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The dust is nearly settled on 2015 SEC football, and Alabama and Florida stand as the lone remaining protagonists in this three-month tragicomedy. Saban. McElwain. The one more spectral and callow than Darth Vader. The other a Supercuts horror story come to life. In these men's hands sit Hugh Freeze's travel plans for New Year's weekend: barring a Bama blowup, the Rebs will ring in 2016 from the joyful confines of New Orleans and the Sugar Bowl; should Florida win, however, pack your bags for Orlando and the Citrus Bowl.
In truth, it'll take nothing short of a Tebow-esque miracle for Florida to prevail on Saturday. The Tide is currently favored at -18. Further, the Gators' offense turned something south of critically anemic against FSU just a week ago, managing only two points on a late safety that might have been farce, were this not the third year in a row that the Seminoles blasted their in-state rival. Florida's two points against FSU bodes well for an Alabama run defense that's allowing just 78.9 yards per game this season, while Florida's 214.8 average through the air falls right into Alabama's passing defense sweet spot.
Alabama's S&P+ is best in the country at 26.7, whereas Florida's 14.7 lodges them well within Bill Connelly's "everybody else" register. In any case, the Gators haven't played in Atlanta since their doomed 2009 bed-wetting against none other than Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide, whose 32 points rained down under the generalship of then-offensive coordinator Jim McElwain. Ah, memories.
How to watch the SEC Championship
Kickoff: 3 p.m. CT
TV: CBS
Online Streaming: SEC Live
Also of note: Texas at No. 12 Baylor
Ole Miss' bowl fates extend outward into Waco, Tex. on Saturday as well. Charlie Strong's fledgling Longhorns make the 10,000-some-odd-mile drive westward to face down Art Briles' gunnery and perhaps play spoiler to the Bears' own Sugar Bowl hopes. Our Daily Bears have put together a neat explainer on how Saturday's tussle will affect the balance of power in the Big 12 standings, but the short version is that, with a win, Baylor slips into a three-way tie with TCU and Oklahoma State for second place in the conference. Due to some wonderfully arcane calculus concerning point differentials and tornado preparedness, then, Baylor would have the upper hand against both the Horned Frogs and the Cowboys, thus sending them to NOLA for some hot Bears on Bears action.
If Baylor loses, on the other hand, Oklahoma State holds the advantage over TCU, and so they get the invite to the Super Dome for a rehash of the 2004 Cotton Bowl, when Eli Manning counted out 259 meticulous yards and three scores in his final game as a Rebel. Ah, more memories.
Whatever happens Saturday, we at Red Cup Rebellion will keep you apprised of all major developments as the games wear on. Cheers, folks.
Complete Championship Saturday viewing guide
| Sat, Dec 5, 2015 | ||||
12:00 PM ET ABC
|
 (22) Temple |
vs. (AAC Championship) |
(19) Houston |
|
12:00 PM ET ESPN2WatchESPN
|
Southern Miss |
vs. (CUSA Championship) |
Western Kentucky |
|
12:00 PM ET ESPNWatchESPN
|
 Texas |
at |  (12) Baylor |
|
2:00 PM ET ESPN3WatchESPN
|
Georgia State |
at | Georgia Southern |
|
| 3:00 PM ETESPN3WatchESPN
|
New Mexico State |
at | Louisiana-Monroe |
|
| 3:00 PM ETESPN3WatchESPN
|
Texas State |
at | Arkansas State |
|
4:00 PM ET CBSSEC Live
|
 (2) Alabama |
vs. (SEC Championship) |
 (18) Florida |
|
4:30 PM ET FS1FoxSportsGo
|
 West Virginia |
at |  Kansas State |
|
| 5:00 PM ETESPN3WatchESPN
|
Troy |
at | Louisiana-Lafayette |
|
| 7:30 PM ETESPN3WatchESPN
|
Appalachian State |
at | South Alabama |
|
| 7:30 PM ETESPN2WatchESPN
|
 Air Force |
vs. (MWC Championship) |
San Diego State |
|
| 7:45 PM ETESPNWatchESPN
|
 (7) Stanford |
vs. (Pac-12 Championship) |
 (20) USC |
|
| 8:00 PM ETABC
|
 (1) Clemson |
vs. (ACC Championship) |
 (10) North Carolina |
|
8:00 PM ET FOXFoxSportsGo
|
 (4) Iowa |
vs. (Big Ten Championship) |
 (5) Michigan State |
|