with all the receivers getting regular catches.

Bama’s defense is very good but they are by no means excellent. They are completely reliant upon their team establishing the right pace. Two scenarios are nightmare for the Tide. Quick possessions by the offense and prolonged possessions by the opposing offense. They try to stack against the run and force you into obvious passing situations. A lack of speed in the secondary will be the final straw. The Gators are constantly in third and short but still have the ability to make third and long because of they can stretch the field and the threat of the option. Honestly, this is the best team I have ever seen don the Gator blue and orange. The offensive line has really gelled and should wear down Bama’s bulky interior.

Now, to the real key to the game. Bama’s offense. They run the ball and rely almost exclusively on play action pass. Julio Jones is a stud but he doesn’t play QB. They actually remind me of Auburn a few years ago with a shittier QB. That’s right, I think BranDONE Cox is better than JPW. If you have watched JPW play, he might as well be talking to the receivers on one of those tomato can-string telephones. He eyes his boys down like Ben Hill Bootlegger at Gandy Beach on Friday night. If you are in an obvious passing situation, and the Tide will be in many, this will not be a good thing. Bama is completely reliant on the running game to set up their offense and I anticipate they will have some success because of their excellent offensive line. However, I also anticipate UF’s depth on the defensive line and linebacker will keep them fresh enough to disrupt the power attack. This game is so much like 1994 that its crazy. By the way, who won that year? Watch out for receivers with shotguns under their pads!

Bama 17
Gators 31

ML
Oh man....I am a total pod today. It's Friday morning and I'll be on a flight to the ATL in about 8 hours...but who's counting? I have face value tickets in hand and a free place to stay, so do not hesitate to ask me for a shot of Makers. I'll be the handsome dude in gator gear. Before I analyze the game, I need to comment on Auburn's divorce from Tommy T. I know they say he "resigned," but I don't buy it. He was forced out. I'll never believe otherwise. Certain programs need to accept certain things. Auburn is one of those schools that should probably win 8 games a year, and every now and then have a really good or really bad year. They need to accept this fact. On to the game....this is the ultimate clash of styles, the Tide are no doubt ultra-motivated by the fact that they are double digit underdogs. Their strong defense will look to hit us hard. If I was Urban I'd spin the hype to motivate the Gator defense. All the talk about us has been about our offense. Our defense has been especially stout and done a good job forcing turnovers. Janoris Jenkins v. Julio Jones could be the key to the entire game. If Janoris can contain him, we should win going away. I do not like the idea of having to rely on Major Wright in coverage.

If Percy was 100% I'd have no worries. As it stands, I think we'll have to put up a C effort for Bama to win. Anything above a B+ and we win by 2 TDs. Remember Tebow will not let us lose. When it comes down to it we will have the best player on the field. That should be enough, if we get up two scores early, watch out, it could get ugly.

Bama 13
SEC Champs 30

CB
I have no idea who the home team is in regards to the rule books this year, but from what I have heard, it won’t be difficult to determine that inside the Georgia Dome. Rumors of Bama fans buying up 70% of the tickets, while ridiculous and scary to hear, doesn’t surprise me, as this was the fan base that sold out their spring game last year!!! This is said every week, but I think its safe to say that this will be the toughest defense that UF has faced all season long; but that being said, I think this will be the best offense that Bama has seen this year. Also, let us not forget the fact that both teams are led by two great leaders on the field. JP Wilson, is a senior and has the most passing yards in Alabama history, or at least should, and Tim Tebow, while he did win the Heisman last year, is more of a complete team leader/QB this year. Bama undefeated, UF with one loss, and the team that beat Florida gave the Tide fits for sure. I saw both games versus Ole Miss, and I can tell you that the Gators were one play away from winning and the Tide could have been one play away from losing. But none of that matters anymore. Its clear by a long shot that these are the two best teams in a great conference (not the best this year thanks to poor play down the stretch by a few teams, you know who you are). I wish I could be at this game, but I know I would probably need more than one blood pressure pill to keep me on an even keel. A huge question, that I seem to have every week, is whether or not our tiny little running backs (who are probably my height damnit) will be able to run against a defensive line that is ginormous to put it technically. The Gators certainly have the speed, and I am excited to see if UF can break tackles or avoid them enough to show it on the turf inside the dome. I know that Florida’s defense is very good, but once again, I’m not sure if we’ve seen a running game “like this one this year.” If I were an assistant coach or a complete loser, I could have time to look at the film on Bama’s defense and have a shot at predicting what sort of game plan we are gonna start with on Saturday, but alas, I am neither. (Plus I don’t have the video equipment to watch “film”). I know this is a popular pick for the Gator fans, and I further know that Vegas opened with this line to goad people into betting for Bama, but I like a two score spread. I know that UF will be able to score on Alabama, what I don’t know is whether or not the Tide can keep up. Anything can happen at the SEC Championship game. Fake punts, throw back passes, two of the longest passing plays in the games history (1996, I was there). Missteps on special teams (ala Arkansas 06). Game clinching interceptions and just straight up ass whoopins. My all time favorite moment was in 1996, sure the Gators, with a win and a Nebraska loss, would be playing FSU for a shot at the National Title, but it was my first road game as an adult (18) and it was the day I found out I got into UF for undergrad. That was a great day, and I remember it like it was yesterday (we weren’t allowed to drink on the trip). I hope this year is just as special. I never thought I’d say this, but I REALLY want to go to MEE-AMI!!

Yellow Hammer 17
Florida Gator 30